The Mariners have acquired outfielder Ben Gamel from the Yankees, reports MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes (via Twitter). Shortly after Dierkes’ report, the teams announced the trade, adding that they’re sending right-handed pitchers Jio Orozco and Juan De Paula to the Yankees in return.
The 24-year-old Gamel is the younger brother of former Brewers top prospect Mat Gamel and made his Major League debut with the Yanks earlier this year in May. He’s logged just 10 plate appearances at the big league level (eight official at-bats), collecting one hit and one walk, but turned in a very solid season at the Triple-A level with the Yankees’ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre affiliate. In 533 plate appearances, Gamel batted .308/.365/.420 with six homers and 19 stolen bases while appearing at all three outfield positions.
Prior to this trade, Gamel rated 24th among Yankees prospects in the eyes of Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. That duo praised Gamel’s line-drive, all-fields approach at the plate and rated both his hit tool and speed as above-average, noting that while he lacks the plus speed of some center fielders he makes up for some of that with terrific instincts and quick reads off the bat. Gamel hit a career-high 10 home runs but is more of a threat to rack up doubles and triples — a skill set that would seem to fit well in Seattle’s spacious home park. Gamel figures to, at worst, profile as a fourth outfield candidate for the Mariners but could play his way into a bigger role if he’s able to carry over the success he’s enjoyed in 245 career Triple-A games (.304/.361/.447).
Of the two arms going back to the Yankees in this deal, Orozco appears to be the headliner. The 19-year-old rated 20th among Seattle farmhands, per Callis and Mayo, who praise the teenager’s “advanced feel for three pitches,” referencing the former 14th-rounder’s fastball, curveball and changeup. At 6’1″ and 208 pounds, Orozco is a bit undersized but has a more advanced feel for pitching than most prospects his age, per the MLB.com report. In 70 professional innings since being drafted last year (all of which have come with Seattle’s rookie-level affiliate in the Arizona League), Orozco has a 3.73 ERA with 11.2 K/9 against 2.6 BB/9.
De Paula, 18, signed with the Mariners as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic and made his debut in the Dominican Summer League last year. He’s pitched alongside Orozco in the Arizona League in 2016, working to an impressive 3.07 ERA with 11.6 K/9 against 2.4 BB/9 in 41 innings (seven starts, four relief appearances).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
What the heck ? Awful trade for the Yankees
Gamel was the only one I’d ever heard of of these 3, but after reading MLB.com’s scouting report on Orozco, I think the Yankees made out fairly well. Obviously, any 19 year-old pitcher is a risk, but Callis and Mayo seem to think Orozco could be a viable ML SP in time
DePaula is the pitcher the Yankees wanted. Orozco is a RHR all the way. I was told DePaula had as much potential as any Mariner minor league pitcher.
Lol
As a Yankee fan it’s not too bad. Gamel has no clear spot on the roster with Jacoby Gardner and judge probably 2016 starters as well as Clint Frazier close to a promo and Aaron judge. You can never have too many pitchers. If they can pan out, they will be valuable addition to a Yankee farm system more well known for position players.
Dipoto and the Mariners making a run for the playoffs!
Well if he’s like his brother, trade him while you can. Good in minors, couldn’t hack in majors
Mat gamel couldn’t stay in the field. Tough to say he couldn’t hit when he logged likely more dl time then active time.
what am I looking at?
MLBTR
Well you’re not wrong
Gamel wouldn’t make the ML roster anyways. We already have 3 outfielders on the roster with similar skill sets.
Good move by Cashman, Gamel was a good outfielder who didn’t fit into the Yanks plans. Cashman picked up 2 pitchers who are young with good upside. I think we will see this theme over the winter with the Yanks trying to move McCann and Gardner for some starting pitching. They could be willing to move Mateo and or Castro for some pitching also.
What kind of arm does the kid have can he play a corner spot? We don’t need help in center we need help in the corners we need a guy who can get on or drive in a guy when he is on.
The last 3 games are exactly why I did not want the team to go all in this year. Texas is way better than us, we have too many holes to fill. Hopefully they can stay within sniffing distance of the WC it is fun but no reason to lose a bunch of the future when you can’t fill all the holes.
The kid led the IL in assists this year with 13 so he must have a good throwing arm. He looks like a guy that can get on base and run per his profile. Also states that he can play all three outfield positions.
As a Mariners fan, I am a bit disappointed that they traded Jio Orozco but you Yankee fans should really like him. The kid can pitch and has good stuff to boot…real young but very composed.
Cessa and Green PART TWO! Cashman is playing chess with GMs who are playing checkers. Sold high on a 40 man casualty.
Orozco will be a stud with mid 90’s fastball. Once he gets into the system, he’ll improve to upper 90’s like all the other pitchers.
It’s to early to say he’ll be a stud
Should we start a list of pitchers that were going to be studs that already were in the upper 90’s that never made it? Not sure what the % is that makes it up but not that high should we just go ahead and reserve the Cy Young award for him in 5 years?
Do you guys honestly not realize that he’s trolling?
“At 6’1″ and 208 pounds, Orozco is a bit undersized?”
I have to blame my parents–I’m in the wrong gene pool. I’d love to be that “undersized”.
You just won the comment section!
NYY: Ben – congrats on winning the IL MVP Award today! Now pack your bags!
Gamel: Thanks! I hope I can contribute to the Yankees Playoff push this September.
NYY: Um, about that…
Well Gamel will actually play in Seattle, plus the Yanks and M’s are basically even this season.
Maybe you should read koz16’s comment again, then rethink your comment, if your still struggling read it again.
At first this looked like a terrible trade for the Yanks but after thoroughly investigating I like the potential of the pitchers for a 4th outfielder at best. Another good move.
Gamel is basically the same player as half the triple a and double a outfielders. And needed a 40 man spot. Get some value out of a guy who would b cut loose at the end of the year anyways.