Call to the pen
Fansided

Seattle Mariners have tinkered too much with the roster

By David Hill

Jul 20, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Kendall Graveman (49) celebrates with catcher Cal Raleigh (29) after the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 20, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Kendall Graveman (49) celebrates with catcher Cal Raleigh (29) after the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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On paper, the Seattle Mariners got better at the trade deadline. They added more depth to their infield with Abraham Toro, landed a long term solution at closer with Diego Castillo, and improved the back of their rotation. One can see what general manager Jerry Dipoto was attempting to do at the deadline.

However, that trade to bring in Toro and reliever Joe Smith may have been a mistake. The deal sent Kendall Graveman, the Mariners’ former closer, to the division rival Astros. That deal had an extremely negative reaction in the clubhouse, with players outright questioning whether or not the franchise actually wanted to win.

Seattle Mariners made one trade too many

That trade has also had immediate repercussions. The Mariners watched as the Rangers walked them off twice over the weekend, with Castillo and Erik Swanson being victimized with walkoff homers.

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Prior to that trade, the Mariners were one of the hottest teams in the majors, sitting 1.5 games behind the A’s in the quest for the second Wild Card. Now, after that disastrous weekend against the Rangers, Seattle is 3.5 games back, and has seen both the Yankees and Blue Jays pass them by.

One has to wonder if those games would have turned out differently without that initial trade. Granted, Toro has been on fire since being acquired, with nine hits, including three doubles and two homers, in his 19 plate appearances, but Graveman had the confidence of the team. That is something that cannot be replaced.

Computer models and statistical upgrades can only indicate so much. They leave out the human dynamic, what a player means to the locker room and how much confidence they inspire. Those intangibles get lost, and that is something that, as a former player himself, Dipoto should realize. Instead, he based his moves on his computer models and projections, ignoring the locker room.

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The Seattle Mariners may be better on paper, but they ignored the human element. That may prove to be the biggest mistake of the deadline.

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