Analyzing the Miley/Aro <-> Elias/Smith Trade

The Mariners are reported to have completed a trade:

Mariners receive:

• SP Wade Miley
• RP Jonathan Aro

Red Sox receive:

• SP Roenis Elias
• RP Carson Smith

Let's examine the constituent pieces then put it all together.

• Wade Miley

Drafted by Arizona in 2008. 29 year old lefty SP. Currently in the midst of a $19.25 mil. deal through 2017 (with a club option for 2018). ~200 innings at the big league level for the past four years running. xFIPs for those years: 3.75, 3.77, 3.50, 4.08. 

• Jonathan Aro

Amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic signed in 2011. 25 year old right-handed relief pitcher. Earned a deserved promotion from A to A+ in 2014. Earned a deserved promotion from AA to AAA in 2015. Tasted a cup of coffee in 2015. 

• Roenis Elias

Amateur free agent signee in 2011. 27 years old. Lefty SP. Summoned straight from AA to pitch ~ 160 innings in the majors in 2014. Started in AAA in 2015 and pitched about 60 innings before getting called back up to the bigs. Good stuff. Make-up reported to be not so great. Back-end starting pitcher with mid-rotation upside.

• Carson Smith

2011 draftee. 26 year old relief pitcher. Dominant. Dominated in AA. Dominated in AAA. Dominated in the Majors. Dominant stuff, great make-up. Was, legitimately, the best relief pitcher in the AL West.

Analysis:

Wade Miley > Roenis Elias

Carson Smith > Jonathan Aro

The bullpen of the Mariners is mostly in shambles and DiPoto used the only lynch-pin piece left there to evovle Squirtle (Elias) to Blastoise (Miley).

Yes, the Mariners needed improved starting pitching depth and they obtain that in this deal.

Yes, the Mariners downgrade their bullpen in order to do so.

Given the variability of relief pitchers and the need for improving their starting rotation, I understand the thinking behind this move, even support it.

That being said, emotionally, discarding the last piece of a bullpen that at one time included Mark Lowe, Carter Capps, Dominic Leone, Carson Smith, and Tom Wilhelmsen...this feels like a blow.

This move is a technically correct (the best kind of correct) move, but still makes me sad.

Errata: Jonathan Aro was diagnosed with Dengue Fever twice before he turned 20 years old. With the laughing stock that is the Mariner's medical staff being unable to diagnose anything from intestinal parasites to tuberculosis, this could spell disaster. HAZMAT suit giveaway night, anybody?