Mariners trade catcher Austin Nola, relievers to Padres in 7-player deal
The Mariners completed a stunning seven-player deal with the Padres on Sunday night, dealing away their starting catcher and two big league relievers for a four-player return that includes San Diego’s top outfield prospect.
Austin Nola, who was viewed as one of Seattle’s most appealing trade pieces for contending teams after an impressive first half, as well as veteran relievers Austin Adams and Dan Altavilla, are headed to San Diego.
The Mariners received Padres top outfield prospect Taylor Trammell, as well as three more young players in infielder Ty France, catcher Luis Torrens and reliever Andres Munoz, who all have major league experience, in return.
“We are excited to add four talented players to the Mariners organization, all of whom are playing in their age-25 or younger seasons,” Mariners manager Jerry Dipoto said in a release. “Ty France has shown the ability to play the corners of the diamond, while providing pop at the plate. Andres Muñoz is an electric arm, who at 21, has already gained experience at the Big League level. Luis Torrens receives well behind the plate and has the ability to be a productive hitter at the Major League level. Taylor Trammell is a dynamic player who has an advanced left-handed bat, speed on the bases and above-average defense in the outfield.”
Trammell, who is 22 years old, is another intriguing addition to Seattle’s budding outfield mix, which already includes American League Rookie of the Year front runner Kyle Lewis, and is expected to include top prospects like Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez as soon as next season.
Trammell, the MVP of the 2018 All-Star Futures Game, was traded to the Padres from the Reds as part of a three-team deal ahead of the deadline last season, and hit .234/.340/.349 with 12 doubles, four triples, 10 homers, 43 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 67 walks to 122 strikeouts his first season in Double-A.
He is considered the No. 60 overall prospects in baseball by MLB Pipeline, and No. 5 in the Padres organization this season.
Trammell, taken at No. 35 overall in 2016 by Cincinnati, becomes the latest former first-round pick Dipoto has acquired by trade in the past several seasons, joining players like ace Marco Gonzales, who was acquired from the Cardinals in 2017, shortstop J.P. Crawford, who was acquired in 2018 from the Phillies, and Kelenic, who was acquired that year in a blockbuster deal with the Mets.
With Trammell’s addition, the Mariners now have six prospects ranked in MLB Pipeline’s top 100, including Kelenic (No. 12), Rodriguez (19), pitcher Emerson Hancock (38), pitcher Logan Gilbert (43), first baseman Evan White (59) and Trammell (60).
France, Torrens and Munoz also fit into Seattle’s rebuilding project well, and are all in the early stages of their big league careers.
Torrens, who is 24, has the most big league experience of the three after the Padres picked him up in the Rule 5 Draft in 2016. He hadn’t played above A-ball in the Yankees’ minor league system, but spent all of the 2017 season in the majors with San Diego by rule, hitting just .163/.243/.203 in 56 games.
But, both his offensive and defensive development in the minors since have been compelling. Last season in Double-A, he hit .300/.373/.500 in 97 games with 23 doubles, a triple, 15 homers and 62 RBI and was recalled in September. He opened this season at San Diego’s alternate training site, but was promoted again earlier this month, and has appeared in seven games.
With Nola gone as part of the deal, Tom Murphy still on the injured list and Joe Odom and Joe Hudson the only two catchers currently on Seattle’s active roster, Torrens will likely find playing time the final month of the season.
France is another intriguing addition and has impressed his second season in the majors. The 26-year-old infielder primarily plays third, but has experience at second and first at the big league level as well, giving Seattle another versatile option. His bat has pop, too. He was the Pacific Coast League MVP in Triple-A last season, and in 20 games with San Diego this season, he hit .309/.377/.491 with four doubles, two homers and 10 RBI. He sshould also be in the mix for playing time this final month.
Munoz, a 21-year-old right-hander, quickly climbed San Diego’s ranks the past four seasons as a back end reliever with a powerful fastball, and posted a 3.91 ERA in 22 appearances for the Padres last season after making his debut last July. He struck out 30 and walked 11 across 23 innings. He has missed all of the 2020 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March. He was ranked the No. 7 prospect in the Padres organization by Baseball America prior to the injury.
Following the trade of starter Taijuan Walker to the Blue Jays last week, Nola was believed to be one of the Mariners’ most likely trade pieces following his hot first half at the plate.
Nola is hitting .306/.373/.531 in 29 games played with 15 runs scored, 30 hits, five doubles, a triple, five homers, and 19 RBI with nine walks to 17 strikeouts. He has nine multi-hit games and has failed to reach base in only four of the games he’s played in.
The 30-year-old, who is a converted catcher and debuted last year after eight seasons in the minors, caught 27 of Seattle’s 36 games this season, and also offers versatility as a former infielder. He has big league experience at first, second and third base, and has played outfield when needed.
Adams, a 34-year-old right-hander, was one of Seattle’s most reliable back end relievers a season ago, posting a 3.77 ERA in 29 appearances with 51 strikeouts to 14 walks before the knee injury cut his season short.
Adams was injured last September on the road in Baltimore when he twisted his left knee trying to avoid a collision with a runner at first base. A later MRI scan revealed an ACL tear, and Adams underwent surgery on Oct. 15.
The Mariners were slow with Adams’ progression during spring training, but he was a full go at summer camp after the COVID-19 shutdown period, and appeared on track to return to Seattle’s roster for Opening Day.
But, he was slowed again in late July, and eventually headed to the club’s facility in Arizona to continue his rehab. Mariners manager Scott Servais said Saturday that Adams had started to throw bullpens, and was hopeful he could return by the end of the season.
Altavilla has been with Seattle’s organization his entire professional career after he was drafted in the fifth round by the club in 2014. The 27-year-old right-hander’s upper-90s fastball and wipeout slider have made him an intriguing piece of the Mariners bullpen for parts of the past five seasons, but he’s struggled at times to establish consistency in his command. He has a 7.71 ERA in 13 appearances this season with 14 strikeouts to seven walks.
This story was originally published August 30, 2020 at 7:39 PM.
