Diamondbacks: Evaluating The Tony La Russa Era

Jun 2, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Mark Trumbo against the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks defeated the Braves 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

VIDAL NUNO & MARK TRUMBO TRADED TO SEATTLE MARINERS FOR C WELLINGTON CASTILLO, DOMINIC LEONE, JACK REINHEIMER, AND GABRIEL GUERRERO

In tandem with Cahill trade the primary benefit of sending Mark Trumbo to the Mariners was to unload some salary. Additionally, it freed up an incredibly packed Diamondback outfield and specifically gave more playing time to Yasmany Tomas, whom the Diamondbacks had signed in the offseason to a 6-year, $68.5 million dollar contract. 

Through parts of two seasons with the Diamondbacks, Trumbo never lived up to the hype that surrounded a three-team deal that cost the Dbacks Adam Eaton and Tyler Skaggs. Take a look at his stats in 134 games with the team:

.247 AVG, 23 HR, 84 RBI, 38 BB, 128 K’s

Some depressing stuff, especially after clubbing nearly 100 home runs with the Angels in only three years. Regardless, the Diamondbacks cut their losses and, with the addition of Vidal Nuno who had been starting for Triple-A Reno, were able to get a solid catcher to replace Gosewisch.

The 28-year-old Wellington Castillo barely saw time with the Mariners. In fact, the Diamondbacks were his third team in 2015. He started the year with the Cubs, was traded to the Mariners and they shipped of to the desert after six games.

This salary-dump trade has actually worked out very well for the Diamondbacks so far. In 18 games with the team, he’s hit .259 with 4 HR and 12 RBI. Meaning Castillo has actually provided an actually spark from a catchers position that had plagued the Diamondbacks all year, especially since losing Tuffy Gosewisch for the entire year.

Dominic Leone and the others were optioned to the minor leagues.

Which brings us to the last of many deals….