Mariners acquire Adam Lind from Brewers for three minor-league pitchers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — General manager Jerry Dipoto’s frenetic off-season roster overhaul showed no signs of slowing Wednesday as the Mariners acquired first baseman Adam Lind from Milwaukee.
The cost was three minor-league pitchers: Daniel Missaki, Carlos Herrera and Freddy Peralta. All are right-handers.
"Adam lengthens our lineup as a first baseman who gives us on-base percentage and power," Dipoto said. "First base was a spot we came here looking to fill, and we feel that Adam is a good fit for us."
The Mariners cleared space for Lind on their 40-man roster by designating first baseman Andy Wilkins for assignment. They acquired Wilkins on Dec. 2 in a waiver claim from Baltimore.
Lind, 32, is a left-handed hitting first baseman who batted .277 last season in 149 games with 20 homers and 87 RBIs. He is under contract next season for $8 million before becoming a free agent.
Because Lind struggles against left-handed pitchers, the trade could open a roster spot for Jesus Montero as the first baseman against left-handed pitchers.
"Certainly as it pertains to a right-handed portion of a platoon," Dipoto said, "he’s an option for us. One thing I can say is we do believe Jesus can hit. We’re going to find out if that fits for us."
Missaki, 19, was 1-2 with a 3.41 ERA last season in six starts at Lo-A Clinton before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery.
Peralta, 19, was 2-3 with a 4-11 ERA in 11 games in the Arizona Rookie League. Herrera, 18, was 4-2 with a 3.26 ERA in 14 starts in the Dominican Summer League.
Lind adds a potent bat against right-handers — a career slash of .293/.354/.509 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage). He is just .213/.259/.327 against lefties.
Dipoto previously characterized the hunt for a first baseman as one of the Mariners’ two remaining priorities. The other is bolstering a bullpen that has already undergone a significant makeover.
"It’s down to those two primary needs," he said. "That will be the way we spend our time."
The Mariners added a reliever late Tuesday when they obtained right-hander Evan Scribner from Oakland in a trade for minor-league reliever Trey Cochran-Gill.
"Evan brings us another experienced major-league reliever," Dipoto said, "who has exhibited strong control of the strike zone as well as the ability to miss bats. He’ll compete for a spot in our major-league bullpen."
Scribner, 30, had 64 strikeouts and just four walks in 60 innings, but he also allowed 14 homers in compiling a 4.35 ERA over 54 games before missing the season’s final month because of a strained back muscle.
The Mariners get four years of control with Scribner, although he is out of options and already eligible for salary arbitration.
That deal followed Monday’s four-player trade with Boston that netted left-handed starter Wade Miley and righty reliever Jonathan Aro in exchange for righty reliever Carson Smith and lefty starter Roenis Elias.
Dipoto accelerated efforts to get Miley after learning Sunday that free-agent Hisashi Iwakuma planned to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $45 million over three years.
The Mariners weren’t willing to move beyond a two-year deal in their efforts to retain Iwakuma, who was 47-25 with a 3.19 ERA in four seasons since arriving from Japan.
To date, the Mariners have moved 35 players on or off of their 40-man roster since the end of the season. The 19 acquisitions consist of 12 players acquired in seven trades, four free-agent signings and three waiver claims.
This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 9:57 AM with the headline "Mariners acquire Adam Lind from Brewers for three minor-league pitchers."