SEATTLE MARINERS
Mariners trade for local products Matthew Boyd, Jake Lamb
Aug 2, 2022, 2:26 PM | Updated: 3:44 pm
The Mariners have added depth by going local, making minor trades for both left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd from the San Francisco Giants and corner infielder/outfielder Jake Lamb from the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of Tuesday’s 3 p.m. MLB trade deadline.
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Boyd, who was born and raised on Mercer Island and starred at Eastside Catholic High School before going to Oregon State for college, was part of a four-player deal Seattle made Tuesday with the Giants that also got them veteran catcher Curt Casali. For more on Casali and that full trade, read this story.
Lamb, 31, is a one-time All-Star who comes over from the Dodgers for cash considerations or a player to be named later. He should provide Seattle with pop against right-handed pitching down the stretch as the team makes a push for its first playoff berth in 21 years.
A left-handed hitter, Lamb has played mostly left field this season but came up as a third baseman and has experience at first, as well. He grew up in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood and starred at both Bishop Blanchet High School and for the UW Huskies.
Lamb has played 25 games for the Dodgers this season, hitting two home runs, five doubles and a triple. He owns a .239/.338/.433 slash line for a .770 OPS. Prior to his time with the Dodgers, Lamb spent 6 1/2 seasons with Arizona, and has had stints with the Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. His best season came in 2017 with the Diamondbacks when he hit 30 homers with 105 RBIs, making the National League All-Star team along the way.
Boyd, who is also 31, has not yet pitched this season as he recovers from flexor tendon surgery.
A sixth-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013, he made his debut in 2015 before being sent to the Detroit Tigers as a key player in a trade for David Price. He became a free agent after last season and signed a one-year deal with the Giants with the aim of returning around the midpoint of the season, though that return has yet to happen.
Overall in his career, Boyd has a career 4.96 ERA across 149 career games (145 starts) in 784 1/3 innings. He’s struck out 8.7 batters per nine innings while allowing 9.1 hits, 1.6 home runs and 2.8 walks per nine.
Boyd was the Tigers’ opening day starter in both 2020 and 2021.
That-a-Boyd!@mattboyd48 | #MotorOn pic.twitter.com/l6OmKhxdra
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 10, 2019
Boyd’s best season came in 2021 when he posted a 3.89 ERA in 15 starts, but he made just two appearances after June 14 as his season officially ended in early September due to the forearm injury.
Sherman reported that Boyd could be a “potential rotation depth” piece if he’s able to return this season.
The Mariners have used just eight pitchers as starters this year, with two of them being bullpen days. That will increase to nine on Wednesday when two-time All-Star Luis Castillo makes his first start for Seattle.
The Mariners have been very fortunate on the injury front when it comes to starters, but there’s no guarantee that will continue. Plus, rookie George Kirby’s workload will be closely monitored, so Boyd could fill a void in the rotation if he’s able to return to action.
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