Just over a year ago, the Mariners acquired Rob Whalen, along with Max Povse, in exchange for catching-prospect-turned-outfield-prospect-turned-catching-prospect, Alex Jackson. At the time of the deal, Fangraphs’ KATOH projection system pegged Whalen at 3.3 fWAR over the next six years.
Whalen, 23, struggled to stay healthy through his first spring training in the Mariners organization; a calf strain had him on crutches in mid-March, and he started the year on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation. He was eventually activated and optioned to Triple-A for the end of April, but the results suggest he wasn’t quite right.