MLB

MLB Playoff Race: Seattle make a couple of waiver moves

Photo Credit: Fox News, Sports

Despite standing pat at the non-waiver deadline, Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto has already made a couple of trades that cleared the waiver wire. The first, and biggest, of these moves was to acquire Yondor Alonso from the Oakland Athletics for troubled outfielder Boog Powell.

Going out and trading for Alonso seems a little odd, considering how well current first baseman Danny Valencia has played this season; but it’s actually a logical move. Valencia is posting a wRC+ of 88 against right handed pitching, while Alonso’s wRC+ is 154 against righties — as for the lefties, Alonso’s wRC+ is 85 and Valencia’s is 145. The reason Dipoto went out and traded for Alonso was so that Seattle could lengthen it’s line-up against righties, so that the offense would be able to provide more run support for its frequently injured starting staff. To make room for their new first basemen, the Mariners won’t be able to carry an eight-man bullpen anymore, so someone is going to get sent down to Tacoma — unless David Phelp’s elbow discomfort is a serious injury.

To get Alonso, Dipoto had to give up one of his first trade acquisitions (in Seattle) in Powell; which is okay, because Powell has had issues with MLB’s drug policies and is just returning from an 80-game suspension. If he gets caught one more time he’s going to receive a lifetime ban. So it makes sense to move him now while he still has some value as a slapstick speedster with alright defense.

Seattle also acquired some bullpen help with MLB experience by trading for Ryan Garton, who’s only pitched in 10.1 innings at the major league level this season, and some triple-A catching depth in Mike Marjama. To get this extra help, the Mariners traded away promising 20-year old infielder Luis Rengifo and left handed pitcher Anthony Misiewicz. This trade seems like it’s about acquiring as much depth as possible for when the rosters expand to 40 in September; give some more of the bullpen guys a chance to rest and give manager Scott Servais another option at catcher down the stretch for the playoff push.

DIVISION LEADERS

(DIVISION) 

LEADERS

WINS-  LOSSES PROJECTED

W-L

DIVISION

ODDS

WILDCARD

ODDS

PLAYOFF 

ODDS

(AL East)

Red Sox

63-49 91-71 75.8% 20.7% 96.5%
(AL Central)

Indians

59-50 91-71 92% 5.4% 97.4%
(AL West)

Astros

71-40 101-61 100% 0% 100%
(NL East)

Nationals

65-44 95-67 99.9% 0% 99.9%
(NL Central)

Cubs

58-52 98-73 85.9% 3.6% 89.5%
(NL West)

Dodgers

79-32 110-52 100% 0% 100%

AMERICAN LEAGUE WILDCARD

TEAMS  GAMES 

BACK

WINS-LOSSES PROJECTED 

W-L

WILDCARD

ODDS

DIVISION

ODDS

Yankees – X 2 59-51 86-75 55.1% 19.5%
Royals – X 0 57-53 83-79 34.1% 7.3%
Rays -0.5 58-55 83-79 29.7% 3.8%
Mariners -1.5 57-56 81-81 21.7% 0%
Orioles -2.5 55-56 79-83 7.7% 0.5%
Angels -3 55-57 80-82 9.8% 0%
Twins -3.5 53-56 78-84 5.1% 0.4%

X-Currently holds a wildcard spot

NATIONAL LEAGUE WILDCARD

TEAMS  GAMES BACK  WINS-LOSSES PROJECTED W-L WILDCARDODDS DIVISIONODDS
Rockies – X 0.5 64-48 89-73 87.1% 0%
Diamondbacks – X 0 63-48 89-73 88.1% 0%
Brewers -5 59-54 81-81 7.0% 5.2%
Cardinals -8 55-56 82-80 8.8% 7.3%
Pirates -9 54-57 79-83 2.1% 1.6%
Marlins -10 52-57 78-84 2.5% 0.1%
Braves -11.5 51-59 74-88 0.2% 0%

X-Currently holds a wildcard spot

Playoff odds are courtesy of Fangraphs as of 8/7/2017

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