"Are You @#$%NG Kidding me?!": Mariners Players Fuming After Trade

The Seattle Mariners have been charging hard of late, going into Tuesday night's game with a 14-6 record in July, getting themselves to within 1 game of a Wild Card spot. So when players heard that their GM had just traded their closer Kendall Graveman in a 4-player trade to their division rival Houston Astros, they were devastated—and angry.

Updated Mariners trade story with player reaction.

“Are you (expletive) kidding me? It never changes. They don’t care about winning. How do you trade him and say you care about winning? And you trade him to Houston? It never changes.”https://t.co/QEK65rOwpU

— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) July 28, 2021

"Are you (expletive) kidding me?" one player said. "It never changes. They don't care about winning." Trading the closer is bad enough, but trading him to the 1st place team in their division? "How do trade him and say you care about winning? And you trade him to Houston?"

The anger and frustration and sadness from Mariners players was the feeling of being blindsided by a move that they didn't expect.

After the series with the A's and Monday's crazy win, the idea of trading Graveman is the last thing they had to expect.

— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) July 28, 2021

Graveman was undoubtedly loved by his Seattle teammates as a person. And that's not even taking into account his 0.82 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and 10 saves. 

The real problem here might be that the Mariners front office didn't communicate to the players that this trade was apparently just a part of their deadline deal plans. 

Beyond the immediate reaction, which is always heightened, the lack of understanding and communication about the reasoning behind the trade and what the Mariners are trying to do moving forward made the irritation grow.

— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) July 28, 2021

This drama will undoubtedly continue to play out up until Friday afternoon's trade deadline. 

Photo Credit:  Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports