Chris Denorfia Traded To Mariners Just Before Non-Waiver Trade Deadline Ends

Chris Denorfia is heading north to try to help the Mariners.

Denorfia, formerly an outfielder with the San Diego Padres, has been traded to Seattle in exchange for two minor leaguers, outfielder Abraham Almonte and right-handed pitcher Stephen Kohlscheen, according to ESPN. The trade was completed 90 minutes before the close of Major League Baseballs’ non-waiver trade deadline Thursday at 4 pm EST.

Denorfia is a serviceable outfielder. Denorfia’s overall numbers are rather pedestrian; an overall average of.242 with one homer, 10 doubles, and 16 RBIs in 89 games for the Padres. Denorfia’s a career.275 hitter and last season hit.279 in 144 games for San Diego. However, Denorfia is a quality hitter against left-handers with a career.301 average to go with a.809 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). Denorfia also has the flexibility to play all three outfield positions, having at least 150 career starts at all three spots.

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon is hoping a change of scenery will give Denorfia a boost statistically, and in turn boost Seattle’s offensive numbers. “We need offense and he’s (Denorfia) a good hitter,” McClendon said. “Right now, my plan is to play him and play him often. He’s (Denorfia) a professional hitter with a nice track record,” according to the Seattle Times.

Denorfia will be a free agent at the end of the Mariners’ season, but has expressed gratitude for the opportunity to win. “I did talk to Jack (Zduriencik, Seattle’s General Manager) and expressed how excited I was at the opportunity over the next two months,” Denorfia told San Diego reporters. “I’m going to try and be myself and try to have some quality at-bats against lefties coming off the bench.”

Almonte came out of the Mariners’ spring training as their starting centerfielder, but lasted just 27 games before being optioned to the minor leagues. Almonte was hitting.198 in those 27 games. He was hitting.267 with 10 doubles, six homers, and 31 runs batted in in 72 games with Class AAA Tacoma.

Kohlscheen split time with Tacoma and Class AA Jackson. He appeared in a combined 23 games, all in relief. He was 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA and six saves with Jackson and 2-0 with a 3.28 ERA in 15 appearances with Tacoma.

Teams are still able to trade players up until 11:59 pm EST on August 31. For a player to be traded, however, the player’s original team has to place the player on revocable waivers. This means that while the player is on waivers, any team can claim him, and if a team does, the original team can withdraw the player from waivers in an effort to initiate trade talks.