Rosenthal: D-backs’ Segura deal with Mariners quickly turned into ‘rout’

The Arizona Diamondbacks knew what they were doing when they dealt middle infielder Jean Segura to the Seattle Mariners in November of 2016.

Due a healthy payday after leading the National League in hits with 203 in Arizona, Segura signed a five-year extension worth $70 million in June of the following year.

In return, the D-backs received starting pitcher Taijuan Walker and middle infielder Ketel Marte.

The drawback for the deal, though, has not been Segura, but rather what else Arizona threw in.

Along with pitcher Zac Curtis, right fielder Mitch Haniger was in the deal to Seattle, and Haniger’s performance in 2017 and 2018 for the Mariners has made the deal a rout, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.

Little did anyone know that the trade would prove somewhat one-sided in the Mariners’ favor, in part due to the misfortune experienced by Walker, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery. But the Mariners would rate the edge even if Walker was healthy. Segura has been good, and right fielder Mitch Haniger, who was also included in the deal, even better.

To this point, Segura and Haniger have combined for 7.5 fWAR, Walker and Marte 3.3 — and remember, Walker will be unable to add to that figure for the rest of 2018 and the first half of ‘19 as he recovers from his surgery. The gap likely would be even larger if injuries had not limited Haniger to 96 games last season. So far this season, he ranks fourth in the majors with a 1.075 OPS.

After hitting only .229 in 34 games for the 2016 season with Arizona, the 27-year-old Haniger was a solid contributor for the Mariners in 2017, hitting .282 with 16 home runs and 47 RBI.

This season, however, he’s had terrific form through 28 games. His 10 home runs are tied for the second-most in the American League and he’s also batting .303 with 27 RBI.

Segura hit .300 in 2017 and is off to a start of .291/.320/.436 in 2018 with 23 RBI.

Rosenthal reports that the deal began as a discussion centered around Walker for “Segura-plus,” meaning something else had to be sent by Arizona for the deal to go through. The Mariners wanted Haniger, so that would lead to Marte being involved, which brought it back around to Curtis being the final piece of the puzzle.

Right field, of course, is where the D-backs added J.D. Martinez last season and Steven Souza Jr. this season.

Marte’s slow start in 2018 hasn’t helped matters. After being nothing but impressive last season, Marte’s is hitting .218 this season. The 24-year-old, though, recently signed an extension with the D-backs and looks poised to be a prominent core piece for years to come.

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