1:03pm: MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo reports that the Mariners are picking up $500K in the trade (Twitter link). However, Mayo also notes that the previously reported sum of $1.57MM that the Mariners had to work with was incorrect. Seattle, according to Mayo, initially had just a bit north of $1MM remaining in their pool, so this trade pushes their remaining total to $1.5575MM.
11:08am: The Mariners announced on Thursday that they’ve traded right-hander Thyago Vieira to the White Sox in exchange for international bonus money. The move opens a spot on Seattle’s 40-man roster in advance of next week’s deadline to set 40-man rosters for the Rule 5 Draft, and it also gives the Mariners some additional funds for the pursuit of Shohei Ohtani and other high-end international amateurs.
The amount of money Seattle is receiving isn’t yet known, though international money must be traded in increments of $250K under the new collective bargaining agreement, so they’ll add at least that much to their pool. Ronald Blum of the Associated Press reported last week that Seattle’s bonus pool stood at $1.57MM, so they’ll add at least $250K to that sum. The Rangers ($3.535MM), Yankees ($3.25MM) and Twins ($3.245MM) still have the most to offer Ohtani, if he is indeed posted.
In exchange for the additional funds, the White Sox will reel in an MLB-ready bullpen arm capable of reaching triple-digit velocity readings on his fastball with regularity. Vieira, 25 in January, pitched to an even 4.00 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A last season. While his strikeout numbers at those upper levels weren’t what they were in Class-A Advanced, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com still pegged Vieira eighth among Mariners farmhands, placing a true 80 grade his fastball and giving him a 55-grade (above-average) curveball as well. Vieira has struggled with control at times in the minors, though Callis and Mayo note that he comes with a closer’s ceiling if he can put everything together.
For a White Sox club that traded David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle, Anthony Swarzak, Dan Jennings and Tyler Clippard this past summer, the addition of Vieira gives them an intriguing young piece with six years of club control if all pans out well.
Dealin Dipoto strikes again
Jerry’s kids…..
They must think they really have a shot getting Ohtani.
Ichiro must have been a major hero to a ton of young Japanese players, including probably Ohtani. Does the fact that Ichiro went to Seattle mean anything in their pursuit of Ohtani, and if Seattle brings Ichiro back for a reunion, does that have any impact?
Ohtani grew up with a fascination about Bave Ruth not Robbie Cano. He will be playing along side Tanaka.
???
Did you even read the comment you replied to?
Everyone is fascinated with the Bave.
Or they could be increasing their pool for the upcoming release of Braves prospects.
Either way Seattle is prepared
Trading 1 very good arm, very close to majors; for a very young teen prospect(the Brace prospect)… Is backward thinking. Doesn’t help Sea right now.
Thyago has legitimate Control issues and he clears a 40 Man spot. While he has immense upside, he won’t help much in 2017. If we we’re to sign Maitan (braves guy) he has the trade value to bring in a good player to help us immediately or we can keep a top 50 prospect and build up our farm, without sacrificing much at the MLB level.
Paxton had control issues in minors.
Don’t think maitan is part of the thought process.
Could end up going down that road, but
Maiten will be signed before Ohtani signs.
Thyago looks like he doesn’t miss bats at AAA has a over 4.00 ERA in the minors and walks batters at a good clip. Relievers who walk that many hitters while also giving up close to a hit a inning aren’t going to be high leverage type arms.
He looks to me to be someone that will bounce around teams as a AAA filler arm or end of roster reliever for the next 5-7 years and then will call it a career.
Look at tommy kahnles career please
Vieira took a huge step forward last season. Control often takes time for flame thrower. I hated this move as a Mariners fan and as a fan of Vieira. Chicago did well to grab a player with his ceiling for 500k in IBP dough.
Could be a AAAA’er for afew years, then maybe one year it clicks for him and he become the player he projects 2b
White Sox are pretty good at straightening out arms… no one is 100% and nothing is a given of course… but he’s in one better places to correct control issues.
I think Seattle will regret this trade someday. Thyago Vieira doesn’t throw a straight ball, even at high velocity.
That’s what I was thinking. Vieira was on the 40-man. They might’ve wanted to clear a spot for someone else. So they do that and maybe get a Brave prospect that’s attractive.
They already had 40 man space and still have a couple of players who should be able to clear waivers and be outrighted.
I would be happy if they landed Maitan, but I’m not anticipating that.
the mariners can make all the trades they want, they will still end up fielding the same team that underproduces. maybe that’ll change, I doubt it though.
Don’t make whine with those sour grapes.
Underproduced? More like injury jinx of the decade. Some decent to good years for several players; but not pitching:(
Robbie is sliding though. And what 7 more years?
I think 6 more years. We can only hope Robbie can produce for like 3 of those years
Well, bullpen depth USED to be a strength for the Mariners before yesterday. It’s hard to believe this is all Jerry could get for Vieira. Hopefully he has a contingency plan and isn’t just hoping to use the money on Ohtani.
Could be Maitan he’s likely to be released and be subject to International Amateur Restrictions again.
Very high end arm to deal for: just slot money. Better be alot of $
My thoughts exactly, hopefully a surplus of 1MM. Ideally 2+ put us on par with Rangers and Yankees.
I dont think the White Sox have that much to trade.
They have about 4 Mil, the White Sox just can’t spend more then 300K on a single player.
Can’t see a team giving up $2M for a bullpen arm. I could be wrong but I don’t see more than $500k. I hope you are the correct one though.
$250k increments at a time?
Whats the point of even allowing teams to trade for up to 50 or 75 percent of their bonus pool then. They would need to make like 20 different moves. Also, I thought the O’s paid more to get Milton Ramos.
They can move multiple slots per trade. the increments is too keep a team from trading one dollar or something unreasonable. It gives it .ore value.
INCREMENTS!!! Not at a time.
Is there a limit on bonus money a team can acquire in 1 trade? Say if NY wanted all of Seattle’s pool money to sign Otani and ponied up a top 100 prospect.
I was thinking the same thing.
A team can only trade up to 75% of their pool.
interesting idea I would love an Estevan Florial or Justus Sheffield for our pool money.
lol crazy talk
Nice pickup for Rick
I think white Sox only have 300k so all it would be is 250k, must be serious control issues to get that little
They can only spend 300K due to going over previously their pool is 4.75MM at the beginning of the signing period.
500K to the Mariners according to spokesman.com/stories/2017/nov/16/mariners-make-tr…
2 trades down, 4 more to go.
Low balling it I guess
Jerry d. has struck again! bring back Ichy and sign otahni and it’s world series time at the safe! we are already looking better then the astros next year…..RTL allllll over again!
It’s interesting you can trade for draft pool money but not amateur draft slotted money. Each team gets a determined amount to be able to spend. Can’t trade the picks why not be able to trade for the cash allotted
Not entirely true.
Can trade for competitive balance picks and their slot value.
T W O!!! Bleh, bleh, bleh, bleh!
( in my finest Count Dracula voice from Sesame St!) let’s count his off-season trades this way!
So for the second time this week a team made a move to increase their international spending money, and the end result was almost exactly what was already reported to begin with?
Otani doesn’t care about his money. He would have stayed in Japan if he cared about money. He wants to come play Major League Baseball he will eventually get paid and already has money from being pro in japan. He won’t select his MLB team based off money Right now. He will get his money later.
Either way, it’s a smart move. Braves will be losing some IFA, Ohtani should be on the way, and I’m sure I’m missing something!
Jerry is a surprisingly mediocre gm
Paging Dr Cooper
A nice project for Don Cooper, turned Kahnle’s and Swarzaks careers around. He can do it again
Don Cooper did a great job with Matt Thornton, a former Seattle reliever with high velocity and poor control. I hope history repeats.
A non orioles intl bonus money trade? Funny to see that.