Mariners make big move: Outfielder Jarred Kelenic traded to Braves

NASHVILLE — In a ground-breaking deal that marks the second purge of veterans this winter by the Seattle Mariners, the Atlanta Braves have acquired outfielder Jarred Kelenic, left-hander Marco Gonzales, and first baseman Evan White from the Mariners for right-handers Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips, initiating the winter meetings with an unanticipated transaction by the Mariners that secured the Braves the high-upside outfielder.

This transaction is expected to save Seattle a substantial amount of future guaranteed money. While the Mariners included an unspecified amount of cash in the deal, White and Gonzales are owed $29 million.

The Braves, who are actively looking for a left fielder and rotation help, showed their willingness to take on the financial commitment for the 24-year-old Kelenic. He has shown potential and will be a valuable addition to a squad that had the highest slugging percentage of .501 in Major League Baseball history this year. Kelenic batted .253/.327/.419 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs in 105 games, but missed time due to a foot injury sustained after kicking a water cooler in frustration after a strikeout.

Kelenic was the last player remaining from the blockbuster 2018 trade that sent closer Edwin Diaz and second baseman Robinson Cano to the New York Mets. Once a top-five prospect in baseball, Kelenic has massive power and has struggled to make consistent contact, striking out 132 times in 416 plate appearances in 2023. Kelenic is not set to reach free agency until following the 2028 season, with just under two years of service time.

Gonzales, 31, underwent surgery to alleviate a nerve issue in his arm. He has been a reliable innings-eater in previous seasons but went 4-1 with a 5.22 ERA in 50 innings over 10 starts this year before being sidelined due to injury. He is owed $12 million in 2024 and has a $15 million option for 2025.

The Mariners signed White to a six-year, $24 million contract before his major league debut in 2020. White has struggled since his debut and has been plagued by injuries over the past two seasons at Triple-A. In total, he is owed $15 million over the next two seasons, with a $2 million buyout in 2026 on the first of three options the Braves now hold.

With the departures of Gonzales, White, and Suarez, who is making $11 million this season, the Mariners’ payroll now stands at around $110 million, well below their $137 million Opening Day payroll last season.

In contrast, the Braves now have an arsenal of young, homegrown starting pitchers and are eager to see the potential of Kowar and Phillips, the prospects they have acquired in this trade.

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto expressed his gratitude to the departing players and stated that the team will continue to work towards improving the squad for 2024 and beyond.

Phillips, 20, was taken by Atlanta in the second round of the 2022 draft after undergoing Tommy John surgery that April. Kowar, 27, was a first-round pick by Kansas City in 2018 and posted a 9.12 ERA in three seasons with the Royals before being traded to the Braves.