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Speedy in Seattle: Mariners reel in Dyson
- Updated: January 7, 2017
SEATTLE — Since his arrival in Seattle, general manager Jerry Dipoto has talked of getting faster and more athletic in the outfield, and the Mariners certainly took another step in that direction on Friday by acquiring speedster Jarrod Dyson from the Royals for starting pitcher Nathan Karns.
Dyson, 32, gives the Mariners a veteran outfielder who can tandem with youngsters Ben Gamel and Mitch Haniger in the corner spots after Dipoto traded Seth Smith to the Orioles earlier Friday for starter Yovani Gallardo, while also serving as a quality backup to center fielder Leonys Martin.
Dipoto says he and manager Scott Servais brainstormed about ways to add Dyson since the end of last season in an effort to infuse some electricity into the Mariners’ attack.
“We’ve had many conversations about what a good fit he was as an elite defender who is dynamic on the bases,” Dipoto said. “This guy is a fearless basestealer. The combination of Dyson, Martin and [new shortstop Jean] Segura hitting somewhere between the bottom and top of the lineup creates a three-player dynamic on the bases that is different than what the Mariners have had in a long, long time.”
Dyson posted a .278/.340/.388 line with 30 stolen bases in 107 games last year for the Royals. He’s averaged 31 stolen bases a year over the past five seasons and his 84.8 percent success rate is second best in the Majors in that span.
The 5-foot-10, 165-pounder is also regarded as an excellent defender with a strong arm. Dyson played mostly center field with the Royals, starting 50 games there, but he also started 21 games in right and 12 in left field last year.
Dipoto expects Dyson to play “fairly regularly” with some combination of him and Martin in left and center field most nights, with Haniger in right field and Gamel and Guillermo Heredia “fighting it out” for additional time. Haniger, Gamel and Heredia all have Minor League options as well, giving the club roster flexibility.
“We feel we have five legitimate center fielders to man our three outfield positions,” …
