Heat Waved
Fansided

Arizona Diamondbacks Acquire Walker, Marte from Mariners

By Griffin Fabits

Sep 30, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Jean Segura (2) scores in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Jean Segura (2) scores in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Segura played one season with the Arizona Diamondbacks and put up career-bests in batting average, home runs, RBI, and hits.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired shortstop Ketel Marte and pitcher Taijuan Walker from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger, and Zac Curtis.

Walker and Marte both spent a majority of their 2016 seasons in the big leagues last season, helping the Mariners to finish at 86-76, 3.0 games shy of a wild card spot.

Walker compiled a record of 8-11, with a 4.22 ERA in in 25 starts with the big league club last year. The 24-year old has spent parts of four seasons in the major leagues with Seattle.

In 119 games in ’16, Marte hit .259/.287/.323 with 33 runs driven in. The 23-year old switch-hitter made his debut the previous year, batting .283 in 57 games to go along with his 17 RBI.

Of course, since they will receive two guys with a lot of potential, they were forced to give up some guys with a lot of talent.

More from Arizona Diamondbacks

Jean Segura especially. The D-Backs acquired Segura last January, when they sent over starter Chase Anderson for the 26-year old, along with prospect Tyler Wagner. In a season in which the D-Backs were supposed to flip the switch and play for October baseball, everyone flopped. Zack Greinke, their newly-acquired ace, and Shelby Miller, another pitcher former-GM Dave Stewart brought in, came nowhere near expectations. And not to mention, just days before Opening Day, center fielder A.J. Pollock broke his elbow and was sidelined for almost the entire season.

Segura shined in a season where there wasn’t a whole lot of shining. He slashed .319/.368/.499 – career-highs in all three categories – and played in 153 games. He also had career-bests in hits (203), home runs (20), and RBI (64), while leading the team in batting average and hits.

The D-Backs also had to part ways with outfielder Mitch Haniger and pitcher Zac Curtis, both who made appearances with the big league club last season. Haniger batted just .229 in the 34 games he appeared in, with five homers and 17 RBI. Curtis struggled in the 21 games he pitched in for the Diamondbacks last season. He allowed 10 earned runs and 13 hits over 13.1 innings pitched.

Marte doesn’t necessarily come into an ideal situation for a guy who saw a lot of playing time over his last two seasons in Seattle. The D-Backs still have Nick Ahmed, who has been their primary shortstop the last two years barring an injury. There’s also Chris Owings, the utility man who batted .277 last season in Arizona. In the 119 games Owings played in last season, 70 of them were played at shortstop.

And it’s not like they’ll just slide Marte or Ahmed over to third base. Jake Lamb has manned the hot-corner for the last few seasons, and doesn’t seem to be moved anytime soon. With Segura leaving, the second base position opens up. Marte has played second base in the minor leagues, but has been a shortstop in his time with the Mariners.

Just like the infield the D-Backs now have to sort out, the rotation is a mess, too. Right now, it looks as if it will be Greinke, Walker, Rubby De La Rosa, Robby Ray, and Archie Bradley. That excludes Braden Shipley and Shelby Miller. Last year, the D-Backs front office seemed hesitant to give up on Miller after a horrendous start to the season. The new staff will have several decisions to make, and Miller will certainly be a primary focus regarding those.

Next: Arizona Diamondbacks: Three Players Standing Out in the AFL

If the Diamondbacks wanted to receive two young guys like Walker and Marte, it obviously wouldn’t come at a cheap price. Sending Segura, Haniger, and Curtis to Seattle wasn’t easy, but what they got in return certainly is exciting.

Home/Arizona Diamondbacks