Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher Shae Simmons and outfielder Mallex Smith from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league left-handed pitchers Luiz Gohara and Thomas Burrows. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Cody Martin has been designated for assignment.
The Mariners Major League, 40-man, roster is now full.
The Mariners have 10 days to trade, release or outright the contract of Martin to the minors.
"As we continue to construct a deep and flexible roster, Shae and Mallex add to our potential big league mix," Dipoto said. "Shae has had success pitching at the back end of games in the minors and has shown strikeout ability at all levels. Smith adds to our growing inventory of multi skilled, athletic outfielders. Both players are young, controllable and have bright futures."
Simmons, 26, made 7 relief appearances with the Braves in 2016, tossing 6.2 innings and allowing just 1 run (1.35 ERA) on 6 hits while striking out 3. He began the year on the 15-day disabled list while recovering from "Tommy John" right elbow surgery. The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews on Feb. 12, 2015. As part of his rehabilitation, Simmons made 3 starts with the Braves Rookie Gulf Coast League team (0-0, 6.00 in 3.0 innings pitched), pitched in 4 games (3 GS) with A Rome (0-0, 8.10 in 3.1 innings pitched) and made 12 appearances (4 GS) with AAA Gwinnett, compiling an 0-0 record with 1 save and a 1.50 ERA in 12.0 innings.
Simmons has a MLB record of 1-2 with 1 save and a 2.54 ERA in 33 career big league games, having made his MLB debut in 2014 with the Braves and appearing in 26 games.
He was originally drafted in the 22nd round of the 2012 First Year Player Draft by Atlanta out of Southeast Missouri State. In four combined years in the Braves minor league system, he was 3-4, with 41 saves and a 1.80 ERA in 107 games (13 starts). He has struck out 172 batters in 120.1 innings pitched in his minor league career.
Smith, 23, made his Major League debut with the Braves in 2016, appearing in 72 games and hitting .238 (45x189) with 7 doubles, 4 triples, 3 home runs and 22 RBI while recording 16 stolen bases. He played all three outfield positions, appearing in center field (35 games), left field (22 games) and right field (1 game) and committing just 1 error and collecting 5 assists. In 8 combined games at AA and AAA prior to being called to the Majors last season, Smith hit .419 (13x31) with 2 doubles and 2 triples and swiped 4 bases.
Smith, 5-foot-9, 180-pound left-handed hitter (throws right) was the Padres 5th round selection in the 2012 First Year Player Draft. In his 5 minor league seasons, he combined to hit .297 (474x1598) and stole 233 bases in 413 games.
Gohara, 20, combined for a record of 7-2 with a 1.81 ERA (14 ER, 69.2 IP) with 81 strikeouts and 23 walks in 13 starts with Short-A Everett and A Clinton last season. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound left-hander began the season with Everett, where he went 2-0 with a 1.76 ERA (3 ER, 15.1 IP) while striking out 21 and walking 3 in 3 starts. After being promoted to Clinton on June 30, he posted a record of 5-2 with a 1.82 ERA (11 ER, 54.1 IP) with 60 strikeouts and 20 walks over 10 starts. Gohara was signed as a non-drafted international free agent on Aug. 12, 2012 out of Sao Paulo, Brazil. In parts of 4 minor league seasons in the Mariners organization (2013-12016), he has compiled a career record of 12-19 with a 4.40 ERA (100 ER, 204.1 IP) with 228 strikeouts and 96 walks in 48 starts.
Burrows, 22, went 0-1 with 6 saves and a 2.55 ERA (7 ER, 24.2 IP) with 37 strikeouts and 11 walks in 20 relief appearances with short-A Everett last season. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound left-hander was selected by Seattle in the 4th round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Alabama.
Martin, 27, went 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA (11 ER, 25.2 IP) with 15 strikeouts and 9 walks in 9 appearances, including 2 starts, with Seattle last season. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound right-handed earned the win in his Mariners debut, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning of relief on June 2 at San Diego. He compiled a record of 10-7 with a 3.62 ERA (46 ER, 114.1 IP) with 114 strikeouts and 33 walks in 25 games (20 starts) with AAA Tacoma last season. Martin was claimed off waivers by the Mariners from Oakland on Oct. 19, 2015. In parts of 2 Major League seasons with Atlanta (2015), Oakland (2015) and Seattle (2016), he is 3-7 with a 6.07 ERA (38 ER, 56.1 IP) with 42 strikeouts and 21 walks in 34 games (4 starts). Martin was selected by Atlanta in the 7th round of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Gonzaga University.