Seattle Mariners acquire Kendrys Morales from Minnesota Twins
By Hayden Kane
The Seattle Mariners went round and round with then-free-agent Kendrys Morales this past off-season.
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The switch-hitting slugger was coming off a tremendously productive season in Seattle, but the two sides simply could not come to terms.
After some time off and then an ever-so-brief stint with the Minnesota Twins, Morales is now headed back to Seattle to join the Mariners.
Ken Rosenthal was the first to report the news that Morales has been traded to the Mariners in exchange for pitcher Stephen Pryor.
#Mariners announce acquisition of Kendrys Morales for RHP Stephen Pryor.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 24, 2014
So now things come full circle, though Morales’ value as an offensive player is down relative to the last time he was in Seattle. He is batting just .234/.259/.325 this season. It is easy to still see the potential in his bat, however, especially given the familiarity between the two sides.
well, mariners loved kendrys morales on field and in clubhouse. they tried a few times to keep him. does make sense.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 24, 2014
The #Mariners thought they had Morales or Nelson Cruz signed this spring, but now, they get Morales at a cost of just $3M rest of way
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 24, 2014
That’s not entirely true about the cost, as the Mariners had to give up an asset in the pitcher (Pryor) whom they are sending in the deal. From the Twins’ perspective, this development had to be a welcome one, as they were still able to squeeze a trade out of Morales despite his lackluster production.
It is also misleading to say the Mariners are getting Morales for just a little cost for a different reason as well.
Mariners spent a lot of assets working to replace Kendrys Morales. And now they've decided to just bring him back.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 24, 2014
Whatever it was that drove the two sides apart in negotiations, they ended up getting back together anyway. If the Mariners are truly looking to be bold as they try to hang in the American League West, however, this should be the first of a series of moves in the next week.