MLB.com reporters Manny Randhawa and David Adler are filling in one more time for Daniel Kramer to bring you the Mariners Beat newsletter, breaking down Seattle's recent pair of trades.
The Mariners swung a pair of major trades last week, fortifying their outfield and adding some much-needed pitching depth. With the acquisition of Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani from the Giants, as well as Luke Raley from the Rays, Seattle is bringing in a mix of the familiar and the new.
Here’s a look at what each player brings to the roster:
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Mitch Haniger (OF)
There are three keys for Haniger as he returns to Seattle: health, health and … health. In all but two of the 33-year-old’s seven Major League seasons, he’s played in fewer than 100 games.
That includes last season with the Giants, when he appeared in 61 games and posted a career-low .631 OPS. When Haniger is regularly in the lineup, he’s dangerous. In 2018 and '21, he played in 157 games. In ’18, he hit 26 home runs with an .859 OPS, and in ‘21, he set career highs with 39 homers and 100 RBIs.
Reunited with the Mariners, Haniger will have familiarity on his side as he looks to avoid the injured list in 2024. If he does, his reacquisition could pay big dividends.
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Anthony DeSclafani (RHP)
The Mariners have a strong rotation, but entering this offseason, depth was an issue behind the starting five. DeSclafani could provide some if he can stay healthy.
After signing a three-year, $36 million deal with San Francisco prior to the 2021 campaign, the veteran right-hander turned in the finest season of his career, posting a 3.17 ERA across 31 starts. But a slew of injuries -- particularly recurring ankle problems and an elbow strain -- limited him to 23 combined starts in ‘22 and ‘23.
With a full offseason to recover from the elbow injury, the hope is that he’ll recapture his form from ’21.
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Luke Raley (1B/OF)
Raley is one of those hidden gem-type players the Rays seem to find so regularly these days. He brings three qualities to a team: power, speed and defensive versatility -- an important trio for today's Major League game. Raley was probably a lot better last season than you realized, a lefty slugger who produced 19 home runs, 14 stolen bases and a 126 OPS+ while playing first base and all three outfield positions.
The 29-year-old's underlying tools back up the numbers he posted. As a power-speed threat, Raley ranked in the 84th percentile of MLB in barrel rate (12.9%) and the 87th percentile in sprint speed (28.8 ft/sec). He was one of 10 players who were in the top 20 percent of the league in both categories, a list that also included players like Mike Trout, Luis Robert Jr., Matt Chapman, Byron Buxton … and Teoscar Hernández.
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REMEMBERING RAY'S BEST MOMENTS
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The Mariners' surprise trade of Ray brought the southpaw's time in Seattle to an end much sooner than anyone expected after they inked him to a five-year deal in December 2021. With a playoff loss in '22 and Tommy John surgery after just one start in '23, Ray's tenure with the Mariners certainly didn't end the way he'd like.
But let's take a moment to appreciate the highlights of Ray's 2022 season with the Mariners, when he struck out 212 batters and helped Seattle shatter its 20-year postseason drought.
Here are three of Ray's top moments as a Mariner.
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1. Mariners debut on Opening Day 2022
Ray was the defending AL Cy Young Award winner when he put on the Mariners uniform for the first time and got the ball on Opening Day 2022. He went out and pitched like it.
Ray shut down the Twins for seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits with five strikeouts to get the win in a tight, 2-1 game with his first strikeout as a Mariner coming against Minnesota slugger Miguel Sanó.
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2. Dominating Ohtani
The reigning Cy Young winner faced the reigning MVP for the first time on Aug. 5 in Seattle. And in the Robbie Ray versus Shohei Ohtani showdown, Ray won. He struck out the two-way superstar three straight times on his way to a seven-inning, one-run,10-strikeout gem.
Ray overpowered Ohtani with a 97 mph fastball in his first at-bat, got him to chase a nasty slider down-and-away in his second at-bat and fanned him on another slider just off the corner in his third at-bat. No pitcher has struck out Ohtani three times in a game since.
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3. Red-hot run during the playoff chase
Ray had one of his best stretches of the 2022 season during one of the most important points of the season.
From his first start of August through his first start of September, Ray went 4-0 with a 1.38 ERA and 44 strikeouts in six starts, capped off by back-to-back scoreless outings to beat the eventual AL Central champion Guardians on Aug. 28 and Sept. 3.
The Mariners started August seven games over .500 at 55-48. After the last of those six starts by Ray, they were 17 games over .500 at 75-58.
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MORE READING ON THE MARINERS' TRADES
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