MLB News: The stove is hot as Winter Meetings begin this week in Nashville. Late on Sunday evening the Seattle Mariners and Atlanta Braves completed a trade involving five players. Headlining the package was Wisconsin native and former sixth overall pick out of Waukesha West High School Jarred Kelenic.
Jeff Passan was the first to report the news regarding the Mariners and Braves agreeing to a trade. In this exchange Seattle packaged Marco Gonzales and Evan White with Jarred Kelenic in order to receive pitchers Cole Phillips and Jackson Kowar from Atlanta. The Mariners will end up shedding a lot of salary in this deal while getting former second round pick Cole Phillips and former first round pick Jackson Kowar in exchange.
After this trade was announced Seattle Mariners fans were upset with their team parting ways with players that played a big role in the big leagues. A rebuild would be quite confusing given their current state, so it is possible that this move was strictly for financial purposes in order to make room for other top players. Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani are two players that come to mind.
Seattle Mariners fans were irate after their trade with the Atlanta Braves was announced (MLB News).
What are the Mariners doing this offseason???
— Ben (@HowUBenFeller) December 4, 2023
Is this Jerry’s way of keeping the Mariners at the 54% win percantile?? What’s going on here? Geez…At this rate we will never reach the world series
— Ivan (@Ivan31365953) December 4, 2023
This is probably about Gonzales’s contract. Owed 25 million over the next two years. However with that being said, makes no sense for mariners. M’s need offense more than pitching, and they got a guy with a 9.12 (!!) career ERA, and a pitcher who has yet to make his pro debut
— Ephrim K (@ephrim_k) December 4, 2023
The Mariners make the most ridiculous deals I swear. They always say there is a plan but I don’t know if anyone knows what that is. M’s are my second favorite team and they make my head shake
— John (@jmcd16) December 4, 2023
This is a nice move for the Braves, but I’m confused what the mariners get out of this. Kowar hasn’t been great with KC and I know nothing about Phillips. Can someone more informed then me tell me why the hell the mariners would make this move.
— Ethan (@EpicGamer126642) December 4, 2023
The only explanation is Soto to the Mariners right?
— halosdub (@HalosDub) December 4, 2023
Making room for Shohei
— Todd Saunders (@toddsaunders) December 4, 2023
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