Mariners trade Happ, Lowe for prospects
MINNEAPOLIS – In moves that seem to signal resignation in a deeply disappointing season, the Mariners traded two veteran pitchers just prior to Friday’s non-waiver trade deadline.
Right-hander Mark Lowe, the club’s best reliever, is heading to Toronto for three minor-league lefty relievers, while lefty starter J.A Happ went to Pittsburgh for another minor-league pitcher, a right-handed starter.
“Had the situation been a little bit different,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said, “we probably would have viewed that differently.”
Instead, the Mariners entered the weekend at 46-57 and trailing first-place Houston by 12 games in the American League West Division; they were also eight games back in the wild-card race.
So time to deal.
The Mariners received lefties Rob Rasmussen, Nick Wells and Jake Brentz from Toronto in the trade for Lowe. Rasmussen is joining the big-league club, while Wells and Brentz were assigned to Short-A Everett.
For Happ, the M’s got right-hander Adrian Sampson, a Redmond, Washington, native. He was assigned to Triple-A Tacoma.
The two deals came one day after the M’s sent outfielder Dustin Ackley to the New York Yankees for two minor-league players: outfielder Ramon Flores and right-handed reliever Jose Ramirez.
Flores was assigned to Tacoma, while Ramirez was recalled to the big-league club.
The Mariners also recalled first baseman/designated hitter Jesus Montero and infielder Ketel Marte from Tacoma prior to Friday’s game.
“Obviously, we’ve gotten a lot younger,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “It gives us a chance to take a look at some of our young talent and see what happens. My hope is they energize us a little bit.”
Zduriencik and McClendon denied the Mariners were shifting to a development-and-evaluation mode over the season’s final two months.
Zduriencik said: “I don’t think I view it that way. Mark Lowe was a really nice piece for us, and it’s very difficult to give him up.
“But when you’re sitting there with an opportunity to acquire three players, and all three guys have a number of years of control, that’s a hard call.”