M's trade Trayvon Robinson to Baltimore for Andino
SEATTLE (AP) - Looking to add depth to the infield, the Seattle Mariners acquired versatile Robert Andino from the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday in exchange for reserve outfielder Trayvon Robinson.
The trade instantly gives the Mariners an experienced infielder who can play second base, third base and shortstop. Andino is likely to fill the role held this past season by Japanese infielder Munenori Kawasaki.
"With Robert having major league and playoff experience and still relatively young, we thought that it made sense to make this trade and let him come in and compete," Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a statement.
Despite struggling at the plate, Andino has played in 266 games the last two seasons for the Orioles. Andino started 106 games last season for the Orioles, including 96 at second base, but also spent time at shortstop and third base.
Andino is out of options and is arbitration eligible. The trade left Seattle's 40-man roster at 37.
Robinson played in 90 games over the past two seasons for the Mariners. He hit .215 in his limited major league time, but was caught in a log-jam of outfielders, along with Mike Carp, Casper Wells, Carlos Peguero and Eric Thames, seeking playing time with the Mariners.
The trade instantly gives the Mariners an experienced infielder who can play second base, third base and shortstop. Andino is likely to fill the role held this past season by Japanese infielder Munenori Kawasaki.
"With Robert having major league and playoff experience and still relatively young, we thought that it made sense to make this trade and let him come in and compete," Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a statement.
Despite struggling at the plate, Andino has played in 266 games the last two seasons for the Orioles. Andino started 106 games last season for the Orioles, including 96 at second base, but also spent time at shortstop and third base.
Andino is out of options and is arbitration eligible. The trade left Seattle's 40-man roster at 37.
Robinson played in 90 games over the past two seasons for the Mariners. He hit .215 in his limited major league time, but was caught in a log-jam of outfielders, along with Mike Carp, Casper Wells, Carlos Peguero and Eric Thames, seeking playing time with the Mariners.
.211/.283/.588 with 100 whiffs and ZERO upside . . . sounds about right for a Jack Z acquisition.
Robinson certainly wasn't untouchable, but I have to question the return the M's got on this trade. Perhaps neither player will become a star, but Robinson seems to be the one with real potential. Only time will tell if this one works out, but it sure seems like the rest of baseball has figured out that good players put up bad numbers in Seattle and go on to flourish somewhere else.Â
Dammit, this is the same thing they did with Adam Jones, time to FIRE Howard And Chuck
As long as he hits below the Mendoza line he's a perfect for the M's
WE NEED MORE BATS!!!Â
 @BeHappy How about more people who know how to use em properly :)
 @RTNavy Agreed! I think this trade will go south,Â
I just look at this picture and the words ... don't forget to cup the bawls comes to mind when I look at how this guy is holding the ball...
"...playoff experience..."  Are you kidding? The M's have tried this strategy before and it was a total failure. They had four infielders who had World Series experience and the team still could not break 0.500. Being on a TEAM that is successful doesn't mean individual players are. Get serious.
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"Despite struggling at the plate,...". Wonderful, more guys who can't hit. Jack-Z, you done it again...
 @Wormwood He had a .211 batting average this year. Sounds like a good fit for the M's to me!
And the bumbling idiots in the front office or the owners begin to give away all our good players.The saga continues....Oh wait were re-building again...
 @F4I Exaggerate a little?  A reserve outfielder hitting low 200's barely combining for half a season in the majors over 2 years, this is the "good player" you want to hold on to.
If we don't make some sort of major acquisition this off-season, I'm not going to tune in for next year...even with the newly improved outfield dimensions (for which I was extremely excited). Why even worry about the left-field wall if you only have one player who hit 20 home runs and he's left handed...and then another player who hit 19 and he's also left-handed. If we're not going to make it to the playoffs, lets at least trade for a player who's going to give outfield ticket-holders a few dozen souvenirs.Â
 @windtreeman In order to make an "acquisition", there has to be quality people available, that WANT to come to a team that travels tens of thousands more miles between games and to a small television market (unless you want to be seen in Japan more than in the US.)
 @windtreeman Ah yes, the true definition of a fair-weather fan.
Actually, I consider wtm to be quite practical. If the Mariners aren't going to try to field a competitive, then why should any fan make an effort - and pay good money - to watch the team play? The Mariners have taken advantage of the 'all-weather' fans for far too long. If the front office wants to treat it strictly like s a business then so can we. No return on the investment (i.e. quality play/winning record), then no investment from me.
 @StringerJoe It's sad to see the organization go through so many struggles. I'll keep my hopes up, but be prepared for disappointment. Until then Go Seahawks! Right in the thick of the playoff race with 6 games left.
@windtreeman Let's be honest: the Mariners will sign a few journeymen who have lifetime hitting averages of .205 to 245 and then they will call it good.
 @StringerJoe  @windtreeman You never know, they may bring A-Rod back for his "good by" tour! (shivers)
 @StringerJoe Ha, no doubt about it. I would be utterly shocked if we picked up anyone who'd ever, in their entire career major league career, hit more than 25 home runs.Â
 @oledawg Ah, okay gotcha and I agree...there's no sure bets in the cooler-low elevation Pacific Northwest (though I don't think our previous major acquisitions played well at any ballparks period).Â
 @windtreeman You said entire career, it doesn't really matter.  I'm just saying that even if the M's go out and get a guy you has been a good hitter previous to coming here doesn't mean it's going to work out here.
 @oledawg I don't understand your reply. All of those guys played in a bigger Safeco, most of those guys were roid-users who seemed to drop it when they came to the Pac NW and Spiezio never hit >17 hrs. Is your argument that we shouldn't trade for a power hitter solely on the premise that they may no longer hit well based on previous trades? My point was, I'd be shocked if, in this off season, they picked up anyone who'd hit more than 25 hrs. Certainly you didn't think I was referring to the Mariners' franchise history, right?
 @windtreeman Like Sexson, Aurilia, Spiezio, or Beltre?