12:10pm: Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 reports that the Mariners are sending right-hander Will Klein to the Mariners for Jacques. Klein was just designated for assignment by the Mariners a few days ago. The Dodgers will need to open a 40-man roster spot for him.
Klein has just 7 1/3 innings of major league experience, which all came last year. He allowed nine earned runs in that time. This year, he’s been in Triple-A and has posted a 7.17 ERA at that level with a strong 30.5% strikeout rate but also a massive 18.1% walk rate. That’s generally been his recipe throughout his minor league career.
7:11am: In an early morning deal, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Mariners are acquiring southpaw Joe Jacques from the Dodgers. The return headed to Los Angeles is not yet known, though unlikely to be significant given Jacques’s status as a player on a minor league deal.
Jacques, 30, was a 33rd-round pick by the Pirates all the way back in 2018. He climbed the minor league ladder with Pittsburgh and ultimately reached Triple-A with them before posting a 3.12 ERA across three levels of the minors in his final season with the organization. It wouldn’t be until 2023 when he made his big league debut as a member of the Red Sox, for whom he pitched to a pedestrian 5.06 ERA in 26 2/3 innings of work. He generated an excellent 64.7% ground ball rate, but struck out only 16.4% of his opponents while walking 8.2%. Overall, Jacques profiled as a roughly average to slightly below average reliever based on his peripheral numbers, including a 4.53 FIP and a 4.12 SIERA.
Jacques remained on Boston’s 40-man roster throughout the 2023-24 offseason, but ultimately made just one appearance at the big league level in 2024 before he was designated for assignment and plucked off waivers by the Diamondbacks. He had a similar experience with Arizona, appearing in one game before he was eventually designated for assignment to make room on the roster for newly-acquired reliever A.J. Puk. Those two outings in the majors last year saw him surrender three runs on six hits and a walk across three innings of work while striking out two. Meanwhile, the lefty pitched to a 5.48 ERA in 42 2/3 innings of work at the Triple-A level.
It was a lackluster performance overall, but when Jacques reached minor league free agency he was quickly snapped up by the Dodgers on a minor league deal back in November. Jacques has struggled to a 6.04 ERA in 22 1/3 innings at Triple-A so far this year, although a 3.82 FIP and a .391 BABIP suggest there could be some bad luck baked into those numbers. Clearly, the Mariners saw enough in the underlying metrics to have interest in acquiring him. Yesterday was a day many players on minor league deals around the league had the opportunity to trigger opt outs and upward mobility clauses; if that came to play in this deal, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Seattle add Jacques to the 40-man roster once the deal becomes official.
One possible reason for Seattle to have interest in Jacques is their dearth of left-handed pitching options. Gabe Speier is the only lefty on the Mariners’ pitching staff at the moment, and while he’s currently in the midst of a resurgent season that’s made him a legitimate high-leverage option he’s just one season removed from a 5.70 ERA in 29 appearances. Jhonathan Diaz and Tayler Saucedo are both in the minors on the 40-man roster, but Diaz has been used primarily as a starter this season while Saucedo has surrendered four runs in 3 2/3 big league innings this year. It’s a thin enough group to justify the addition of another arm to the mix, especially one like Jacques that has a minor league option remaining.
Low cost, high up-side depth bullpen piece. Nothing special.
I’m struggling to see the upside for the M’s. If you need arms, you need arms. But, I think a DFA is probably looming for him.
Watch the Dodgers turn the no-name return into a STUD
Half the Ms bullpen are reclamation projects. They have a knack for fixing Bullpen guys or getting more out of them then other teams. Not really talking one or two guys either it is a pretty common thing for the team.
@wallabeechamp
M’s have had some decent success with reclamation projects and he’s got a decent GB% in the 50+ range. Gives them potential BP piece on the cheap, which is fitting their frugal approach under GM Jerry Dipoto. We’ll see on the DFA side. Quite possible.
Trade was for cash. Don’t think Dodgers gonna get a stud out of that.
@Hawktattoo
Ruth was traded for cash. I guess he didn’t turn into a stud. though…
Wallabee was saying the dodgers return could end up being a “stud”, but the return was cash….
We sent Will Klein
It’s probably a cash deal
Cbs sports reported this morning was cash deal
Cash is just as good as money, a wise man once said.
Please don’t remind us of Chris Taylor
It’s possible, but there’s a reason Klein didn’t get a look either. It’s not like he hasn’t had opportunities. I tend to trust the Mariners’ bullpen decisions, overall.
I would send Washington a low level prospect for rental Andrew Chafin..
Chafin is a beast
I’d do that too
He is a rental at a low price of only 1 million salary. Way he has been pitching might take more than low level prospect.
I would send a higher level prospect for Finnegan and Chafin. Then I would negotiate a deal for Trevor Bauer from his team in Japan for long relief. He is only getting $6M.
Great name.
It would be a better name for a power hitter.
Not to be confused with Jacque Jones or Diamond Jim Joe Jack.
Does he have a brother named Frere?
Cousteau
So his name is Frere Jacques Cousteau?
Jerry getting in his trade deadline spring training reps.
This is fine. Might make him an inning eater. Can never have enough lefty’s in the BP. We need a lefty in our starting rotation. Looks like we may have to trade starter or two for a LHP starter.
What would the White Sox say to say a Farmelo and Ford trade for Noah Grey? Could also do a 3 party deal with Castillo going to that team and the Hose getting a 3rd player. Maybe substitute an Evans Hancock for Farmelo. Hate to lose Ford but with Cal signing long term he is a bit of a luxury. You don’t want/need a C of his caliber sitting all but 1 day a week. We also have a pretty good group of Ofers that we will need in a couple years. Randy has 1 year of arb left. I could see a sign and trade deal if one of the kids are ready. Robles is locked up until 2027 so we have time to wait for another to come through
We also have an extra piece in the infield. Williamson looks to be an above avg glove and shows good awareness at the plate. If he could add a bit more pop would be a great player. Doubt he beats Emerson out at 3rd though. Celestin should be the easiest fit at SS but we all know how that goes. One prospect mathematically will fail. Maybe we can beat the odds though. 1st is our only on paper hole. Locklear needs a lot more work. Might need to trade for that spot though. Ford I think is too valuable a C to move to 1st.
What do you think it will take to pry Gray away from Chi? What 1st bm is out there at around the same age could we get and for what? Need one probably blocked by a star. Want the players we get to be in the early 20s so the majority of the team is close in age. If we can keep all 4 pitchers and the prospects pan out have the makings of a dynasty.
As mad as I was at the ownership group for being cheap they lucked out. Players playing way better than you would think. Even with injuries the call ups are doing good and Julio and the rest are heating up. Hopefully the cheap crap ends and Jerry can start signing the pitchers long term. Gilbert said he would be open to talks. If he signs I think the rest will follow suit. Remember Cal and the pitchers were in AA for all of one year and parts of a second. They like and trust Cal. Why not throwing to the best C in the league right now is a bonus.
Do you mean Noah Schultz? LH Pitcher for the White Sox? Noah Gray is a tight end for the KC Chiefs of the NFL…
Yes I did sorry was looking at too many names. The old mind is still like a steel trap. This 60 plus year old mind is still like a steel trap. Has been left outside in Washington weather with parts missing and rusted shut. Sorry should have checked.
Take a few deep breaths.
When you see a blockbuster like Jacques for Klein you have to consider the whole ownership and direction of the franchise is absolutely in disarray.
Paragraphs are your friend.
The grammar police have arrived. Nobody cares you don’t have to read my or the many others who don’t follow perfect grammar.
@proton
Ford is not blocked by Cal. He is an excellent athlete who might be moved to another position.
“We need a lefty in our starting rotation. Looks like we may have to trade starter or two for a LHP starter.”
Should have kept Robbie Ray instead of trading him for a washed up Mitch Haniger.
Why would they have to trade two starters to get one left-handed starter. That makes zero sense
They play him in left field occasionally, but he still plays catcher more often than not. It makes zero sense to keep him playing catcher in AAA. Unless they think he’s going to DH and spell Cal occasionally.
Mechanical only played 8 games at LF, mainly in AA and he had 3errors.
In my world there are a few spots that are considered premier spots. To me SPers C SS and CF to an extent. Cal plays at least 6 days a week. When he is off he can DH. Ford has the chance to become an above avg C. Why move him to LF? He has the most trade value at C. We do not need to have a C with his potential sitting most games. Even if he DHs when not catching. I hate to get rid of him but team needs and all.
If we can trade him and another player for a spot of need we should do it. If we go after a LHP SPer it will cost more because it is a premier position IMHO there are only a handful on the top 100 prospects. We do have the guy who throws both ways and looks like he could be decent. He is not going to be the AS type pitcher we need. Noah Schultz is the type of guy we should go after.
White Sox will want that premium return for him. Ford is the type of player they would want in return. A good trade could be Schultz comes here Ford goes to Sox Castillo goes to team C who send one or more players to the Sox.
We get a kid we could call up in a month or so depending on how he looks when he gets to Tacoma. Could send him to Arkansas our 4 young young pitchers and the best C in MLB all came from there. Will be interesting to see what Trader Jerry does at or before the deadline.
The White Sox do not need a catcher. They have several young ones ready to come up. A better trade would be Ford for Jac Caglianone. of the Royals. Play Cags at 1B. The Royals need a catcher to replace Perez. Then I would draft Aiva Arquette and put him in RF or left-handed pitching..
If they signed Trevor Bauer they would have a huge surplus of pitching to trade with..
They shouldn’t move a great C to an OF spot. CF might be more important but ask anyone here do you want an above avg C or an above avg LFer. Leave him at C and get a good return for him. Then we need to dump Garver and find a decent backup catcher that can hit at league Avg.. Those 2 can DH when not catching. Then have another guy like Polanco who can DH when one needs to be totally off. Needs a real break.
From an organization with Fifteen major league pitchers on its injured list Joe Jacques must be quite the catch to warrant trading him.
Ah a pitcher coming back. It all becomes clear.
Another division winning move
I heard he is a total Jacque
“drafted way back in 2018” when there were only 16 teams and a 154 game schedule.
lol
Back when half the league was off fighting the war.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…
Nothing for nothing leaves nothing.
But it goes to show that you don’t have to be a good reliever to stick around
. All you have to do is throw with your left hand.
the Mariners are sending right-hander Will Klein to the Mariners ?? Someone needs an editor!
I have heard of interleague trades but not interteam trades!
Jerry D must feel the need to trade…now he’s trading with his own team!
With Jerry’s trading partner, Farhan Zaidi, gone, he now feels the need to trade with himself to get the same rush!
Actually, Zaidi is back with the Dodgers
Typos and misprints are pretty standard for mlbtr these days. Sadly the site’s quality control has gone way down since they started charging for subs.
Compo, have you tried taking medication for your OCD? I recall you mentioning that’s been a problem for you and this site (The article you commented on is from last year “The Opener: Trade Deadline, Sydergaard, Cubs, Reds”), maybe instead of blaming the site charging for a (inexpensive) subscription, try helping yourself first.
I’m not sure why your expectation is that people should only express their opinions once. And what’s really OCD is mentioning the name of the article in which the opinion in question was previously expressed. Also, it’s hard not to read your post in the voice of Larry David when he did his Steinbrenner impression on Seinfeld. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
A fair deal for both sides. Very even.
“12:10pm: Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 reports that the Mariners are sending right-hander Will Klein to the Mariners for Jacques.” – Mariners trading with themselves. Hope they got a great deal!
Joe Jacques and Jacque Jones walk into a bar…
Jacque Jacque.
Who’s there?
Jacque.
Jacque who?
Gesundheit!
A great Jacque Jacque joke. 🙂
JJ! You’re up to bat!
The mariners are sending the mariners?
Dipotto can’t help himself
Nick, you have the Mariners trading with the Mariners. “the Mariners are sending right-hander Will Klein to the Mariners for Jacques”
The Mariners are trading Klein to themselves for Jacques?
“Funny game, ain’t it Monty?”…
Poor will Klein this is like the third time he’s been traded in the last 2 years
At least since he was traded to the Mariners, he won’t have to clean out his locker or anything… I predict a smooth transition!
Casey Lawrence will be involved in this scenario shortly…..
60 comments on, get this, Joe Jacques. Wow.
I didn’t realize teams could trade with themselves:
“the Mariners are sending right-hander Will Klein to the Mariners for Jacques.”
Like I get that this site is mostly free to read articles but I’d expect at least a minimal amount of time spent proofreading before you publish.
Theres a spiderman meme in here somewhere
OK we have the Jacques trade covered. I will make this post shorter Like my son many probably didn’t finish reading my post. White Sox fans do you think a trade involving Schultz your LHPer for Ford and another player or more from another team. Trade would be Schultz comes to Seattle Ford goes to Chi Castillo goes to Team C and a package goes to you too. You would lose a good SPer but gain an above avg C plus a package from team C.Anyone can answer I am interested if this is a good trade. I don’t make trade proposals often. This one looks good to me. What do you think?
If I were the Mariners I’m laughing and hanging up the phone.