The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Since we are at the All-Star break, it's a good time to take a look at some of the players the Mariners traded away this year. Fans are usually very critical of trading away their favorite players and are often surprised to learn how things are going with their new team.

Let's start with Robinson Cano. Cano is having his worst season thus far in his major league career. His triple slash line of .240/.287/.360 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging) are all career lows. With only four home runs and 18 RBIs in the first half to go along with below average defense, the Mets are likely regretting this trade already. They have four years and almost $100 million dollars left after this year on his contract.

Edwin Encarnación isn't exactly lighting things up in New York, either. In 65 at bats he has only eight hits and a .123/.208./.338 triple slash line. While four of his eight hits have been home runs, he hasn't provided the production the Yankees expected when they picked him up from Seattle. Some advanced statistics suggest he may be having some bad luck and may revert back to form in the second half, but the early results aren't good.

Jay Bruce, in 107 at bats, has given the Phillies a real boost. He's hitting well above his career highs with a .291/.308/.641 triple slash line and has added another 10 home runs since leaving Seattle, for a season total of 24.

James Paxton has struggled this year in New York with knee issues. When he starts in New York the groundskeepers put softer clay on the pitcher's mound to lessen the stress on his knee. He isn't likely to exceed 160 innings, which Mariners fans remember well. At the break, he has a 5-4 record with a 4.01 ERA.

Edwin Diaz, the other piece of the Cano trade, hasn't had a good first half with the Mets. He's pitching to a 5.50 ERA and has a 1-6 win-loss record as a reliever. The big problem has been allowing home runs. Last year, with Seattle, he allowed only five in 73.1 innings. This year he's allowed seven in 34.1 innings.

The Mariners may have traded Jean Segura at the right time. Though his power numbers are up, as you would expect from a player leaving Seattle for a better hitting park, his defensive value is significantly lower than last year. Not a good sign for a 29-year-old shortstop.

Trading Mike Zunino to make room for Omar Narvaez was one of Seattle's best offseason moves. In 50 games for Tampa Bay, Zunino's triple slash is .182/.236/.324. With Tampa Bay's deep farm system and Zunino playing at replacement level he needs to pick it up in the second half or risk being released by the team.

Alex Colome has been great for the White Sox this year. He is pitching to a 2.02 ERA and with a 1.6 WAR. has been one of the majors best relievers so far this year. He will likely be traded by Chicago at the trade deadline for a nice return, should he stay healthy. However, since Seattle received Omar Narvaez for him, I don't see Seattle regretting this trade either.

At the halfway point of the season Mariners fans should be happy with the moves made by the front office.