The Arizona Diamondbacks are building on their progress this season, acquiring stalwart closer Paul Sewald from the Seattle Mariners. The Diamondbacks have proven to be one of the best young teams in baseball this season. Their record is currently 56-50 this season, and they stand one game out of a playoff spot. However, as recently as July 1, they held first place in the National League West division.
Diamondbacks IF Josh Rojas, OF/1B Dominic Canzone and IF Ryan Bliss going to Mariners for reliever Paul Sewald, source tells @TheAthletic. First with deal: @nickpiecoro
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2023
Following a 4-13 stretch, they’ve lost some ground in the standings and look to improve with the Sewald trade. The Mariners have had a frustrating season thus far, though they have a 54-51 record. Following their slump-busting playoff appearance last year, they stand 4.5 games out of an AL wild-card spot. They address a lineup need with the deal and acquire two top 30 prospects. Let’s take a look at how the Sewald trade impacts each team and the MLB playoff picture.
Paul Sewakld Trade Breakdown
Diamondbacks Land Their Closer
The Diamondbacks this season have approached the ninth inning with a fluctuating closer by committee. Five pitchers have earned a save for Arizona in 2023, with no one recording more than 8. Paul Sewald has been a reliable closer for two years running, recording 52 saves since 2021 (21 this year). He’s pitched to a 2.93 this season, striking out 4.29 batters for every walk. Sewald immediately upgrades the Diamondbacks relief corps, which ranks 23rd in the league in ERA (4.49). He also comes with an additional year of team control beyond 2023.
Mariners Acquire Three Players
Yet again, the Mariners have boldly moved to upgrade their organization at the deadline. The Sewald trade marks the second time in three years that Seattle has dealt their closer while in playoff contention. In exchange, the Mariners received a strong return. Josh Rojas is a depth piece in the middle infield. He’s been a negative-WAR player with a .228 average and no home runs, leading to a 64 OPS+. However, regular starter Kolten Wong has been even worse: .165 average, 34 OPS+, so Rojas presents a marginal upgrade. Where Seattle got significantly better were the two prospects in the deal: outfield/first baseman Dominic Canzone and infielder Ryan Bliss. Canzone dominated Triple-A this year, slashing .354/.431/.634 with an OPS of 1.065, and was called up in July. He is now the Mariners’ 13th-ranked prospect, immediately followed at 14 by Bliss. The infielder has also put up a strong season. Across Double- and Triple-A this season, Bliss has slashed .332/.391/.556.
Impact on the MLB Postseason
The Sewald trade involved two teams firmly in the playoff race so it will be significant come October. As previously mentioned, the Diamondbacks have recently fallen out of a playoff spot, partly due to the bullpen. The addition of a bonafide closer will help them hold onto leads. This deal makes Arizona more potent down the stretch and further crowds the National League playoff picture. They figure to also play a role in their division race, with both the Dodgers and the Giants looking vulnerable as well. This deal makes Seattle an even murkier playoff contender in the American League. Their offense is second in the league in strikeout rate and has struggled to score this season. Losing their closer hurts, but it might only cost the Mariners one or two wins this year. With three teams ahead of them in the race for the final wild-card spot, Seattle faces an uphill battle. However, their organization unequivocally improved, and the Diamondbacks improved this year. In a year, the Sewald trade might be seen as one of the more impactful deals at the deadline in 2023.
Photo Credit: © Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
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