Another day, another San Diego Padres player on the move.
The Padres traded Seth Smith to the Seattle Mariners, the two clubs confirmed Tuesday, as new general manager A.J. Preller dealt from his newly found outfield surplus after the team acquired Matt Kemp, Wil Myers and Justin Upton.
In return, the Padres get 24-year-old pitcher Brandon Maurer, who hasn't been stellar in two seasons as a starter, but re-invented himself as a relief pitcher in the second half of 2014.
ESPN's Jerry Crasnick was first to report the deal was completed, while Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN in Seattle said earlier Tuesday that a deal was close.
In Smith, 32, the Mariners get the platoon outfielder they need to complement Justin Ruggiano, who they acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs on Dec. 17. Ruggiano hits lefties well (.305 last season), while Smith hits righties nicely (12 homers, plus a .270 average in 2014). In his last three seasons, Smith has 30 homers and 118 RBIs against right-handed pitching, compared to four homers and 22 RBIs against lefties.
The most interesting part of the Smith situation is that he signed a two-year extension with the Padres in July, getting $6 million in 2015 and $6.75 million in 2016, with a club option worth $7 million for 2017. Of course, Preller wasn't the GM when that deal was signed, and as he's reworked the Padres' roster the past month, he's given little credence to the past regime's decisions.
The Padres, frankly, didn't need Smith as much as the Mariners did, so they'll take Maurer and hope his maturation comes at the right time. He had a 6.30 ERA in 2013 as a rookie, which was down to 4.65 in 2014, but that doesn't tell the entire story. Maurer transitioned into a relief role in June 2014, making 31 of his 38 appearances out of the bullpen. His bullpen ERA was 2.17 and his FIP was 1.85, which is quite good.
Maurer throws hard, sitting around 94 mph and hitting as high as 99 mph last season, plus he's got a changeup that generates a whiffs. He's the second with-upside reliever the Padres have acquired this week, having traded for the Yankees' Shawn Kelley on Monday.
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