Grading the 2022 Trade Deadline for the Seattle Mariners

With the trade deadline a full day in the past, it’s time to sit down and look at what all the Mariners were able to accomplish at the 2022 trade deadline. Not just that, but to give them a grade as well for how Dipoto and crew did. Cause what else makes more sense than grading something right away before seeing how it all fits together? (Sarcasm).

There were plenty of big names that moved at the deadline and even more that should’ve been traded. Seriously, what are the Cubs or Rockies even doing?

The Mariners made a handful of deals at the deadline, and are a much better team than they were seven days ago

Anyway, I’m getting this out of the way now, because I know that people are curious. The Mariners didn’t get a massive upgrade on offense, even though plenty of fans were clamoring for it. The Mariners biggest need was to find a starting pitcher, and they went out and got the best one available, as well as it being the one that most Mariners fans said they wanted. Kirby is on an innings limit, and if he misses starts or anyone gets hurt, the Mariners would’ve been in trouble.

Instead, we have Luis Castillo now. He made his first start as a Mariner in the finale against the Yankees and was given a wonderful present in the shape of a 6-0 lead before he even threw a pitch. He ended up going 6.2 innings, throwing 109 pitches, striking out eight, and giving up three runs.

We already talked about Castillo in a separate article, which makes sense with how big of an acquisition he was. Here are the rest of the trades that the Mariners made, all of which went down in what seemed like a 15-minute window about an hour before the deadline.

Mariners trade RHP Michael Stryffeler and C Andy Thomas to the Giants for Matthew Boyd and Curt Casali

Now, this deal was confusing at first. They came across the timeline separately, but it ended up going down as a single deal. For some, there was confusion in that not many knew that Matt Boyd wasn’t even on the Tigers anymore and that he was indeed a Giant. He had signed there in the offseason, but was injured before he could throw a regular-season pitch with them

If Boyd is able to come back, as he is rehabbing right now and throwing bullpen sessions, and will soon join Cust Casali in AAA to get some work in before being transferred to the Mariners. To essentially be adding Boyd and Kirby to your bullpen is nasty, and makes the M’s pitching staff quite dangerous.

With Casali, he is a very good backup catcher. Through 108 AB, he has been hitting .231/.325/.370, with a 0.6 oWAR and 0.8 dWAR, good for 1.1 WAR on the season. More importantly, he is the catcher that Luis Casillo loves using. In 27 starts as a pair, Casali and Castillo have had a 2.61 ERA, with 202 Ks in 169 IP, and just a .191 BAA. A 10.76 K/9 rate with those numbers? Yes please, all day and every day.

Mariners trade PTBNL or Cash to Dodgers for Jake Lamb

Jake Lamb isn’t near as bad as you would think, so this isn’t just the Mariners acquiring some guy that is filling a spot in the minors. A slightly below-average defender, Lamb makes up for it by hitting the ball hard. He is averaging a 91.9 MPH exit velo this season, with a 46.5% hard-hit rate. He’s not taking over anywhere but gives the Mariners a decent average guy (.239) that could be a power pinch-hitter and occasional fill-in guy.

Mariners sign Jonathan Villar and claim Travis Janikowski off waivers from the Mets

Villar wasn’t having a good year this year, there is no arguing that. Part of that was a below-average BABIP, but Villar definitely has it in him to be dangerous. In 2021. Villar hit .249/.322/.416 with 18 2B, 18 HR, and 14 SB. In 2019, he hit .274/.339/.453 with 33 2B, 24 HR, and 40 SB. At just 31 years old, there’s no reason to think he is past his prime. If he plays well in Tacoma, he could easily take that utility role with the Mariners.

Janikowski hasn’t had a good 2022, which is why he was DFA’d by the Mets. The Mariners are hoping to get the OBP guy from the Phillies in 2021 when he hit .252/.364/.351. Nothing special, but if you can get those numbers from an actual outfielder who knows what he’s doing, it could be a good grab for the Mariners when injuries befall a fragile outfield group like the Mariners have.

In case you wanted to see everyone who came in and everyone who left in one spot, here is how the Mariners roster has changed.

Mariners sent away:

• Noelvi Marte
• Edwin Arroyo
• Levi Stoudt
• Andrew Moore
• Andy Thomas
• Michael Stryffeler
• PTNBL/Cash considerations

Mariners received:

• Luis Castillo
• Curt Casali
• Matthew Boyd
• Jake Lamb
• Travis Janikowski
• Jonathan Villar

Sure, it hurts giving up prospects, but the Mariners are a much better team now than they were before making these deals. It would’ve been nice to see them add an impact bat, but I do like the line the the M’s Front Office walked between selling the farm and obtaining talent.

When it’s all said and done, I give the Mariners a B+ for the work that they did at the deadline.

I’m excited to see what happens in the second half. Go Mariners!