SWAP DEAL: The Seattle Mariners and the San Francisco Giants outstanding Ace have finally finalized their contract agreement to support…..

On Friday, the floodgates may have finally found a way to open. Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants agreed to a rather large trade. Going to the Giants is former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray. Heading back to the Mariners is outfielder Mitch Haniger and starter Anthony DeSclafani.

Per Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, the Mariners will also be receiving $6 million in cash from the Giants.

This is one of those moves that nobody saw coming and – even better – features nothing but big leaguers. Before we continue, the Mariners are close to acquiring outfielder Luke Raley from the Rays. Infielder Jose Caballero is expected to go the other way.

In another trade, the Rays are close to acquiring Richie Palacios from the Cardinals. Right-hander Andrew Kittredge is reportedly the return. It’s been a busy day for Seattle, San Francisco and Tampa Bay.

What the Mariners Are Getting

To start with, Haniger is returning to where he spent five years prior to the 2023 season. The 33-year-old made an All-Star Game and had two top-20 finishes in the AL MVP voting as a member of the Mariners before spending last year on the Giants.

Haniger, a first-round pick of the Brewers in 2012, has proven time and time again that he can be a top-shelf bat when he’s healthy. Of course, that’s been his issue in recent years. Shockingly, the outfielder has appeared in 100 or more games in just two of his seven big league seasons.

Last year, he made it into 61 contests for the Giants. In that time, he stumbled to the finish line with an uninspiring .209/.266/.365 line with an OPS+ of just 73; easily the lowest he’s ever had.

Now, he will return to a Mariners lineup that has needed some offense in the worst way.

With Mitch Garver (and now Raley) being the lone other acquisition(s) of the offseason, bringing Haniger home was a necessary move. It’s expected that he’ll immediately become the club’s every day left fielder, taking the spot from someone like Dylan Moore or Sam Haggerty – both of whom are better served as bench bats.

DeSclafani, 33, is another player that has dealt with plenty of injuries in recent years. The right-hander made 19 appearances (18 starts) for the Giants last year and went 4-8 with a 4.88 ERA, 4.35 FIP and 87 ERA+.

Mariners GM Jerry DiPoto mentioned in a post-trade statement that DeSclafani can both start and relieve. This means that it’s entirely possible that he fills a flexible, “swingman” type of role next year.