SEATTLE — The Atlanta Braves acquired outfielder Jarred Kelenic, pitcher Marco Gonzales and infielder Evan White from the Seattle Mariners on Sunday for right-handed pitchers Cole Phillips and Jackson Kowar.
The move added a veteran lefty to the Atlanta pitching staff, along with Kelenic, who at one time was one of baseball’s top young prospects. In the process, Seattle cleared a chunk of salary off its payroll, giving up on Kelenic in order for the Braves to take the contracts of Gonzales and White.
Seattle is sending Atlanta cash as part of the trade. Gonzales is owed $12 million for the 2024 season, while White has $17 million in guaranteed money remaining on his contract.
“As we continue to work through this offseason with a goal of improving our team for 2024 and beyond, we believe the additions of Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips, as well as the roster and payroll flexibility created tonight, will move us closer to that goal,”Jerry Dipoto, the Mariners’ president of baseball operations, said in a release.
Kelenic is the big piece going to Atlanta in the deal. Once the prized prospect of the New York Mets’ organization, Kelenic was traded to Seattle in December 2018 when the Mariners sent Robinson Cano and Edwin Díaz to the Mets. At the time, Kelenic was one of the top prospects in the minors, but his transition to the majors has gone through rough patches.