Trade Central: Mariners Get Lee From Dodgers For Taylor

THE DEAL

The Mariners on Sunday sent shortstop Chris Taylor to the Dodgers for 2010 first-round pick Zach Lee, a righthander who was the organization’s pitcher of the year in 2015.

Lee was not having as good as season as he did in 2015, going 7-5, 4.89. He’s among the PCL leaders in home runs allowed and hits allowed. Taylor has been productive offensively at Triple-A Tacoma but has struggled to replicate that success in the majors and had fallen behind Ketel Marte and Luis Sardinas on the Mariners’ depth chart.

MARINERS ACQUIRE
Zach Lee, rhp
Age: 24

The Dodgers gave Lee a then-franchise record $5.25 million bonus to pass on playing quarterback at LSU and turn pro. But while he’s twice won the organization’s pitcher of the year award, his fringy stuff makes him hittable, especially when he catches too much of plate. Lee has terrific command of a cutter, changeup and sinker, but he lacks a plus pitch. His success depends on being fine and changing batters’ eye levels. He’s expected to go to Triple-A Tacoma, where he’ll be rotation depth for a Mariners’ team that has Felix Hernandez and Wade Miley on the disabled list.

One evaluator who’s seen Lee says he expects the Texas prep product can still contribute at the major league level, calling him a sum-of-his-parts pitcher.

Club	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Oklahoma City (PCL)	AAA	7	5	4.89	13	13	74	95	47	40	11	15	57

DODGERS ACQUIRE
Chris Taylor, if
Age: 25

A fifth-round pick from Virginia in 2012, Taylor signed for $500,000 following his junior season. He was considered a glove-first prospect when he entered pro ball, but hit his way to the majors in 2014 after playing in the Triple-A all-star game in Durham that July. Taylor has hit well again at Tacoma this season, but it was clear he had fallen behind others players on the depth chart under the new regime of Jerry Dipoto. He has enough arm and range to play short, but he’s also played second and third this season and is better suited to a utility role. As opposed to years past, Taylor did most of his damage on the road at Triple-A, hitting .343/.409/.515 in 134 at-bats.