Mariners acquire Toro in four-player deal with Astros

Photo: Seattle Mariners

July 27, 2021

Official Seattle Mariners News Release

SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today Mariners have acquired infielder Abraham Toro and RHP Joe Smith from Houston in exchange for RHP Rafael Montero and RHP Kendall Graveman.

“Adding a young Major Leaguer like Abraham, as well as the veteran presence and experience of Joe Smith is a move we feel makes us a deeper team today, as well as moving forward,” Dipoto said.

“We are certain to be very active in the hours and days ahead as we remain committed to making moves that will enhance our chances over the season’s final 60 games and hopefully beyond.”

Toro, 24, has homered in back-to-back games, including a solo shot in Monday night’s game against the Mariners. The Longueuil, Que., native was rated as the No. 5 prospect in the Astros organization during the 2019 season, prior to making his Major League debut on Aug. 22, 2019.

Toro has split time this season between Houston (35 G) and triple-A Sugar Land (17 G). In 17 games with Triple-A Sugar Land, the 6-foot, 206-pound switch-hitter batted .352 (19-for-54) with 10 runs scored, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 11 RBI and 2 stolen bases, a .485 on-base percentage and a .593 slugging percentage (1.078 OPS). In 35 games with Houston, he is hit .211 (23-for-109) with 17 runs scored, 1 double, 6 home runs, 20 RBI, 3 stolen bases and 9 walks.

Toro was originally selected by the Astros in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Seminole State College in Siminole, OK. He has appeared in parts of five minor league seasons in the Astros organization (2016–19, 21), batting .276 (383-for-1,387) with 228 runs scored, 88 doubles, 13 triples, 50 home runs, 221 RBI, 19 stolen bases, 181 walks, a .370 on-base percentage and a .466 slugging percentage (.836 OPS). In parts of three Major League seasons with Houston, he is batting .193 (53-for-274) with 43 runs scored, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 11 home runs, 38 RBI, 5 stolen bases and 21 walks.

Smith, 37, is a veteran of 14 Major League seasons with New York-NL (2007–08), Cleveland (2009–2013, 2017), Los Angeles-AL (2014–16), Chicago-NL (2016), Toronto (2017) and Houston (2018–21). Overall, he is 51–30 with a 3.11 ERA and 30 saves (248 ER, 717 IP) with 241 walks and 632 strikeouts in 809 career games.

Smith has appeared in 27 games with the Astros this season, going 1–1 with a 7.48 ERA (18 ER, 21 2/3 IP) with 4 walks and 17 strikeouts. Via Statcast, he holds a 4.63 expected ERA, 2.85 points lower than his 7.48 ERA. Among players with at least 100 batters faced this season, his 2.85 point gap is 4th-largest in the Majors.

Montero, 30, was designated for assignment on July 23 after going 5–3 with 7 saves and a 7.27 ERA (35 ER, 43.1 IP) with 15 walks and 37 strikeouts in 40 games with the Mariners this season. He went 2–0 with 3 saves and a 2.61 ERA (3 ER, 10.1 IP) with 4 walks and 9 strikeouts over his first 10 appearances from April 1–22. Over his last 30 appearances (April 28 — current), he is 3–3 with 4 saves and an 8.73 ERA (32 ER, 33 IP), while walking 11 and striking out 28.

Montero was acquired by the Mariners from Texas on Dec. 15, 2020 in exchange for RHP José Corniell and a PTBNL. The Mariners sent INF Andres Mesa to Texas on June 14, 2021 as the PTBNL to complete the trade. Overall, Montero has appeared in parts of 7 Major League seasons with the Mets (2014–17), Rangers (2019–20) and Mariners (2021), compiling a 13–20 record with 15 saves and a 5.29 ERA (166 ER, 282 1/3 IP), while striking out 279 and walking 137 over 137 career games (36 starts).

Graveman, 30, went 4–0 with 10 saves and a 0.82 ERA (3 ER, 33 IP) with 8 walks and 34 strikeouts in 30 games with the Mariners this season.

Graveman is a veteran of 7 Major League seasons with Toronto (2014), Oakland (2015–18) and Seattle (2020-c). He was originally selected by the Blue Jays in the 8th round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Mississippi State University. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound, right-hander made his Major League debut with Toronto on Sept. 5, 2014 vs. Boston. Overall, he is 28–32 with 10 saves and a 4.20 ERA (232 ER, 497.2 IP) with 146 walks and 335 strikeouts in 124 career games (80 starts).