SEATTLE (AP) The Seattle Mariners finally landed the established shortstop they’ve long been trying to find.
To do it, they had to part with a talented young pitcher who still has the potential to blossom.
Seattle and Arizona pulled off a five-player trade Wednesday night, with the Mariners acquiring speedy infielder Jean Segura and the Diamondbacks getting right-hander Taijuan Walker as the centerpieces of the deal.
Segura immediately projects as Seattle’s leadoff hitter and starting shortstop, solidifying an infield that already includes Kyle Seager at third base and Robinson Cano at second. But getting Segura meant the Mariners had to give up on the inconsistent Walker, a power arm who has showed occasional flashes of brilliance.
”It’s always hard. It’s hard anytime you give up talent like Taijuan,” Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said. ”Frankly, you have to give to get … and Segura fit this club.”
Arizona also obtained shortstop Ketel Marte, while Seattle received outfielder Mitch Haniger and left-hander Zac Curtis.
The addition of Walker could help a dreadful Arizona pitching staff that posted a 5.09 ERA last season, tied with Minnesota for worst in the majors. He joins a rotation that includes ace Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller, Patrick Corbin and Archie Bradley.
The Diamondbacks finished 69-93 last season, fourth in the NL West.
A touted prospect, the 24-year-old Walker went 8-11 with a 4.22 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 25 starts for Seattle last season. He would be outstanding one game and then struggle the next.
”Young, controllable pitching is hard to find, and adding Taijuan to the rotation gives us significant depth in that area,” new Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said. ”In Ketel, we believe we have acquired a talented, switch-hitting shortstop to join a very solid core of young middle infielders.”
Segura is an immediate upgrade at shortstop for Seattle, which went 86-76 last season and finished three games out of a playoff spot. He hit .319 with 20 home runs, 33 stolen bases and 63 RBIs for the Diamondbacks, who acquired him from Milwaukee in a January trade.
”This trade made more sense for where our roster is, and Jean Segura fit this club about as well as any player we were looking at,” Dipoto said.
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