VIDRO HEADS TO SEATTLE FOR KIDS
The Seattle Mariners acquired infielder Jose Vidro and cash from the Washington Nationals for outfielder Chris Snelling and pitcher Emiliano Fruto.
What does it give the Seattle Mariners
In Vidro, Seattle has landed a consistent, veteran hitter; a three-time all-star who has hit .301 throughout his career, while adding a little pop and run-producing ability. Though he's played most of his career at second base, it looks like the M's plan to use Vidro as their primary DH, a position that could help stave off the rash of injuries that have plagued him over the past few years. And the Mariners got him at a bit of a discount, only having to pay him $12 million of the $16 million he's owed over the next two seasons.
What does it give the Washington Nationals
First off, what did the Nats lose? The subtraction of Vidro removes some veteran leadership and a very reliable bat from their lineup, also leaving a hole at second base. However, the plan appears to be to shift Felipe Lopez from short to second, while Cristian Guzman plays short. Now, what did they get? They got a couple of very promising players to help with their rebuilding project, starting with Snelling's consistent left-handed bat. The 25-year-old has had a lot of injury problems rising up the ladder, but has hit over .300 with occasional power at just about every stop. He'll compete with Ryan Church for the left-field job, and could wind up in a platoon to start the season. Fruto is a flame-throwing 22-year-old with a deep arsenal, though he is still, expectedly, a little rough around the edges. His command is suspect, but there's plenty of time to refine that. He'll compete for a middle-relief job this spring, but could rise up into a setup role if all goes well. A couple of years from now, the Nats could be very happy they made this trade.
Fantasy impact
