The slightly too early trade deadline thread

[Sexymarinersfan]

He is on the record as saying he will only wave the no-trade class for LA

Well there you go. Bummer, the Dodgers organization is just as bad as ours.

How is the dodgers organization just as bad as the
Mariners? Since hiring Friedman in 2015 47 playoff wins, three pennants, a WS title and the most regular season wins in MLB

Oh I don't know, maybe celebrating Trans sisters of whatever bullshit ceremony night might have something to do with it. The day the M's have a night of that, is the day I'm out as a fan for life.

[harmony]

Oh i don't know about destroying the locker room. The graveman deal was particularly emotional. Like with graveman there should be a replacement strategy. Even if they fall further back before the deadline, i don't think you just give up on the season. That doesn't look good

The locker room reaction to the July 2021 trade of Kendall Graveman may have been overblown by a reporter's primary reliance on one anonymous source ... or not.

FWIW after their July 27 trade, for the remainder of the 2021 season before becoming free agents Kendall Graveman and Joe Smith posted these numbers for the Astros and Mariners, respectively:

KG 23 G, 23 IP, 3.13 ERA, 139 ERA+, 4.7 BB/9, 10.6 K/9
JS 23 G, 18 IP, 2.00 ERA, 210 ERA+, 2.0 BB/9, 8.5 K/9

[Seattle or Bust]

Oh i don't know about destroying the locker room. The graveman deal was particularly emotional. Like with graveman there should be a replacement strategy. Even if they fall further back before the deadline, i don't think you just give up on the season. That doesn't look good

The locker room reaction to the July 2021 trade of Kendall Graveman may have been overblown by a reporter's primary reliance on one anonymous source ... or not.

FWIW after their July 27 trade, for the remainder of the 2021 season before becoming free agents Kendall Graveman and Joe Smith posted these numbers for the Astros and Mariners, respectively:

KG 23 G, 23 IP, 3.13 ERA, 139 ERA+, 4.7 BB/9, 10.6 K/9
JS 23 G, 18 IP, 2.00 ERA, 210 ERA+, 2.0 BB/9, 8.5 K/9

It's not worth anything.

Joe Smith pitched in garbage time for the Mariners where Graveman was a high leverage reliever.

Evident by the fact that Graveman threw 38 games of .500 OPS ball in high leverage situations, 30 games of .530 OPS ball in medium leverage situations, and just 24 games of .608 OPS ball in low leverage situations.

Joe Smith pitched in 17 high-leverage situations and allowed a 1.144 OPS. He pitched in 36 low leverage situations on the year.

Oh and Toro promptly hung -0.7 fWAR in '23 robbing the M's of 350ish AB's over 100+ games.

[D-train]

Oh i don't know about destroying the locker room. The graveman deal was particularly emotional. Like with graveman there should be a replacement strategy. Even if they fall further back before the deadline, i don't think you just give up on the season. That doesn't look good

The locker room reaction to the July 2021 trade of Kendall Graveman may have been overblown by a reporter's primary reliance on one anonymous source ... or not.

FWIW after their July 27 trade, for the remainder of the 2021 season before becoming free agents Kendall Graveman and Joe Smith posted these numbers for the Astros and Mariners, respectively:

KG 23 G, 23 IP, 3.13 ERA, 139 ERA+, 4.7 BB/9, 10.6 K/9
JS 23 G, 18 IP, 2.00 ERA, 210 ERA+, 2.0 BB/9, 8.5 K/9

For the record, it seems like it was more than one player.

By Ryan Divish
Seattle Times staff reporter
Marco Gonzales stared at the concrete floor of the Mariners dugout, occasionally lifting his gaze to the field of T-Mobile Park and revealing puffy eyes red from tears.

He appeared to be listening as manager Scott Servais intently explained a decision that neither he nor his teammates wanted to believe was real and a roster move that upon first glance does little to help the Mariners in their quest to secure the first postseason appearance since 2001.

And when the conversation ended, Gonzales stalked away like a student released from detention, clearly unsatisfied with the experience and the explanation.

Less than 24 hours after an improbable 11-8 come-from-behind victory over the Houston Astros, which included overcoming a 7-0 deficit in the third inning, a go-ahead grand slam from Dylan Moore and the benches nearly emptying after J.P. Crawford was hit by a pitch, all the good feeling from the best win of the season was replaced by confusion, anger and frustration at the Mariners front office.

Early Tuesday afternoon, Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto completed a trade with those same Astros, sending closer Kendall Graveman, who pitched the eighth inning and got the win Monday night, and reliever Rafael Montero, who was recently designated for assignment, to the opposing clubhouse. In exchange, the Mariners received infielder Abraham Toro and veteran right-handed reliever Joe Smith.

While the Mariners were looking to add infield depth, which the switch-hitting Toro provides, trading Graveman, who was a popular leader in the clubhouse, was something more than perplexing upon first glance. It was infuriating for players and fans, who feel like the Mariners are refusing to commit to this team and its surprising success.

Asked why the move made sense for the Mariners, Dipoto offered this explanation.

“It probably doesn’t as a stand-alone, but it’s part of a context that I believe is going to be an ongoing story over the next couple of days,” he said. “So as we move toward the trade deadline (July 30). We have been pretty open in sharing the idea that we’re trying to both address present and future, and we remain actively engaged in the market and trying to address upgrades now, that will give us a chance to be as competitive as we can over the next 60 games and hopefully into the postseason.”

The vibe on the field before Tuesday’s game was expectedly subdued. The early work from the position players lacked the typical emotion and energy. Many disappeared into the clubhouse immediately.

“An hour ago, it was great,” said one player. “It was probably better than it’s ever been. And now, it’s the worst.”

Multiple pitchers emerged from the clubhouse with tears still in their eyes from saying goodbye to Graveman.

“You should’ve seen it earlier,” said a veteran player about the initial reaction.

Several players opted not to speak on the record about the move, but their anger was palpable. Sources said equipment was broken and smashed while one player “went absolutely mad.”

“Betrayed” was a word used often.

“Are you (expletive) kidding me?” said the same player. “It never changes. They don’t care about winning. How do you trade him and say you care about winning? And you trade him to Houston? It never changes.”


When the team was trending toward another losing campaign early in the season, Graveman figured he would likely be traded. He was on a one-year contract and a free agent after the season. With his success in his new role as a reliever, his value was high. But when the Mariners took three of four from the A’s and then beat the Astros on Monday to move to 55-46 and a game out of the second wild card, he thought his immediate future was to remain as the leader of this unexpectedly successful bullpen. A 4-0 record with 10 saves and a 0.82 ERA with nasty stuff made him valuable.

“I didn’t see it coming,” a tear-filled Graveman said while wearing an Astros uniform. “There’s that percent, and this game’s a business. I’m speaking truth and honest. The way I felt, we were nine games over .500 over on that side and playing some pretty good ball when I was there, so it kind of takes away from the last five days, honestly, I think. We’ll see if they bounce back from it.”

Dipoto admitted that the trade could disrupt the chemistry in the clubhouse and also affect the psyche of the team in the immediate aftermath.

“It’s definitely a concern, hopefully the next moves will make a little bit more sense of it for the guys,” he said. “I think they’ll find that we are very committed to adding to the team.”

Multiple players felt it was disingenuous for Dipoto to trade a team leader like Graveman at such an emotional time without offering some explanation for it in person. They found out from Graveman and social media.

“He hasn’t come down here,” a player said of Dipoto. “He sits up in his suite, playing fantasy baseball and rips apart our team without telling us anything.”

Another player via text said “no one has heard a thing.”

And later texted: “I’ve seen a lot of teammates walk out that door. But this one hurts the most and is the most (expletive) up. The team deserves an explanation.”

Perhaps Dipoto’s explanation to the players and to a fan base that feels hoodwinked after just becoming attached to this team and the goals of the front office and ownership had changed.

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me for two decades, shame on the franchise.

But Dipoto felt confident in what would be accomplished before Friday’s deadline.

“This is the first move in what should be a succession of moves over the course of this week that I think will result in the present team looking deeper, and the future team looking deeper, and that’s been the goal throughout,” Dipoto said.

Several players scoffed at the notion.

“Prove it,” one said.

[D-train]

[harmony]

Oh i don't know about destroying the locker room. The graveman deal was particularly emotional. Like with graveman there should be a replacement strategy. Even if they fall further back before the deadline, i don't think you just give up on the season. That doesn't look good

The locker room reaction to the July 2021 trade of Kendall Graveman may have been overblown by a reporter's primary reliance on one anonymous source ... or not.

FWIW after their July 27 trade, for the remainder of the 2021 season before becoming free agents Kendall Graveman and Joe Smith posted these numbers for the Astros and Mariners, respectively:

KG 23 G, 23 IP, 3.13 ERA, 139 ERA+, 4.7 BB/9, 10.6 K/9
JS 23 G, 18 IP, 2.00 ERA, 210 ERA+, 2.0 BB/9, 8.5 K/9

For the record, it seems like it was more than one player.

By Ryan Divish
Seattle Times staff reporter
Marco Gonzales stared at the concrete floor of the Mariners dugout, occasionally lifting his gaze to the field of T-Mobile Park and revealing puffy eyes red from tears.

He appeared to be listening as manager Scott Servais intently explained a decision that neither he nor his teammates wanted to believe was real and a roster move that upon first glance does little to help the Mariners in their quest to secure the first postseason appearance since 2001.

And when the conversation ended, Gonzales stalked away like a student released from detention, clearly unsatisfied with the experience and the explanation.

Less than 24 hours after an improbable 11-8 come-from-behind victory over the Houston Astros, which included overcoming a 7-0 deficit in the third inning, a go-ahead grand slam from Dylan Moore and the benches nearly emptying after J.P. Crawford was hit by a pitch, all the good feeling from the best win of the season was replaced by confusion, anger and frustration at the Mariners front office.

Early Tuesday afternoon, Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto completed a trade with those same Astros, sending closer Kendall Graveman, who pitched the eighth inning and got the win Monday night, and reliever Rafael Montero, who was recently designated for assignment, to the opposing clubhouse. In exchange, the Mariners received infielder Abraham Toro and veteran right-handed reliever Joe Smith.

While the Mariners were looking to add infield depth, which the switch-hitting Toro provides, trading Graveman, who was a popular leader in the clubhouse, was something more than perplexing upon first glance. It was infuriating for players and fans, who feel like the Mariners are refusing to commit to this team and its surprising success.

Asked why the move made sense for the Mariners, Dipoto offered this explanation.

“It probably doesn’t as a stand-alone, but it’s part of a context that I believe is going to be an ongoing story over the next couple of days,” he said. “So as we move toward the trade deadline (July 30). We have been pretty open in sharing the idea that we’re trying to both address present and future, and we remain actively engaged in the market and trying to address upgrades now, that will give us a chance to be as competitive as we can over the next 60 games and hopefully into the postseason.”

The vibe on the field before Tuesday’s game was expectedly subdued. The early work from the position players lacked the typical emotion and energy. Many disappeared into the clubhouse immediately.

“An hour ago, it was great,” said one player. “It was probably better than it’s ever been. And now, it’s the worst.”

Multiple pitchers emerged from the clubhouse with tears still in their eyes from saying goodbye to Graveman.

“You should’ve seen it earlier,” said a veteran player about the initial reaction.

Several players opted not to speak on the record about the move, but their anger was palpable. Sources said equipment was broken and smashed while one player “went absolutely mad.”

“Betrayed” was a word used often.

“Are you (expletive) kidding me?” said the same player. “It never changes. They don’t care about winning. How do you trade him and say you care about winning? And you trade him to Houston? It never changes.”


When the team was trending toward another losing campaign early in the season, Graveman figured he would likely be traded. He was on a one-year contract and a free agent after the season. With his success in his new role as a reliever, his value was high. But when the Mariners took three of four from the A’s and then beat the Astros on Monday to move to 55-46 and a game out of the second wild card, he thought his immediate future was to remain as the leader of this unexpectedly successful bullpen. A 4-0 record with 10 saves and a 0.82 ERA with nasty stuff made him valuable.

“I didn’t see it coming,” a tear-filled Graveman said while wearing an Astros uniform. “There’s that percent, and this game’s a business. I’m speaking truth and honest. The way I felt, we were nine games over .500 over on that side and playing some pretty good ball when I was there, so it kind of takes away from the last five days, honestly, I think. We’ll see if they bounce back from it.”

Dipoto admitted that the trade could disrupt the chemistry in the clubhouse and also affect the psyche of the team in the immediate aftermath.

“It’s definitely a concern, hopefully the next moves will make a little bit more sense of it for the guys,” he said. “I think they’ll find that we are very committed to adding to the team.”

Multiple players felt it was disingenuous for Dipoto to trade a team leader like Graveman at such an emotional time without offering some explanation for it in person. They found out from Graveman and social media.

“He hasn’t come down here,” a player said of Dipoto. “He sits up in his suite, playing fantasy baseball and rips apart our team without telling us anything.”

Another player via text said “no one has heard a thing.”

And later texted: “I’ve seen a lot of teammates walk out that door. But this one hurts the most and is the most (expletive) up. The team deserves an explanation.”

Perhaps Dipoto’s explanation to the players and to a fan base that feels hoodwinked after just becoming attached to this team and the goals of the front office and ownership had changed.

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me for two decades, shame on the franchise.

But Dipoto felt confident in what would be accomplished before Friday’s deadline.

“This is the first move in what should be a succession of moves over the course of this week that I think will result in the present team looking deeper, and the future team looking deeper, and that’s been the goal throughout,” Dipoto said.

Several players scoffed at the notion.

“Prove it,” one said.

Thanks for the refresher.

[Donn Beach]

Well there you go. Bummer, the Dodgers organization is just as bad as ours.

How is the dodgers organization just as bad as the
Mariners? Since hiring Friedman in 2015 47 playoff wins, three pennants, a WS title and the most regular season wins in MLB

Oh I don't know, maybe celebrating Trans sisters of whatever bullshit ceremony night might have something to do with it. The day the M's have a night of that, is the day I'm out as a fan for life.

Well if the mariners could figure out how to get to three WS in the next eight years I'd put up with it, and i bet you would too

[D-train]

[Seattle or Bust]

Angels broadcast said the Rangers pulled a number of players from their minor league games... wonder how much cash the Mets are eating to get prospects back.

[D-train]

The Mets only owe him about $14M. Non Poverty franchises don't mind paying that for a chance to win their first WS.