With the Winter Meetings underway, the off-season shakeup starts now. The Atlanta Braves wasted no time acquiring their left-field replacement for Eddie Rosario. The Seattle Mariners, looking to acquire a significant named outfielder, have traded Jarred Kelenic to the Braves. The Braves also acquire left-hander Marco Gonzales and first baseman Evan White. In exchange, they send right-handers Cole Philips and Jackson Kowar to the Mariners.
The Atlanta Braves and Seattle Mariners are in agreement on a trade that will send outfielder Jarred Kelenic, left-hander Marco Gonzales and first baseman Evan White to the Braves in exchange for right-handers Cole Phillips and Jackson Kowar, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 4, 2023
What Kelenic Brings to the Table
Kelenic, at 24, had his first positive season last year with the Mariners. Before 2023, he slashed a .168 batting average, .251 OBP and .589 OPS in 147 games across two years. Kelenic also had an OPS+ of 66, way below the league average. 2023 was the turn of a new page for the outfielder. Playing in 105 games last season, he hit .253 at the plate and earned a .327 OBP and an OPS of .746. He also jumped his OPS+ to 109, above the league average. Kelenic only 11 home runs in 2023. However, injuries slowed him down, as he broke his foot last season after he kicked a water cooler in July in a game against the Minnesota Twins. Kelenic came back in September, and the Mariners missed the postseason.
What Gonzalez Brings to the Table
Gonzales gives the Braves contention for a pitching option in 2024. Gonzales, who turns 32 at the start of next season, pitched in 10 games in 2023 before undergoing season-ending surgery for a nerve issue in his forearm. He earned a 5.22 ERA, 1.460 WHIP, and FIP of 4.28 in 50 innings. Gonzales is set to earn $12.25 million in 2024.
Evan White earned a six-year, 24-million-dollar contract in 2020 with club options in 2026, 2027 and 2028. White debuted in 2020, the same season he earned a Gold Glove award. He has struggled at the plate in his major league career, hitting .165 in 84 career games. He hasn’t played in the majors since the 2021 season and played two games last season in Triple-A due to injury issues. White will earn $7 million in 2024 and has a $2 million buyout in 2026.
What the Mariners Receive
Conversely, the Mariners acquired Jackson Kowar and Cole Phlilips from the Braves. The Braves acquired Kowar on November 17 after sending Kyle Wright to Atlanta. Cole Philips, the Braves’ second-round pick in the 2022 June Amateur Draft, has yet to make his major league debut. Philips has fought through injuries and looks to earn his debut in the majors in the upcoming season.
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