July 29, 2009, at 3:32 pm
Mariners acquired SS Jack Wilson and RHP Ian Snell from the Pirates for SS Ronny Cedeno, C Jeff Clement and RHPs Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock.
Interesting trade here for both sides. For the Mariners I can’t imagine this is an indication that they are shoving all the chips into the middle. At 7.5 games out of the division and 6.5 out of the wild card I can’t imagine the Mariners suddenly becoming buyers. The benefit of this trade for the M’s comes as much next year as this year.
Jack Wilson is one of the best defensive shortstops in the bigs and since the M’s are building the team around pitching and defense it’s a logical acquisition. However his contract isn’t very pretty. Wilson makes 7.25 million this year and 8.4 million next year. Snell, 27, is a pitcher who scouts still think has upside. He’s had a very average MLB career but has been lights out since the Pirates demoted him to triple A. Like Wilson, Snell is under contract for next year (4.25 millilon) the M’s also have two player options on him for 2011 and 2012. If Snell rebound that contract could look like a bargain.
It’s also being reported that the Pirates are giving the Mariners significant financial relief. Kovacevic reports that the Pirates will pay nearly all of the money owed to Wilson and Snell this year. The Mariners will pay each player $400k. The Pirates will send a total of $3,308,702.19 to Seattle along with Snell and Wilson. So all in all the M’s get two players who will help them this year for only 800k. They also get Snell for next year and possibly Wilson.
In exchange the Pirates receive a pretty decent haul. The key player is Clement. Clement was once considered a top prospect but fell out of favor in Seattle. Clement doesn’t project to catcher long term but Pirates do have a need at first base. Ronny Cedeno is probably nothing more than a utility player but he comes cheap. Pribanic, Lorin and Adcock are all young right handers. Lorin might be the most intriugining of the bunch. He’s big, 6′7, young, 22, and has 2.44 ERA while striking out 87 batter in 88 innings at A ball.
Seems to be a solid deal for both teams. The Mariners get players who can help them both short and long term without taking on extra salary and not trading their top prospects. The Pirates continue to clean house and add solid prospects to an already deep farm system. They also clear money for 2010 in the process.
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