Amid the flurry shower blizzard of offseason moves the Seattle Mariners made this year, the first of the winter has the potential to most impact the 2019 team. On November 7, an eternity on the Jerry Dipoto trade-fueled timeline, the Mariners sent polarizing catcher Mike Zunino and glove-first outfielder Guillermo Heredia to Tampa Bay. Dipoto, somewhat puzzlingly, also included pitcher Michael Plassmeyer, a 2018 fourth-round draft pick who was one of the few well-regarded lefties (by outside scouts) in the minor leagues.
The return for those three netted Mallex Smith, who stands to be the team’s everyday center fielder, and Jake Fraley, a mechanically exciting hitter likely headed for Double-A.