The Mariners have dealt 32-year old lefty starting pitcher Erik Bedard and 25-year old righty reliever Josh Fields to the Boston Red Sox for 23-year old lefty swinging outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang and 23-year old switch-hitting CF Trayvon Robinson. This was a three team deal in essence as the Red Sox dealt 23-year old catcher Tim Federowicz, 22-year old righty reliever Juan Rodriguez and 24-year old righty starting pitcher Stephen Fife to the Dodgers so that they would include Trayvon Robinson in this deal for the Mariners.

The Mariners need hitting in the worst way and Trayvon Robinson and Chih-Hsien Chiang can both swing the bat. Robinson came into this season as the Mariners’ #8 prospect according to Baseball America. Robinson has played in 100 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 108 for 368 (.293 avg, .938 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 26 homers, 71 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Robinson has now played in 668 games in his first 7 years in the minors and he is 692 for 2,441 (.283 avg, .794 OPS) with 403 runs scored, 64 homers, 303 RBIs and 149 stolen bases. He could get called up really soon for the Mariners with the way Franklin Gutierrez is struggling right now. Chih-Hsien Chiang has really broken out this year. Chiang played in 87 games in AA-ball so far this year and he is 107 for 317 (.338 avg, 1.046 OPS) with 67 runs scored, 18 homers, 76 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Chiang has now played in 515 games in his first 6 years in the minors and he is 535 for 1,887 (.284 avg, .793 OPS) with 258 runs scored, 51 homers, 299 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. Chiang will also likely be on the fast track to Seattle if he keeps hitting like he is right now.

Erik Bedard pitched in 16 games (all starts) for the Mariners this year and he was 4-7 with a 3.64 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He pitched in 46 games (46 starts) in his four years with the Mariners and he was 15-14 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Josh Fields came into this season as the Mariners’ #24 prospect according to Baseball America. Fields pitched in 29 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball this year and he was 1-2 with 3 saves, a 3.92 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP.

Bedard was a solid pitcher for the Mariners and Fields is a decent prospect but they need hitting. With that in mind, this deal makes a lot of sense for the Mariners as Robinson and Chiang could make a difference starting before this year is over. I like this deal best for the Mariners.

The Mariners have dealt 27-year old righty starting pitcher Doug Fister and 28-year old righty reliever David Pauley to the Detroit Tigers for 25-year old starter/reliever Charlie Furbush, 26-year old righty swinging outfielder Casper Wells, 20-year old righty swinging 3B Francisco Martinez and a player to be named later. Furbush will likely step right into Fister’s spot in the Mariners’ starting rotation. Furbush has pitched in 17 games (2 starts) for the Tiges so far this year and he is 1-3 with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. Casper Wells will likely get the starting job in LF with Mike Carp moving to DH full time. Wells played in 64 games for the Tigers this year and he is 29 for 113 (.257 avg, .774 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 4 homers, 12 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Francisco Martinez is a big time prospect at 3B. He played in 91 games in AA-ball for the Tigers this year and he was 98 for 348 (.282 avg, .724 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 7 homers, 46 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Martinez has now played in 297 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 307 for 1,108 (.277 avg, .690 OPS) with 164 runs scored, 13 homers, 123 RBIs and 51 stolen bases.

Doug Fister was very solid for the Mariners this year. Fister started 21 games for the Mariners this year and he was 3-12 with a 3.33 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Fister pitched in 60 games (59 starts) in his three years with the Mariners and he was 12-30 with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. David Pauley pitched in 39 games (0 starts) for the Mariners this year and he was 5-4 with a 2.15 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. Pauley pitched in 58 games (15 starts) in his two years with the Mariners and he was 9-13 with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.

Both Fister and Pauley are pitching the best baseball of their careers right now, so the Mariners sold him on them. Furbush (#26), Wells (#19) and Martinez (#4) were all part of the Tigers’ top 30 prospects coming into this season according to Baseball America. I like this deal for the Mariners as they got a nice bunch of young players back in this deal.

UPDATE: (8/17/2011) - The Mariners have acquired 22-year old righty reliever Chance Ruffin from the Tigers as the player to be named later in this deal. Ruffin came into this season as the Tigers’ #7 prospect coming into this season. Ruffin pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Tigers this year and he was 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He also pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball this year and he was 3-3 with 19 saves, a 2.03 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Ruffin gave up only 37 hits while whiffing 60 batters in his 48 2/3 innings, which is pretty darn impressive. I really, really like this deal from the Mariners’ end of it.

The Mariners have designated 32-year old lefty swinging OF/DH Jack Cust for assignment. Cust played in 67 games for the Mariners this year and he was 48 for 225 (.213 avg, .673 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 3 homers, 23 RBIs and a stunning 87 whiffs. Cust has now played in 670 games in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 510 for 2,107 (.242 avg, .813 OPS) with 311 runs scored, 105 homers, 323 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. If the Mariners can’t deal him, I look for them to release Cust as he has been horrible with a bat in his hands this year.

UPDATE: (8/5/2011) - The Mariners have released Jack Cust.

The Mariners have dealt 31-year old lefty swinging outfielder Ryan Langerhans to the Diamondbacks for cash considerations. Langerhans played in 19 games for the Mariners this year and he was 9 for 52 (.173 avg, .664 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 3 homers and 6 RBIs. Langerhans played in 117 games in his three years with the Mariners and he was 52 for 260 (.200 avg, .676 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 9 homers, 20 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. It doesn’t matter what the Mariners got back for Langerhans as he is not a good baseball player, period.

The Mariners have signed 29-year old righty swinging outfielder Wily Mo Pena to a minor league deal. Pena played in 17 games earlier this year for the Diamondbacks and he was 9 for 46 (.196 avg, .717 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 5 homers and 7 RBIs. Pena was hacking as usual as he didn’t walk while whiffing 19 times for the D-Backs. Pena has now played in 577 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 411 for 1,636 (.251 avg, .753 OPS) with 203 runs scored, 82 homers, 232 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. He is the classic all or nothing hitter as he has whiffed 539 times so far in his major league career. The Mariners will leave no rock unturned as they continue to try to find some hitters. Pena will get a chance later this year if he gets off to a fast start in AAA for Seattle.