Mariners trade Kelenic, Gonzales, White to Atlanta Braves

The Seattle Mariners have executed a significant trade with the Atlanta Braves, involving the transfer of three well-known players. Outfielder Jarred Kelenic, left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales, and first baseman Evan White, along with cash considerations, have been sent to the Braves in exchange for right-handed pitchers Cole Phillips and Jackson Kowar. The trade, reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN and Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times on Sunday night, was subsequently confirmed by the Mariners.

The trade occurred on the first day of MLB’s annual winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn. Mariners’ President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto expressed gratitude to the departing players for their contributions and emphasized the team’s ongoing efforts to enhance performance for the 2024 season and beyond. Dipoto highlighted the acquisitions of Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips, along with the resulting roster and payroll flexibility, as strategic steps toward achieving this goal.

According to Passan, Cole Phillips, a 20-year-old prospect, was ranked seventh in Atlanta’s farm system and was a second-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. However, he has yet to play professionally due to recovering from Tommy John surgery. On the other hand, Jackson Kowar, 27, a first-round pick in 2018, has appeared in 39 MLB games with the Kansas City Royals over the past three seasons, recently joining the Braves in the offseason. Kowar has a career 9.12 ERA over 39 games, including eight starts.

The trade also involves the departure of 24-year-old Jarred Kelenic, a 2018 first-rounder by the Mets, who had a standout season with the Mariners in 2023. Kelenic, entering his last year of pre-arbitration, posted impressive statistics with a .253/.327/.419 slash line, 11 home runs, 25 doubles, two triples, and 13 stolen bases in 105 games.

Marco Gonzales, 31, the most seasoned player in the deal, spent 6 1/2 seasons with the Mariners, displaying success and leadership. However, he has been working to recover from a forearm issue that led to season-ending surgery after appearing in just 10 games in 2023. Gonzales is due to make $12 million in 2024, the final year of his four-year, $30 million deal.

Evan White, 27, has been plagued by injuries, preventing him from playing in the majors since 2021. A Gold Glove winner in 2020, White signed a six-year, $24 million deal with Seattle in 2020, with team options extending his contract through 2028. His career slash line stands at .165/.235/.308 for a .544 OPS in 84 MLB games.