SEATTLE — In need of a spark for its struggling offense, the Seattle Mariners took a significant step in trying to avoid completely falling out of the AL West race.
Seattle acquired slugger Mark Trumbo from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday as part of a six-player trade, pulling the trigger on the first major trade of the season with the underachieving Mariners already facing a near double-digit deficit in their division and coming off a fifth straight loss.
The Mariners announced the trade after a 3- 1 loss to the New York Yankees where the lack of pop at the plate was on display again.
Seattle entered Wednesday with the lowest batting average and second-worst on-base percentage in the American League.
“You look at where we were offensively and we’re not doing exactly what I thought we would do, or most people thought we would do and Trumbo is a guy that brings an awful lot to the table,” Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “He’s a big power hitter that will bat somewhere in the middle of our lineup. Thought he would be really good insurance for the ball club.”
Arizona also sent left-handed pitcher Vidal Nuno to the Mariners, while catcher Welington Castillo, right-handed reliever Dominic Leone and minor leaguers Gabby Guerrero and Jack Reinheimer are going to the Diamondbacks.
Nuno will start in Seattle’s bullpen, Zduriencik said, while Castillo provides stability at catcher after Tuffy Gosewisch was lost for the season to an ACL tear. The trade also makes room for third baseman Jake Lamb’s return from the disabled list with Yasmany Tomas playing more in the outfield.
