Seattle Mariners Trade Rumors: Team Adds Hitter From Oakland Athletics

Seattle Mariners trade rumors reveal a deal with the Oakland Athletics to acquire another hitter. The Mariners and Athletics have already agreed to the terms of a deal that will have utility man Danny Valencia playing at Safeco Field for the 2017 MLB season. A report by MLB analyst Jeff Passon just confirmed the deal has taken place, but what Seattle gave up to acquire Valencia has not yet been revealed.

Last season with the Oakland Athletics, Danny Valencia had 517 plate appearances in 130 games. He posted a 0.287 batting average with 17 home runs and 51 RBIs to his credit. Valencia also had a 0.346 on-base percentage and an OPS of 0.792 that ranked among the best on the team.

Valencia is a player who can cover multiple positions, which is something that could be very valuable for the Mariners during the 2017 MLB season. Last year, he played first base, third base, right field, and left field for the Athletics. In the past, he has also played second base and was used as a designated hitter with several clubs.

Though these Seattle Mariners trade rumors have not yet been confirmed by the team, this is the type of player who general manager Jerry Dipoto has indicated he likes having on the team. Valencia could be used as a utility guy off the bench, giving many players in the lineup a day off here and there, while also providing a good ability to pinch hit.

Valencia is going to be arbitration eligible again this offseason, meaning the team will have to negotiate what his salary will be for the 2017 MLB season. In his previous season with the Athletics, he avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth just about $3.2 million. It is expected that he will receive a pay raise this time around.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, this isn’t the first trade that Dipoto has made during the MLB offseason. The Mariners also traded relief pitcher Vidal Nuno to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for veteran catcher Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz has always been known for his defense and the ability to run a pitching staff. Having his veteran presence in the dugout should help the young pitching staff for Seattle. The former All-Star catcher has also been able to handle the bat well during his time in Major League Baseball.

While these latest Seattle Mariners trade rumors may not seem like a big deal to many fans, especially since Danny Valencia is not a household name around the league, it certainly shows that the front office is still trying to improve the roster for another run at the postseason. Valencia won’t be considered a “star” by any general manager, but he is the type of player who can prove valuable during late game situations, especially if there is a call to make a defensive switch on the field.

One thing that Danny Valencia will have to overcome are his career struggles hitting at Safeco Field. While he has had to face Cy Young contenders like Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma a lot, he hasn’t posted impressive numbers during his 28 games in Seattle. In 107 plate appearances, Valencia has a 0.222 batting average and an on-base percentage of just 0.271. That goes with three home runs, 15 RBIs, and 26 strikeouts.

Fans should expect the Mariners to reveal who has been given up for Valencia a bit later in the weekend, with the expectation that it was probably a prospect. The Oakland Athletics are in another rebuilding phase, so it is very likely that it is a lower level player who Jerry Dipoto has sent down to California. Fans may also have to wait a bit longer for these Seattle Mariners trade rumors to be confirmed by the organization.

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