The Seattle Mariners, having generated as many questions as answers in their offseason moves, are continuing that course by trading two players – including another relief pitcher – for an infielder with a recent history of injury.
The Mariners are expected to announce by Friday a deal to acquire veteran second baseman Jose Vidro from the Washington Nationals in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Emiliano Fruto and outfielder Chris Snelling.
The players must pass physical exams before the trade is finalized, and that isn’t likely to happen until Friday.
Meanwhile, the Mariners are expected to make official today what became apparent two days ago: the signing of free agent starting pitcher Miguel Bautista. The veteran right-hander was in Seattle on Wednesday for a physical exam, the final step after agreeing to a three-year contract worth between $24 and $27 million, according to reports.
The Mariners did not comment on the trade with the Nationals, although Vidro confirmed it in a conversation Wednesday night with The Washington Post.
“I’m very excited,” he told the newspaper. “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to go to the American League and play for a team that has a pretty good shot. They have a legitimate lineup, and they’re going to sign some pitchers. It’s looking very good.”
The Post said the Mariners will pay $12 million of the $16 million remaining on Vidro’s contract for the next two seasons. Vidro also agreed to waive his no-trade clause.
Vidro, a 32-year-old switch hitter, was considered one of the top offensive second basemen in baseball but has a recent history of leg problems that have hurt his power potential. After career highs of 24 home runs and 97 RBI with the Montreal Expos in 2000, he has been slowed by knee and ankle injuries. He produced just 14 home runs and 79 RBI in two seasons with the Nationals, and hasn’t played more than 110 games since 2003.
“I was sorry that I didn’t get to be as healthy as I would like to have been in Washington,” Vidro told The Post. “But I think I can get back to the player I was, definitely.”
Because of Vidro’s chronic knee problems, the Mariners are likely to play him more at designated hitter, with some duty at second base backing up starter Jose Lopez.
The Mariners currently have left-handed-hitting DH Ben Broussard, who platooned at the position last season after being acquired from the Cleveland Indians. Vidro got the majority of his 663 at-bats – and hit for more power – last year as a left-hander, although he batted .323 right-handed compared with a .276 average left-handed.
Snelling, 25, lost his opportunity in the Mariners’ outfield when the team signed free agent Jose Guillen last week. The trade will allow Snelling, whose high expectations as a left-handed hitter have been undermined by injuries, to compete for the Nationals’ starting job in left field.
However, the loss of 22-year-old Fruto has thrown further uncertainty into the Mariners’ relief pitching, especially the late-inning bridge to closer J.J. Putz.
The Mariners traded away valued right-hander Rafael Soriano last week to the Atlanta Braves for starting pitcher Horatio Ramirez, and Fruto, a highly regarded prospect who pitched 23 games in relief last year, figured to be one of the candidates for right-handed setup duty. The trade leaves Julio Mateo, Jon Huber and Sean Green as the current right-handed setup possibilities, barring more offseason movement.
Besides the physical exams to finalize the Mariners-Nationals trade, Bautista is expected to complete his physical this morning and meet the Seattle media this afternoon as the M’s announce his signing.
Bautista will give the Mariners four pitchers for the 2007 starting rotation – along with Felix Hernandez, Jarrod Washburn and Ramirez – with the fifth spot likely to be determined at spring training among Cha Seung Baek, Jake Woods and Sean White.
Bautista, who will turn 36 in February, made 33 starts last season for the Arizona Diamondbacks, going 11-8 with three complete games, one shutout and a 4.58 earned run average. For his career he’s 68-79 with a 4.46 ERA, having pitched for the Pirates, Marlins, Cubs, Expos, Royals, Blue Jays and Diamondbacks.
Bautista’s best year was 2001, when he went 11-8, 3.36 in 18 starts during the Diamondbacks’ World Series championship season.
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