6:25pm: The clubs have announced the swap.
5:18pm: The Mariners and Brewers are closing in on a swap that would send outfielder Domingo Santana to Seattle, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). Outfielder Ben Gamel and righty Noah Zavolas are going to the Brewers in the deal, Corey Brock of The Athletic tweets. Medical reviews still must be conducted before things will be official, but it seems the parameters are agreed upon.
While the M’s are entering a sort of rebuilding phase, with the Brewers aiming to repeat their NL Central crown, this swap will send a notable MLB asset out west. That can be explained by Santana’s messy 2018 season, which largely knocked him out of the plans for Milwaukee.
Santana had turned in a highly productive, albeit strikeout-riddled, 2017 season. But the Brewers nevertheless pursued offseason outfield upgrades and the 26-year-old ended up cratering to open the ensuing campaign. Santana was demoted after 62 games of .249/.313/.354 hitting to open the year.
As it turned out, Santana got things going at Triple-A and returned with a nice (albeit brief) late-season run. He performed well enough to earn a not-insignificant postseason role, but not enough to write his way back into any future lineup cards. With no options remaining, a departure seemed the likeliest outcome.
The Mariners, though, will gladly take a shot at seeing whether Santana can get back to the thirty-homer, .371 OBP output that he produced in ’17. He’ll cost a projected $2.0MM in his first season of arbitration eligibility, leaving two more seasons of control still remaining thereafter.
Doing so will cost Seattle a chance to see more of Gamel, a left-handed-hitting asset who perhaps better fits the Brewers roster — particularly since he can still be optioned. The M’s had been loaded up on lefties, including recently acquired outfielders Mallex Smith and Jay Bruce.
Out in Milwaukee, it’s possible to imagine Gamel functioning as a bench mate to pair at times with Ryan Braun. The club had utilized the lefty-swinging Eric Thames at times in the corner outfield, though it’s fair to wonder whether that experiment will continue.
Gamel has hit at just above the league-average rate over the past two seasons, runs the bases well, and is capable of playing all three outfield positions (though he has mostly been utilized in the corners). He has not carried significant platoon splits to this point in his MLB career, which suggests he’s more of a general reserve than a strict platoon option.
As for Zavolas, the 22-year-old Harvard product had a nice debut showing in the Mariners system. In 38 2/3 innings, mostly at the low A level but also including three High-A appearances, he pitched to a 3.03 ERA with 9.5 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9. His outlook isn’t clear, but that’s impressive progress for a player who was selected in the 18th round just last summer.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Sounds right
My ears! What is in the air today!!
Amen!!!
We don’t yet know the return, but likely a good “buy low” by the Ms
They basically sent their trash man to the brewers
Not at all accurate.
Hopefully this ends the content comments about swapping Teheran for Santana.
Its a four team trade with the rays and braves for tehran
Lol
Lol
I’m also glad this ends the Teheran for Santana suggestions popping up. Never liked the idea of Santana
Only increases it since he is more a trade chip for Dipoto
Word on the street is Dipoto is looking to flip Santana in a deal to the Braves centered around Teheran.
What street? Sesame Street
Yes Big Bird is negotiating the deal.
Everyone knows Oscar the grouch negotiates on behalf of the street.
a year to late to move him
Not for M’s fans. It’s a perfect time to buy low on him.
Even if the currently unforeseen happens (Gamel explodes into something he’s never shown himself potentially being and Santana never again emerges into what he was), I can’t slight this trade for Dipoto.
well there goes my hopes of The Braves getting him…..
Shouldn’t have wanted that hope
Byebye King Helix
I guess pitching well isn’t in King Helix’s DNA
(It’s a biology joke, I’ll show myself the door)
This was nice work.
I don’t really follow him. What happened LY? He had a good year 2017.
The Brewers acquired Yelich and Cain and there just wasn’t any room for him.
Ahh ok so it wasn’t injury or performance.
It was performance too.
He hit .265/.328/.412/.740 in 211 AB and put up a 1.0 WAR in less than a half a season of playing time. It wasn’t performance that kept him off the field. He played sporadically and spent 3 months in the minors because Braun, Cain, and Yelich are just better.
what the hell are the Braves doing?!
OF is not a major concern. Gonzales is still available as well. Pitching and bullpen is more of a priority.
Anybody who saw Adam Duvall play for the Braves last year disagrees that OF is not a major concern.
They could use Camargo in a corner and let Duvall be the fourth man.
Camargo doesn’t really profile as an outfielder with the bat and especially not with his speed.
Adam Duvall is a bench piece, not a starting outfielder. There’s still plenty of time to acquire another OF bat. Duvall will rebound to his normal production with a full year with Atlanta. Maybe he even does well and can be flipped.
Wouldn’t rule out Haniger. They have the prospects
I’m assuming he’s going to play left field….if the M’s keep him….
Could platoon in left with Gamel or Bruce. Currently they have:
1st-Healy/Bruce/Encarnacion
2nd-Gordon
3rd-Seager/Healy
SS-Crawford
LF-Bruce/Gamel/Santana
CF-Gamel/Haniger
RF-Haniger/Gamel/Bruce/Santana
DH-Encarnacion/Bruce/Healy
C-Narvaez
Haniger is the only one in the outfield that will play everyday, and the middle infielders will also most likely play everyday once Crawford is ready. There will definitely be a lot of moving parts daily in the Mariners lineup.
Well obviously take Gamel out of that but doesn’t change my point at all.
Gamel is gone
Maybe that’s why I said take Gamel out of that?
Mallex Smith is the everyday CF.
Santana will start in LF and Haniger is the everyday RF.
I knew I would forget someone. With so many trades it’s hard to keep track lol.
Mallex was a sneaky good add for them. I think he’s under appreciated/valued
Just quit while you’re ahead (or behind at this point…) you started with a platoon for the guy he was traded for then devolved into missing one of the 3 starting OFs… time to take a nap I think…
My comment was before Gamel was announced to being going to the Brewers. And I never said all of those were platoons, just that the playing time would be divided between those players at the positions they are listed at. I forgot Mallex Smith, so make him an everyday outfielder.
Bull ÷=÷×
All those moves and Seattle still has a decnet team
Well, a good offense. The pitching staff is a mess
You’re including a guy in all 3 outfield positions who was literally traded in the article. SMH
Jerry was mad he wasnt invited to any of todays blockbusters — So he made his own lol
The former Seattle team dealing to the current Seattle team
To overpay? From what I know, it really does seem like it would have to be for Dipoto to give up Haniger at this point.
That or someone willing to take Seager with him a la Cano+Diaz
Tehran reports too early. Santana fell off after diminished playing time with Milwaukee acquiring yelich and signing the cf from kc.
If the braves got Santana for Tehran I would be mad. Horrible deal and I’m not even a big Tehran fan. Tehran is a strong enough pitcher to where at worse he’s packaged with someone to bring a decent return. Santana isn’t worth the trouble for us to go after in my opinion. Heck, Gambel, from the M’s would have been better to go after … albeit not much
I agree with you. I’m fine trading Teheran but Santana is like getting negative value. I don’t want him clogging up an OF spot when there’s better options for us to pursue. Even a reunion with Markakis is far better than Santana out there
Never understood the obsession with him from other Braves fans comments pretty much since the offseason began. Glad I’m not the only one
Santana hit 30 bombs, .371 obp, and stole 30 bases as a 24 yr old and is now only 26. Those are pretty impressive stats. He just didn’t get the consistent at bats with the Brewers logjam of bats. I think teams could do a lot worse than him.
*Stole 15 bases not 30
2 years ago. Not last year.
I’m sorry but Domingo Santana saw consistent at bats all the up to May 25th. 47 games, 41 started, 154 ABs
He managed a .687 OPS with 3 HRs with two months of consistent at bats before the Brewers DEMOTED him
This isn’t a case of him being bumped for other players causing his struggles. He was bumped BECAUSE he struggled.
There’s a huge difference. Not sure why you’re defending him so hard as a Cubs fan.
He’s a big risk plain and simple and there’s far better more reliable options out there the Braves can add rather than roll the dice on a gamble like Santana.
That’s the reality. But if you want to keep trying to sell his struggles in inconsistent at bats go right ahead. You’re the only one buying that line.
i mean… everyone struggles at times, he could def come back strong with a desire to prove himself
He has done it before and has a high ceiling
good for a team like the M’s with not much expectations to take a chance rather than the braves who do have a big chance
He did struggle early. But 154 AB’s isn’t a significant sample. It’s roughly a month and a half of work and it’s worth noting Santana was bounced around the lineup from the start, which may have played a role. The offseason trade rumors probably didn’t help, either.
Regardless, how is he a “big risk”? He had a dominant 2017 and was effective upon his recall. His projections are favorable as well. At 2 million and such a low cost to acquire, there is very little risk.
That’s the reality.
The deal makes sense for Milwaukee as well, because they’ll have an experienced corner outfielder in reserve, which was no longer possible with Santana as he is out of options.
Further, who are these better options you mentioned? Harper? Think there isn’t more risk with the kind of dough he’s going to command?
Who cares if I’m a “Cubs fan” or not. That’s irrelevant. I’m not talking badly about any team or any player. I just happen to think he’s a better player than he’s being represented here. It’s idiotic that you have to bring up the fact that I’m a Cubs fan.
There are far worst outfielders in baseball over Santana
Good pitching is hard to find but Tehran imo is several years removed from that
Right, he was fairly impressive in 2017 when he got regular at bats. A lot of guys can’t hit as well when they’re only playing a couple times a week. See Schoop. Not sure why people don’t get that.
ehh, forget about Santana, Jerry would have to be “blown away” to trade Haniger so no thank you (most would be Swanson, Pache, Fried, maybe allard)
How about ATL gets Peralta and Greinke and 25 mil for Riley, Teheran (11 mil), and like Duvall if needed
Peralta hit 290 with 30HRs with 2yrs of control for COF + we get a legit ace for about 23-24 mil a year giving up one our best prospects but at a strong position ( Camargo 270 with 22HRs, solid D and possible improvement
ATL could then use some of the other 9 top 100 prospects to get a closer (Soroka, Waters, Gohara for Leclerc (about as good as Diaz for four years as well )maybe?
Then boom all our holes filled with star players!
Where is he playin Hanigar in RF Bruce in LF ?
Bruce probably DH,1B and Bench
Assuming Bruce is still with the team, he’s been an OF. I seriously doubt a healthy Jay Bruce all of a sudden wouldn’t be able to play Some games out there as well as benefit from some DH time.
Let’s face it. It’s not like Seattle is going for it all in 2019. Personally I’d like a higher draft pick and wouldn’t mind seeing Bruce out there on a regular basis. Especially if it helped rebuild some of his trade value come midseason.
At this point, Dipoto is just collecting every kind of surplus trade he can and will continue to be working to sort things out.
If he can get any kind of value for Bruce and/ or EE, he will. It seems pretty logical to presume he likes the possibility of Santana/ Smith/ Haniger with somebody at 1B and DH (please #freeVogelbach, Jerry).
Jay Bruce can be the designated hitter with Edwin Encarnacion at first base and Ryon Healy at Triple A Tacoma.
Jay Bruce will DH and Encarnacion will be traded before the season starts,
Bruce or EE is definitely getting flipped. Healy to good go back down
Ryon Healy, who has all three options remaining, has posted a negative 0.5 fWAR in two seasons with the Mariners, including a negative 0.8 fWAR in 2o18.
Healy only played 2018 for the M’s. For the A’s over 2016 & 17 he posted a total WAR of 1.8 per Fangraphs.
Thank you for the correction.
Ryon Healy has posted a negative 0.5 fWAR in the two seasons since posting 1.5 fWAR in his debut 2016 season.
Bruce and Haniger go to Atlanta.
Teheran and prospects come back to Seattle.
They still have Vogelbach who is out of options.
Probably more likely that EE gets moved before the season starts.
My guess is Haniger really is available. Dipoto is just trying to leverage that he’s not to up the return. Dipoto would love to deal him for the right offer I guarantee it, regardless of what he says publicly.
Everyone on Dipoto’s team is a trade piece
Right. It’s just a matter of the right price. The right price for the hitter with 2 very good seasons of production (1 partial, 1 full) who won’t get his first real contract until 2020 and has 4 years of control left? Very, very, VERY high.
Besides, there’s nothing Dipoto has publicly said to suggest he wouldn’t trade anyone. He, in fact, has said he would trade anyone; just that he would need to be blown away for Haniger, Gonzales and Diaz.
Still waiting on Haniger trade
Which isn’t happening
I bet Dipoto would deal him in a heart beat. He just hasn’t liked the offers so he’s saying he’s unavailable to up the offers.
I am somewhat surprised the stepped-back Mariners traded Ben Gamel, who has four years of team control, for Domingo Santana, who has three years of team control and a modest projected 2019 salary of $2 million.
Seattle needed a righthanded bat.
Santana has more upside and can produce more.
Steamer600, which assumes 600 plate appearances for each outfielder, projects 2019 WAR of 1.2 for Ben Gamel and 0.7 for Domingo Santana.
Upside and projection are two different things… Santana already has a 3+ fWAR season under his belt with an OPS pushing up near .900. Games has never shown that kind of talent at any level. Santana absolutely has more upside, but who knows if they’ll be able to get it out of him?
Santana just hit 30 homers with a .371 obp as a 24 yr old in ‘17. He can mash with regular at bats, not the sporadic crap he got in Milwaukee last year.
Not if Santana was acquired only because it helped flip him for another puzzle piece that you intended on anyways.
Hopefully for the Brewers they get more production out of Ben than they did from Mat “Low T” Gamel.
Mat was a decent player and then tore his ACL and never was the same
What makes this funnier is that they’re brothers
M’s got a nice player. Not sure WTF the Crew got…?
Never heard of Ben Gamel? Pretty good backup outfielder
Idk, I think jank is better
I’ve heard of him, hence my question. He’s 27 (next year) and a 4th or 5th OF, which the Crew doesn’t need. He must have options left, I’m guessing.
He has 1 option left.
There ya go. Santana has none left. Unless the Brewers move Thames, I’m guessing Gamel spends most of his summer in AAA.
God, I love this trade.
Now,what prospects will Santana be flipped for?
Mariners fan here with an irrational love of Gamel. Somebody talk me off the ledge.
Will a 723 career ops do it ? Lol
Gamel has almost no power, isn’t really consistent offensively, and we have enough left handed outfielders as it is. And even though he’s fearless in the outfield he takes some weird ass routes.
Just look up Santana’s ‘17 stats with regular at bats. I doubt Gamel could approach that. He just needs regular playing time.
Santana is a upgrade over the light hitting gamel easily
Dumb trade for the Brew Crew
Agreed
Like we need another outfielder
Broxton also trade bait
All offseason I felt Broxton would be a good fit for the Mets.
Nobody wants Keon Broxton.
Agree
I completely agree. Santana is a good hitter with power. It doesn’t look like they got anything in return, other than yet another light hitting utility guy.
Dealing Dipoto, he is transforming the team. He has already saved 100 million plus.
One of EE or Bruce will probably be traded before the season starts. Vogelbach, who people tend to forget, has no options left.
Dipoto is the Christmas gift that just keeps on giving. Trades, trades and more trades!!
This trade seems to confirm that Dipoto really is looking to contend (again) as soon as 20/21.
Santana’s an upside roll-of-the-dice.
Its a fine move for the Brewers. basically swapping 4th outfielders plus adding a lottery ticket prospect. Domingo needs regular playing time to do well, and that’s something he’ll never get in Milwaukee. I wish him the best in Seattle, if that’s where he actually ends up! Who knows with Dipoto over there lol. As for Gamel he actually has an option (unlike Santana) and is a much better defender/late game sub kind of player. Like I said, it’s a fine deal. Nothing special.
Isn’t every prospect a lottery ticket by definition?
Yeah, totally. Thanks for pointing that out.
This isn’t an upgrade for the Brewers, it is however a solid depth move. Santana was lined up to be the Brewers 5th outfielder. He has no options left and the Brewers can’t justify 5of on the team for the whole season hence Gamel another solid 4th 5th type of but one who has options which is something Stearns covets
What is going on with the west coast GMs today?!?!?
I mean, Oakland, LA and now Seattle
Hey hey hey… my team made a splash too! We got Pat Venditte lol
Jerry saw other people making trades and couldn’t be left out of the fun.
In reality, decent upside play by the Mariners.
Domingo Santana will come back from cloud 9. Back to mediocrity. 10-12 home runs and 65rbi .233 BA. They got nobody for him either.
I was getting worries…trader Jerry was quiet for a few days. I always liked u gammy.
Giving up Gamel was far too much.
How so? He’s nothing special at all.
Santana isn’t much special either until 2017 he never had more than 10 home runs. He got them braun steroids. As did eric Thames. Gamel was traded by the brewers before he’ll be used as trade bait again. For another #5 pitcher.
Love your handle btw. Great commercials.
Wrong Gamel
Is it? I just knew brewers formerly had a ben gamel or someone named Gamel
They had Mat Gamel. His older brother. Was a top org prospect for a little while, then had a pretty good rookie season before he tore his ACL and never bounced back
The Brewers would have netted a much better return had they flipped him last winter after acquiring Yelich.
You’re forgetting 2 things:
1. They tried trading him last off-season.
2. Nobody wanted him.
They could’ve done better than this. Ben Gamel + something better would’ve at least been on the table. Hindsight is 20/20 they were trying to flip him for a starter. They clearly could’ve gotten more talent coming off that kind of season and having more control.
I’m still holding out hope for a Braves/Mariners trade: Haniger for Waters, Allard +. I still can’t figure out why the Braves jettisoned Dustin Peterson. He was a pretty good trade chip.
The Braves have a better chance at signing both Harper and Machado than getting Haniger for Waters and Allard.
That’s why I said +. They would start with those two and add to it.
Yea I disagree. 2 top 100 prospects, 1 mlb ready… I mean yea, u can throw in a minor leaguers or two that aren’t as highly rated, but that’s a solid haul for him.
Wrong
Atlanta already offered 3 Top pitchers and Seattle said no. You don’t have to take my word for it. I believe the link was from an article in the Braves SB nation site, during the Winter Meetings.
There’s no way that gets Haniger. You’re not even close and I’m a Braves fan who also wants Haniger.
Allard’s value is hurting as it is. The Braves pretty much need to start with Pache and Anderson. Then Allard as a third piece. Then a few lower end pieces.
Haniger has way too much control left for Waters and Allard to be your main pieces. That’s not nearly enough in terms of a decent centerpiece to build around.
Dipoto has said quote, “many teams have made offers for Haniger, and not one has even come close for Seattle to consider it.”
I dont see the need to include the young picture. Straight up would make more sense to me. Hamel has really come into his own and become a good hitter. Could potentially become great.
I hope Gamel can get 600 at bats this year. I liked him when he was with the Yanks and had hopes he would get a chance. Just a good, solid hitter. Interesting as he was the less herald brother of the Gamel brothers. Is Mat even in baseball now?
That would mean Braun, Cain, or the mvp yellich is out for the season. I hope he gets 125 abs
Honest question: if you’re a Seattle Mariner, is going month-to-month the only way to get a place to live? Who would actually buy a house lol
The Brewers keep getting incrementally better. Ben Gamel and Keon Broxton may be the best backup OF combo in MLB.
Gamel is not good. Slap hitter who is ok defensively.
I feel like Broxton has to be dealt now?
I assumed if he hadn’t been dealt by this point then he’s probably staying with the Pilots to be their defensive wizard. He’s a great fourth OF even if he doesn’t take his tools to the next stage. If he does get traded I hope it’s to Seattle, but that’s unlikely now.
The numbers may not look spectacular, but as a mariners fan I can tell you Gamel has more heart than the majority of the league. Ben is a beast, plays to win!
As a Mariners fan, Gamel was not good
Haters gonna hate
I don’t hate him. He is a .320ish OBP guy with limited pop and average defense skills
Numbers don’t lie but I think gamel will flourish with opportunity. I’m also intrigued by what the mariners get in this trade. I hope it works out.
I remember when he hit .370 for about a month and a half, after that he was below average.
Gamel’s probably not getting that opp in MILW behind 3 established vets.
Mariners hoping a lot of players bounce back Jerry the gambler we’ll see how this plays out
Yes, hopefully theres a couple or more bounce backs from the new guys to use as trade bait.
Feels like the Ms basically turn over their whole roster every year.
Definition of throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks lol.
Domingo was great in 2017 and awesome in the postseason last year, I knew either him or Broxton would be moved this offseason due to neither having options. Wish you the best in Seattle!
A “purpose” trade both ways. Gives the M’s an everyday OF with a good bat but below-average defense. Brewers flip him because he won’t get much playing time (hopefully) vs. Braun, Cain and Yeli — and is out of options. Gamel may not be an upgrade but won’t tie up a roster spot if Broxton stays on the team. (And the pitching prospect is a bonus if he develops.)
Milwaukee cannot resist a Gamel.