SEATTLE — The Atlanta Braves acquired outfielder Jared Kelenic, pitcher Marco Gonzalez and infielder Evan White from the Seattle Mariners on Sunday night in exchange for right-handed pitcher Cole Phillips and pitcher Jackson Kower.
The move adds a veteran left-hander to the Braves’ pitching staff, along with Kelenic, who was once one of baseball’s top young prospects.
In the process, Seattle gave up on Kelenic in order for the Braves to take over Gonzalez and White’s contracts, taking a significant portion of his salary off his payroll.
Seattle is sending cash to Atlanta as part of the trade.
Gonzalez is owed $12 million for the 2024 season, while White has $17 million left in guaranteed money on his contract.
“We go through this offseason with the goal of improving our team for 2024 and beyond, but with the additions of Jackson Kower and Cole Phillips, and the roster and payroll flexibility created tonight, We believe this will move us closer to that goal,” Seattle President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto said in a statement.
Kelenic is a huge piece for Atlanta in this deal.
Kelenic, once a valuable prospect in the New York Mets organization, was traded to Seattle in December 2018 when the Mariners sent Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the Mets.
At the time, Kelenic was one of the top prospects in the minors, but his transition to the majors was difficult.
Last season was Kelenic’s first extended stint as a Mariners starter, but even that season he had developmental issues, missing about two months after breaking his foot kicking a cooler in the dugout.
Kelenic finished the season with a .253 batting average, 11 home runs, and 49 RBIs in 105 games.
Gonzalez is the longest-tenured member of Seattle’s roster since he was acquired in a trade from St. Louis in 2017.
He was at the top of Seattle’s rotation for a while, but struggled at times over the past two seasons.
Gonzalez, 31, started 148 games over seven seasons with Seattle, posting a 4.08 ERA.
Gonzalez appeared in just 10 games last season before undergoing surgery to relieve pressure on a nerve in his left arm.
He is expected to be ready by the start of spring training.
White, 27, has had his career defined by injuries since agreeing to a $24 million, six-year contract in November 2019, before making his major league debut.
He won a Gold Glove Award for his play as a first baseman during the discontinued 2020 season, but has not been able to stay healthy in the years since.
White has not played in the majors since appearing in 30 games during the 2021 season.
He is owed $7 million next year, $8 million in 2025, and a $2 million club option buyout for 2026.
Kowar, 27, has major league experience and pitched in 23 games as a reliever for Kansas City last season.
But Phillips is a trade partner that could be useful for Seattle in the future.
The 20-year-old was a second-round draft pick in 2022 and was one of the top-10 prospects in Atlanta’s farm system despite having yet to pitch in a professional game.
Phillips underwent Tommy John surgery before the 2022 draft and has yet to make his pro debut.
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos told Atlanta media on a conference call that the trade has completed the search for a left fielder to replace Eddie Rosario, whose $9 million club option was declined.
Kelencic will get a chance to take the job alongside infielder Vaughn Grissom, who will begin practicing as an outfielder in Puerto Rico’s winter league.
Grissom has struggled defensively as a shortstop, but has shown promising offensive skills, so the Braves will be looking to find a way to get his bat into the lineup.
The right-handed hitter may form a left-wing lineup with Kelenic, who is a left-handed hitter, and provide backup in the middle of the infield.
Gonzalez provides another back-end option for a rotation that struggled to fully anchor its pitching staff during an injury-plagued 2023 season.
The Braves are also looking to give free agent signee Reynaldo López a chance to start after playing only as a reliever the past two seasons, but Anthopoulos will add another first-line starter to the rotation. If possible, that plan could change. Includes Spencer Strider, Max Freed, Charlie Morton, and Bryce Elder.
