With free agent Hisashi Iwakuma heading to Los Angeles – though the deal is yet to be finalized – the Mariners were forced to make a trade to address their starting pitching need.
On Monday afternoon, just hours into the first day of the Major League Baseball winter meetings, general manager Jerry Dipoto completed a four-player trade with the Boston Red Sox, acquiring a starting pitcher and reliever and giving up a starting pitcher and a reliever.
Seattle picked up veteran left-hander Wade Miley and young right-handed reliever Jonathan Aro from Boston, while sending left-hander Roenis Elias and promising reliever Carson Smith to the Red Sox.