Updated Dec 19, 2012 - 3:53 pm

Mariners trade Jason Vargas for Kendrys Morales

listen Listen: Zduriencik discusses what Morales brings to the Mariners

General manager Jack Zduriencik joins "The Kevin Calabro Show" to explain why the Mariners traded starting pitcher Jason Vargas for first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales.

By Shannon Drayer

The Mariners have announced they have traded Jason Vargas to the Angels for Kendrys Morales. Add one bat to the lineup, subtract one pitcher.

Both players exchanged were in their final year of arbitration eligibility, with Morales earning $2.97 million in 2012 and Vargas $4.85 million. There is a chance the Mariners could end up with more dollars to spend after this deal.

Of immediate interest is where he will play. He got the bulk of his at-bats last year as the DH but did have 28 games at first. Obviously he was bumped by a guy named Pujols, but my question would be how much he could be played in the field with his ankle issues. I am assuming that he will get most of his at-bats as the DH with the Mariners.

Regardless, this move gives Justin Smoak a heck of a wakeup call. It also makes the catching situation interesting. Last week I asked Eric Wedge on the "Hot Stove League Show" who would catch the majority of the games in 2013 and he answered that he hoped it would be Jesus Montero. It looks like he may need to now. Then what happens when Mike Zunino is called up? Well, we shall see.

If Morales needs to play primarily at DH then this move also impacts John Jaso in a great way. The plan all along with Jaso and Montero was to get them work at first this spring. It looks like it would be in their best interest to show something there this spring.

We should have more answers soon as Jack Zduriencik will talk with reporters. In the press release Eric Wedge said, "Kendrys gives us a veteran presence and a proven, middle-of-the order bat, with power from both sides of the plate. Adding him to our lineup immediately makes us a better offensive club."

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Ed Altizer wrote...

Good trade....

December 19, 2012 2:13 pm

Morales is definitely an upgrade over what we currently have. Remembering what we have are young players who could very well put it all together in 2013 and then we would have quite a powerful line-up. Losing Vargas is tough but this is one of those situations where each team benefits. Morales is only 29 and last year was his "comeback" year. He has the ability to put up even heftier numbers. I like the trade and am looking forward to watching it unfold. As for Smoak, Shannon is absolutely correct, this is a wake-up call for him. I very much hope he rises to the occasion and gives us the numbers we've hoped for the past 3 years.

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sambra27 wrote...

Speculating further

December 19, 2012 2:24 pm

We could anticipate that both Jack Z and Wedge think Hultzen will be ready out of spring training, given our current rotation (Felix, Erasmo, Iwakuma, Beavan) are all righties. Trading out only lefty starter leaves rooms for a lefty replacement.

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Ed Altizer wrote...

Oh...one more thing

December 19, 2012 2:25 pm

I hope Jack Z. isn't finished. We could still use another bat and I hope he can land Swisher or Mike Morse. LaRoche might be off the radar since he is a 1st baseman. C'mon Jack....make it happen!

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Pilate wrote...

Park Factor

December 19, 2012 2:46 pm

With the fences coming in next year, Vargas was the obvious one to be dealt. Gave up a lot of home runs last year, even pitching half the time at Safeco. Sorry to see him go, but power/ground ball pitchers, like it looks like we have coming up soon, should have better success now that there's less park to work with.
Good luck in Anaheim, Jason, just not against us.

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bigmoccs wrote...

playoffs.....

December 19, 2012 3:49 pm

Well we will get to see Vargas in the post-season! Like Fister we will have a player to root for when he pitches in the playoffs!

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Stevil wrote...

Wonderful

December 19, 2012 4:01 pm

So, we give the Angels a key missing piece they need, and we get another DH/1B type. Maybe they plan to play him in RF some, but his days in the outfield should be done, and we still need a real outfielder. I don't see how this move helps. More times than not, if he's in the line-up, Jaso or Montero isn't. And again, Vargas makes an already Angels team stronger, while we remain pieces short. Maybe the plan is to start Smoak in Tacoma. In that case, this would make a little more sense. But really, strengthening a division rival, even if for only a year, just isn't exciting.

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New Mariner wrote...

Only Time Will Tell

December 19, 2012 4:29 pm

Only time will tell if this is a win win for both clubs. I like the fact that we finally got a hitter for some offense. Jason may be glad to leave with the fences moving in to make Safeco more hitter friendly. It takes away a left handed starter but we get some offensive power. Morales hit as well as Swisher and Bourne and we didn't have to give up our #12 draft pick and pay through the nose to do it. It puts Mr. Smoak's feet to the fire to perforn at the plate which I hope he does. Just like he came on at the end of the season would be nice. I don't want to give up on any of these youngsters prematurely. My handle says it all I am new to being a Mariners fan but all I hear from my girlfriend when we watch ballgames is that guy used to be a Mariner, that guy used to be a Mariner. If most of them were still Mariners we would have a great ballclub. I think Jack just made a deal that looks like it will be a win win. Lets hope. Come on spring training!!

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retired_guy wrote...

good move

December 19, 2012 5:30 pm

Love the trade. Would have liked Trumbo more though because he is an OF and maybe a thirdbaseman. This puts the heat on Smoak, Carp, and Montero. I think Carp hit much better last year when he played 1st. Do you think either Carp or Montero can play 3rd? I think some catchers have moved there. I'm not a Swisher fan. He did well in NY but he sucked in Chicago. I don't think he is main hitter. In NY they had Cano, ARod, Granderson, and Jeter. Mike Morse would be good fit. A good hitter who bulked up.

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Derrol_o wrote...

Trade

December 19, 2012 6:36 pm

Regardless of whether it turns out to be a good move or not so good, it was the correct move. I was looking over his pre-injury stats from '09 and I have to say they are very impressive. .306/34/108 with 43 doubles and .924 OPS. Can he get back to putting up those kinds of numbers again? That's what I'm hoping for and what I'll consider the benchmark as opposed to last year's stats. They weren't bad last year but I'm hoping he finds his '09 stroke again. Based on what you said Shannon about how he finished last season along with the offseason workouts it's cause for optimism. I like this move. It sucks having to give up Vargas, a good warhorse at the top of the rotation but I guess it had to be done.

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Selkirk wrote...

Jaso

December 19, 2012 7:26 pm

Jaso was a good athletic base runner. Has there ever been talk of getting him some work in the outfield? I would hate to lose his clutch bat.

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Dj7675 wrote...

Does John Jaso Exist in Wedge's Mind?

December 19, 2012 7:44 pm

Shannon, Hoping you can shed some light on this...Last year without a doubt the best hitter on the team was Jaso. This, despite him being the forgotten guy the first month of the season. Then asked about the starting catcher and mentions Montero with no Mention of Jaso. If he doesn't want to start Jaso against lefties I understand but he should get just about every at bat against right handed pitchers. Seems to me, against right handed pitchers it would be Jaso Catching, Morales at DH and Smoak at First. Regardless, I just don't get why Jaso gets zero respect, and why Wedge doesn't come out and say Jaso is the starting catcher since most starting pitchers are right handed. I just don't get it...

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Stevil wrote...

^

December 20, 2012 4:55 am

I have had all the same thoughts. It scares me a little to think Wedge learned nothing last season.

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Updated Dec 19, 2012 - 3:53 pm

Mariners trade Jason Vargas for Kendrys Morales

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Zduriencik discusses what Morales brings to the Mariners

Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012