The Mariners are not ready to announce anything about the big deal they have in the works, but they have announced a little deal: they have acquired catcher Omar Narvaez from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for reliever Alex Colome.
Colome, who might’ve become the Mariners closer if he had stayed in light of the impending Edwin Diaz deal, pitched in 70 games between time with the Rays and Mariners last season, posting a 3.04 ERA and 72 strikeouts against 22 walks in 68 innings. He’s in line for a raise in arbitration this winter, however, and the tearing-down Mariners obviously want no part of that.
Narvaez hit well in 2018, with a line of .275/.366/.429 with nine home runs over 322 plate appearances. He’s a poor pitch-framer, but he’ll likely have the inside track to become the M’s starting catcher next season.
