In a surprising move Wednesday, the Seattle Mariners announced they have traded starting pitcher Taijuan Walker and infielder Ketel Marte to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for shortstop Jean Segura, outfielder Mitch Haniger and left-handed pitcher Zac Curtis.
Taijuan Walker was selected by the Mariners with the 43rd pick in the 2010 MLB Draft, and was first called up to the big leagues in September 2013. In his four seasons with the Mariners, Walker appeared in 65 games and made 62 starts. He compiled a 22-22 overall record with a 4.18 earned run average (ERA). In 25 starts last season Walker was 8-11 with a 4.22 earned run average (ERA).
Ketel Marte signed with the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 13, 2010, as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic, and was first promoted to the big leagues on July 31, 2015. In parts of two season with the Mariners, Marte hit .267 with three home runs and 50 runs batted in (RBI) in 176 career games.
Shortstop Jean Segura is considered by many to be the best player the Mariners are receiving from the Arizona Diamondbacks. “Segura was one of the premiere offensive players in the Majors last season. We believe pairing him with Robinson Cano gives us tremendous offensive potential in the middle of our infield,” said Mariners General Manager Jerry Dipoto in a news release provided by the team. Segura, who turns 27 in March, hit .319 with 20 home runs and 64 RBIs in 153 games for the Diamondbacks last season.
Outfielder Mitch Haniger, who turns 26 in December, hit .229 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 34 games after being called up by the Diamondbacks last season. He was originally drafted 38th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012 out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and was traded to the Diamondbacks in 2014.
Pitcher Zac Curtis made his major league debut on April 30, 2016, for the Diamondbacks and went 0-1 with a 6.75 earned run average nin 21 appearances this season. Curtis was a sixth-round selection by the Diamondbacks in the 2014 MLB Draft from Middle Tennessee State University.
To make room on the Major League 40 man roster, the Mariners have designated pitcher Pat Venditte for assignment. Venditte was acquired by the Mariners from the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 6, 2016, and went on to appear in seven games with a 0-0 record, a 6.08 earned run average and 12 strikeouts. Venditte is known for being able to pitch proficiently with both arms and has been called a “switch-pitcher.”