Padres Trade Seth Smith To Mariners

Per Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, the deal involving outfielder Seth Smith to the Seattle Mariners is now complete. The Padres will receive, as reported earlier, pitcher Brandon Maurer. Smith leaves the Padres after one solid season, and Maurer will compete for the open fifth starter’s spot in the Padres’ starting rotation.

Seth Smith for Brandon Maurer deal is done, source says.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) December 30, 2014

Maurer, in two seasons with the Mariners, has posted a career record of 6-12, with an ERA of 5.58. He has 159 2/3 innings of big league work, and the 24-year-old has 21 career starts under his belt. His FIP is 4.29, and his career WHIP sits at 1.466. If he fails to make the rotation out of spring training, expect Maurer to start the season in Triple-A El Paso.

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Smith, a 32-year-old outfielder was acquired by the Padres last year from the Oakland A’s in exchange for reliever Luke Gregerson. In 2014, Smith hit up and down the Friars lineup, finishing with a triple slash line of .266/.367/.440. He also tallied 12 home runs and 48 runs driven in, to go along with 69 walks and 44 runs scored. Smith was rumored to possibly be involved in other deals, with interest from the Baltimore Orioles, along with a possible move to first base for the Padres.

The deal now adds another power arm to the mix for the Padres, while unloading the first of a logjam of outfielders after A.J. Preller acquired Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, and Justin Upton during the winter meetings in San Diego. The Padres still have Carlos Quentin, Will Venable, Cameron Maybin, and Abraham Almonte on the current 25-man roster. Smith was the best of the lot, and Preller probably could’ve gotten more in return than a young arm, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

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