A's deal Alonso to Seattle, get prospect Powell
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ANAHEIM -- Continuing their youth movement, the Athletics traded first baseman Yonder Alonso to the Mariners in exchange for Minor League outfielder Boog Powell, the clubs announced on Sunday.
Powell was originally selected by the A's in the 20th round of the 2012 Draft out of Orange Coast Community College. Manager Bob Melvin said he's not sure what the plan is yet for Powell. Powell made his Major League debut this season for Seattle, batting .194 with two RBIs in 23 games. The 24-year-old spent most of his time this season with Triple-A Tacoma, where he put up a .340 average with six homers in 58 games.
The trade clears the way for Matt Olson, the A's No. 16 prospect, according to MLBPipeline.com, to get playing time at first base, where he'll platoon with Ryon Healy.
Olson will be recalled from Triple-A Nashville and join the A's this week, manager Bob Melvin said. Olson has a slash line of .272/.367/.568 with 23 homers for Nashville.
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"It's time for Matt Olson to get a chance to play here," Melvin said. "A couple years ago he was our top prospect and he does a lot of things really well, he's a great defender, he's having a good season, home run-wise; he gets on the base. This kind of opens the door for him and [Ryon] Healy to kind of match up over at first base."
Healy has split time playing at first and as a designated hitter, where he's belted 20 homers and 62 RBIs this season.
Alonso will be acquainted with his old team, rather quickly, as the A's and Mariners are set to meet in Oakland for a two-game series Tuesday, where he said he'll join the team. The 30-year-old will also be reunited with good friend and former teammate Danny Valencia.
Alonso, who was a 2017 All-Star, is slashing .266/.369/.527 with a career-high 22 homers and 49 RBIs and is a free agent after this season. Alonso said he's ready to contribute to a team that's in the hunt for the playoffs.
"Going to a team who's 1 1/2 games out of the playoff contention, that actually is a lot of fun," Alonso said. "I get to play some meaningful baseball, which it'll be probably the first time in my career to do that."