Mariners Acquire Danny Valencia From Oakland

THE DEAL

Danny Valencia is on the move again. A masher of lefthanded pitching, Valencia was traded to the Mariners on Saturday for righthander Paul Blackburn.

Valencia, 32, is headed to his seventh team in eight years. He was originally drafted by the Twins in 2006 in the 19th round from Miami and has since played for the Red Sox, Orioles, Royals, Blue Jays and Athletics.

“Danny’s skill set is a good fit for our club,” Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto told reporters. “He’s been a very productive player, especially against left-handed pitching. In addition, his ability to handle all four corner positions presents (manager) Scott (Servais) with a welcome level of flexibility when creating lineups.”

Blackburn was acquired along with Dan Vogelbach from the Cubs in July for lefthander Mike Montgomery and righthander Jordan Pries. Coincidentally, Valencia could platoon with Vogelbach at first base with the Mariners.

ATHLETICS ACQUIRE
Paul Blackburn, rhp
Age: 22

Blackburn spent just five months in the Mariners organization. Drafted by the Cubs in 2012, Blackburn signed for $911,700 and moved slowly, compounded in 2015 by two disabled list stints—one for a fluke right foot injury, then for forearm soreness, but he was healthy in 2016, throwing 143 innings, plus 12 more in the postseason. Blackburn’s fastball tops out at 93 mph, but he fills the bottom of the strike zone. The curveball is an above-average offering and his changeup is a work in progress. He gets ground ball outs and keeps the ball in the ballpark. He would have ranked in the middle of the Mariners’ Top 30 prospects.

Club (League)	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
Tennessee (SL)	AA	6	4	3.17	18	18	0	102	96	47	36	6	26	72	.251
Jackson (SL)	AA	3	1	3.54	8	7	0	41	42	16	16	2	9	27	.268

MARINERS ACQUIRE
Danny Valencia, if/of
Age: 32

Valencia crushes lefthanders, hitting .318/.389/.535 in 2016 in 129 at-bats, and for his career it’s .321/.373/.500. Overall, Valencia had 17 homers, one off his career high. He’s been primarily a third baseman in the majors, but played first and the outfield as well in 2016.

Valencia’s trade was expected after he and former Athletics DH Billy Butler were engaged in an altercation in August. Butler was later released and played the remainder of the season with the Yankees.

Valencia is entering his final year of arbitration and can be a free agent after 2017. The Mariners are expected to deploy him at first base and in right field.

“I’m very excited about the chance to play in Seattle. They’re on the move,” Valencia told the San Jose Mercury News.