Mariners acquire pitcher Wade Miley in four-player trade

The Mariners have traded Carson Smith and Roenis Elias to the Boston Red Sox for starter Wade Miley and reliever Jonathon Aro, the team announced Monday afternoon.

“Wade is a proven Major League starter who brings a level of stability to the middle of our rotation,” said general manager Jerry Dipoto in a press release.

The left-handed Miley is an upgrade over fellow southpaw Elias, who if the season were to start yesterday would have been the No. 5 starter. Miley comes to the team due to earn $6 million in 2016 and $8.75 in 2017, and his contract has a $12 million club option for 2018.

Aro, a right-handed reliever, has made just six appearances in the big leagues. He threw 10.1 innings for the Red Sox last year, surrendering eight runs on 15 hits and two walks while striking out eight. In five minor-league seasons, the 25 year old has a 2.84 ERA with a 1.075 WHIP while striking out 8.7 per nine innings.

The trade is interesting in that the Mariners, who had needs in both starting and relief pitching, traded a starter and reliever for a starter and reliever. While they upgraded the starter position, they didn’t add to their depth and most likely need to add another. They clearly need to add at least one more back of the bullpen arm after trading Smith, as well. And in Smith, the Mariners lose a reliever who has potential as a closer and put up excellent numbers in the set-up role.

With the trade of Smith, the only remaining reliever from the Mariners 2014 bullpen is Charlie Furbush. Only four pitchers total remain from the 2014 staff: Furbush, Felix Hernandez, Taijuan Walker and James Paxton.

The Mariners pick up a starter in Miley who should be a good fit for the ballpark and has been an innings eater in his big league career. He is one of just four lefties in the league to record 32 starts in each of the last three seasons.

Of note, Miley was the 43rd pick in the 2008 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, whose scouting director at the time was Mariners vice president of player personnel Tom Allison. That draft was overseen by Dipoto, who was the Diamondbacks vice president of player personnel.

With the move today the Mariners 40-man roster is at 39.

The Mariners turned their focus to Miley after Hisashi Iwakuma reportedly agreed with the Dodgers on a three-year deal worth $45 million.

It’s interesting to see the numbers on Iwakuma the Dodgers are reported to have given him. That is the dollar amount that some analysts believed he would get at the onset of free agency. The Mariners were interested in a two-year deal, might have added an option for a third, but clearly did not feel comfortable with three years guaranteed.