The Orioles have traded catcher Blake Hunt to the Mariners in alternate for money issues, in keeping with bulletins from each golf equipment. The O’s had designated Hunt for task earlier this week. The M’s designated infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor for task as a corresponding transfer.
Hunt, 26, was with the Mariners right now final 12 months. Seattle acquired him from the Rays in November of 2023 however was flipped to the Orioles in Could of 2024. It appears their constructive emotions in the direction of Hunt didn’t fade, as they’ve taken the prospect to carry him again.
It’s a wager on a bounceback, as Hunt’s prospect pedigree has light. He carried out properly within the decrease ranges of the minors, then within the Padres’ system, which gave him sufficient helium to be certainly one of 4 gamers acquired by the Rays within the December 2020 Blake Snell deal. Shortly after that swap, FanGraphs ranked Hunt simply exterior the highest 100 as a part of their 2021 prospect rankings.
Since then, Hunt’s minor league efficiency has been up and down. He slashed .225/.301/.369 over 2021 and 2022 for a wRC+ of 80, then got here again a bit in 2023 with a .256/.331/.484 line and 106 wRC+. However between the M’s and the O’s final 12 months, he had a mixed .218/.273/.364 line and 60 wRC+.
Regardless of the inconsistent efficiency, the M’s appear to nonetheless like the thought of Hunt as a depth catcher. He nonetheless has a few choices and might be stored in Triple-A till wanted. The membership at the moment tasks to have Cal Raleigh as its main catcher, with Mitch Garver second on the depth chart. Nick Raposo was on the roster till he received the DFA remedy yesterday. Prospect Harry Ford may very well be within the combine this 12 months however nonetheless hasn’t made his Triple-A debut.
So as to add that catching depth, the M’s are sacrificing a little bit of depth elsewhere. Taylor, 26, has bounced across the diamond in his skilled profession. He’s performed all three outfield spots and the three infield positions to the left of first base.
His massive league expertise is proscribed, as he’s solely appeared in 34 video games. 31 of these had been with the 2023 Royals after which three with the M’s final 12 months. He has a tepid line of .215/.288/.277 in his 74 main league plate appearances.
As one would count on, his minor league numbers are higher, although he’s coming off a down 12 months in that regard. From 2021 to 2023, he slashed .287/.385/.468 for a wRC+ of 125 and likewise stole 96 bases in 119 tries. Final 12 months, he hit .262/.352/.380 in 599 Triple-A plate appearances for an 88 wRC+, although he did steal one other 50 baggage.
The Mariners will now have per week to determine what’s subsequent for Taylor, whether or not that’s a commerce or some destiny on waivers. The waiver course of takes 48 hours, so a commerce would want to come back collectively within the subsequent 5 days. Taylor nonetheless has a minor league possibility and fewer than a 12 months of service time, so he ought to enchantment to golf equipment as a depth possibility as a consequence of his pace, defensive versatility and flashes of offensive potential.
