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Seattle Mariners: Offseason Trade Grades, Part 1

By Ty Gonzalez

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 21: Justus Sheffield #86 of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during the New York Yankees photo day on February 21, 2018 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 21: Justus Sheffield #86 of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during the New York Yankees photo day on February 21, 2018 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – MAY 8: Mike Zunino #3 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on May 8, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MAY 8: Mike Zunino #3 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on May 8, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Per tradition, the first trade of the Mariners’ offseason involved the Tampa Bay Rays. In it, Seattle shipped 2012 first-round pick Mike Zunino, outfielder Guillermo Heredia, and pitching prospect Michael Plassmeyer to Tampa Bay for outfielders Mallex Smith and Jake Fraley.

Coming off yet another disappointing season, Zunino is entering his third year of arbitration and did not fit the Mariners’ window of contention. While Zunino established himself as a defensive wizard behind the plate, his consistent poor performance at the plate was just too much to withstand.

While the Rays appear more as the buyers in this deal, Smith is definitely the best player switching hands, at least on paper. With four years left of club control at just 25-years-old, Smith is an impressive commodity that could stick in Seattle for quite some time or be flipped for better value down the road.

Grade: B+

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