BOTH Pitchers Mariners Acquired In Jarred Kelenic Trade With Braves Need Tommy John Surgery
Less than three months following the trade that sent Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips from the Atlanta Braves to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Jarred Kelenic, both pitchers find themselves facing significant setbacks as they are slated to undergo Tommy John surgery.
This unforeseen turn of events deals a substantial blow to the Mariners' pitching depth, but especially stings as they gave up a promising player in Kelenic for them.
The Mariners traded Jarred Kelenic to the Braves in December for pitching prospects Cole Phillips and Jackson Kowar
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 10, 2024
Phillips had Tommy John surgery last month and Kowar will get TJ surgery next week pic.twitter.com/pjxxUWm36o
Their injuries underscore the inherent unpredictability of baseball trades, leaving the Mariners grappling with the repercussions of losing both promising talents to lengthy rehabilitations.
The 22-year-old Phillips was the Braves' second-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft.
For the Mariners, who had hoped to capitalize on shedding salaries while acquiring potential assets in Kowar and Phillips, the news casts doubt on the trade's value proposition.
The Atlanta Braves and Seattle Mariners are in agreement on a trade that will send outfielder Jarred Kelenic, left-hander Marco Gonzales and first baseman Evan White to the Braves in exchange for right-handers Cole Phillips and Jackson Kowar, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 4, 2023
Kowar has struggled in his limited time in the MLB, posting a 9.12 ERA across 23 appearances. For his minor-league career, the 27-year-old holds a 4.36 ERA and 418 strikeouts across 102 appearances (72 starts).
Meanwhile, for the Atlanta Braves, the trade now appears to be a low-cost move, as the unexpected injuries to the pitchers they relinquished mitigate the risk of losing them.
The 24-year-old Kelenic got off to a red-hot start last season before injury slowed him down, finishing with a .253/.327/.419 triple-slash line, with 11 home runs, 49 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, and 44 runs scored across 105 games played.
Photo Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
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