Mariners trade prospect Tyler O’Neill to Cardinals for LHP Marco Gonzales
Jul 21, 2017, 10:02 AM | Updated: 11:05 am
Marco Gonzales, 25, was a first-round pick out of Gonzaga in 2013. (AP)
(AP)
The Mariners have added a second arm in as many days, this time a starter. The team announced Friday morning that it has acquired left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales from the Cardinals in exchange for minor-league outfielder Tyler O’Neill.
Gonzales, a first-round pick out of Gonzaga in the 2013 draft, has pitched parts of the 2014, 2015 and 2017 seasons in the majors, going 4-2 with a 5.53 ERA in 40 2/3 innings pitched. At Triple-Memphis this year, he is 6-4 with a 2.90 ERA, allowing 17 walks while striking out 57. He has been voted twice to have the best changeup in the Cardinals organization by Baseball America.
Gonzales, 25, will report to Triple-A Tacoma.
“Marco is a quality athlete with high character and a strong pitching pedigree who we feel fits our roster well in both the near and long term,” Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said in the press release. “We find his current performance, preparedness and proximity to the Major Leagues to be very appealing traits in a pitcher, particularly a young lefty who is now under club control through the 2022 season.”
The move comes a day after the Mariners acquired reliever David Phelps from Miami for four minor-leaguers.
Gonzales missed part of the 2015 season after suffering a severe pectoral injury and all of the 2016 season following elbow ligament replacement surgery.
O’Neill, the Mariners’ third-round selection in the 2013 draft, leaves the organization after producing a line of .269/ .344/.505 in five seasons. With Mitch Haniger, Ben Gamel and Guillermo Heredia under club control through the 2022 season, and top prospect Kyle Lewis still in the system, Dipoto has again dealt from an area of strength – outfield depth – to acquire an arm.
