Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik made his first trade on the last full day of the winter meetings.
As such things go, it might have been the biggest first trade in history. Zduriencik's Mariners received seven players, including center fielder Franklin Gutierrez, in a three-team, 12-player deal that saw reliever J.J. Putz go to the New York Mets and second baseman Luis Valbuena go to the Cleveland Indians. This will go down as one of the biggest trades in Seattle history, one that gives the Mariners a completely different look.
Not bad for Zduriencik's first effort.
"I didn't think of that," Zduriencik said. "What I wanted to do was add some defensive outfielders and some prospects."
He did that. Both Gutierrez, 25 and Endy Chavez, 30, are capable center fielders with well above average defensive skills. Gutierrez takes over for the traded Jeremy Reed in center, and Chavez will be either part of a left field tandem or perhaps the Mariners' fourth outfielder.
"When those two are out there with Ichiro, we're going to have three of the best defensive players in the game, and three of the best arms," Zduriencik said.
The complete deal saw Seattle get right-hander Aaron Heilman, Chavez, lefty Jason Vargas and three minor-leaguers -- first baseman Mike Carp, outfielder Ezequiel Carrera and right-hander Maikel Cleto -- from the Mets and Gutierrez from the Indians.
Seattle sent Putz, right-hander Sean Green and Reed to the Mets, while Valbuena went from the Mariners to the Indians.
