Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reported Monday that the Seattle Mariners have reached a deal with the Texas Rangers involving five players, headlined by (OF) Leonys Martin, and (RP) Tom Wilhemsen. The details of the remaining players were unclear other than the term prospects.
Source: Mariners acquiring Leonys Martin. Tom Wilhelmsen going back to Texas. Other pieces involved.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 16, 2015
Chris Cotillo of the MLB Daily Dish claims that the 27-year-old Martin had a falling out with the Rangers. Martin was upset that he had been replaced by Rule 5 Pick, Delino DeShields. He also had public altercations with the team when he refused to go to workouts in Arizona while upset he was left off of the postseason roster. Martin should be seeing a lot of playing time in Center Field for the Seattle ball club.
Wilhelmsen reportedly is filling a setup role for the Ranger’s closer Shawn Toleson. The 31 year old Relief Pitcher was replaced recently as the Mariners closer when the team made a trade with the Padres to acquire Joaquin Benoit. Wilhemsen finished his five year tenure with the Mariners posting 267 appearances and a 2.97 ERA.
With Delino DeShields’ emergence and Lewis Brinson on the cusp, Leonys Martin odd man out in TEX. Wilhelmsen another power arm for Rangers.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 16, 2015
The AL West has seemed to have had the most action thus far in the start of the off-season. The Angels acquired defensive specialist (SS) Andrelton Simmons from the Braves in what has been considered the biggest move thus far. The Mariners have acquired Nathan Karns, C.J. Riefenhauser and of course Joaquin Benoit, as well as re-signing Franklin Gutierrez.
Mariners have been searching far and wide for a CF. Martin and others were on the market, and new GM Jerry Dipoto went intradivision for it.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 16, 2015
