The Giants and Mariners have agreed to a trade that will send infielder Alex Blandino and cash considerations to the M’s, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times (Twitter link). San Francisco will acquire outfielder Stuart Fairchild, who was designated for assignment yesterday.
Fairchild is joining his third different organization in less than a month, as the Mariners obtained him from the Diamondbacks back on April 23. A Seattle native, Fairchild’s brief tenure with his hometown team did see him play in three games and receive three plate appearances as a late-game sub. This makes it 15 MLB appearances for Fairchild over the last two seasons, after he made his big league debut with the D’Backs in 2021.
The Reds took Fairchild in the second round in the 2017 draft, and has posted some good numbers in the minors, including a .282/.382/.536 slash line over 246 PA at the Triple-A level. As a right-handed hitting outfielder who can play all three outfield spots, Fairchild represents an interesting depth option for the Giants, who are forever looking for more pieces to mix and match. Since the Giants’ first-choice outfield group of Mike Yastrzemski, LaMonte Wade Jr., Joc Pederson, and Luis Gonzalez are all left-handed hitters, Fairchild joins Austin Slater and Darin Ruf as the top complements from the right side.
It could be argued that Seattle had a similar need for outfield depth with Mitch Haniger on the injured list and Jarred Kelenic optioned to Triple-A, but the M’s clearly felt Fairchild was an expendable part. Instead, the Mariners will now add to their infield depth chart with Blandino, a veteran of 135 games with the Reds over parts of the last three seasons. Blandino was another high draft pick for Cincinnati, selected with the 29th overall pick of the 2014 draft.
Blandino has hit only .226/.339/.291 over his 279 PA in the majors, but brings plenty of versatility. The 29-year-old has lined up at all four infield positions, and played a handful of games as a corner outfielder at the MLB level (plus five mop-up appearances as a pitcher). Abraham Toro and Dylan Moore are currently acting in similar super-utility capacities on the Mariners’ active roster, so Blandino provides some extra cover in the event of an injury.
Blandino was born in Palo Alto, California and played college ball at Stanford, so the trade represents a rather unusual case of two teams swapping local products. Then again, the frequency of trades between the Giants and Mariners is an oddity unto itself — this is the fourth deal between the two clubs in less than a month.
Giants and Mariners wanna just trade their whole farm systems at this point?
They are running a combined 80 man roster
It’s getting super weird and incestuous
Well; after the Ty France (A Muñoz, Luis Torrens and Taylor Trammell) trade package the San Diego Padres started blocking Dipoto’s calls. He needed SOMEONE to dance with
Not sure how this is pertinent, wake me up in a couple of years & tell me what I missed
Found Blandino and Fairchilds stats and it looks like a great swap but can’t find Considerations stats. Any good. I’d say could be a real steal in this trade. A total heist.
The Mariners got Fairchild off waivers from the D-Backs, without trading anyone in return. They already dfa’d Fairchild so he was leaving the organization regardless whether this trade happened or not. I guess the Giants really wanted to land him this time.
I find it strange that two organizations have already discarded Fairchild. He is a former 2nd round pick of the Reds that the D-Backs traded Archie Bradley to acquire (along with Josh VanMeter). There must be something on him that the stats don’t show that would cause him to become roster churn fodder.
Cash Considerations has such an odd career, it seems like that guy is traded a few times per month!
Always good to have Cash on hand. Cash is always in demand.
He even helped the Tigers win a World Series in 1968.
Not at today’s rate of inflation. Today is $1 is worth $.89
Second coolest name in sports after General Booty.
Stay tuned, the Giants will trade Fairchild back to the M’s before the month is over….
It’s truly amazing to see the Giants do these piddly little low-profile moves & still be better than many of the big spenders. Credit to them.
I mean most of their better talent is homegrown or via FA. guys like Crawford, Belt, and Webb are why they are winning more than the big guys they’ve dealt for or signed.
I mean, those guys had the best individual numbers on the team, but the difference maker has absolutely been the depth. The Giants surely aren’t winning as many games last year (or this year) without guys like Wade, Yastrzemski, Ruf, Estrada, etc. And this year we’ve meet Luis Gonzalez. Not to mention the amazing bullpen they’ve constructed as well, and all of the short, inexpensive SP signings that have really paid off the last few years.
Giants going for fans’ hearts with these moves.
Has Jerry D’Poto and Scott Harris/Farhan Zaidi made a secret pact to do at least one trade with each other per week?
Blandino’s out of options but is on a minor league deal, right? As opposed to Fairchild who has options but needs a spot on the 40-man.
Yes, Blandino was signed by the Giants as a minor league free agent so the options (or lack thereof) matter for him. It only becomes a problem if a big league club purchases his contract and then wants to send him back to the minor leagues.
Zaidi gets 10 commission-free trades per month on e-trade.
A bland but fair trade.
Both former Reds draft picks
Alex, welcome to the Giants-north.
Stuart, welcome to the Mariners-south.
Padres are wondering why Jerry stopped calling them?
Giant fan living in the greater Seattle area.
The first few trades were kinda fun but this is getting dumb. Having a trade partner is great but this is out of hand.
Jerry and Farhan, lots of other teams out there, pick up the phone!
Seems fair, child.
Two former Reds farmhands traded for each other.
The Reds know how to spot a journeyman OF
What’s going on? Jerry tired of trading with Tampa Bay? Or AJ in San Diego? Those were his two usual trade partners.
I came here for the Tony Gwynn comments….leaving disappointed
Flores too slow to play 2B. Didn’t even his feet on Edman’s ground ball. Not a good start for Rodon. Cardinals jumping on Rodon’s first pitch.
Flores terrible at 2B. Didn’t help Wade on fly ball from Goldsmith. Gonzalez goes long way to catch Arenado’s fly ball in foul territory. And Crawford was right there to help Gonzalez.
When your brand new Pinch Hitter hit .183 in the Minors…