The Seattle Mariners added a right-handed infielder on Sunday, picking up Buddy Kennedy from the San Francisco Giants for cash. The move barely registered on the trade deadline Richter scale, but it fills a specific need for a lineup stacked with left-handed bats.
Kennedy, 27, was designated for assignment by the Giants earlier that same day. San Francisco needed the roster spot after outfielder Heliot Ramos came off the injured list. In seven major league games for the Giants this season, Kennedy went 0-for-7 with a walk. That’s not great. But his numbers in Triple-A this year tell a different story.
Through 48 games with Sacramento, Kennedy slashed .321/.424/.543 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs. He walked almost as often as he struck out, posting a 12.1% walk rate against a 12.6% strikeout rate. His advanced metrics were strong too: a 152 wRC+ and a whiff rate that sat well below the league average. The problem is he’s done this before. He has a career .171 average across parts of five MLB seasons with six different organizations. That’s a long list for a 27-year-old.
Versatility or Just a Glove in a Pinch?
Kennedy has played first, second and third base in the majors, plus some left field and even a few innings at shortstop. He also pitched once for the Giants this season. That outing went poorly: four earned runs in one inning. But he’s not a pitcher. He’s a depth infielder who can move around the diamond, which is exactly what Seattle’s current roster could use.
The Mariners lean heavily on left-handed hitters in the infield. Adding a right-handed option like Kennedy gives manager Scott Servais a little more flexibility, especially late in games against tough lefty relievers. Kennedy will likely start with Triple-A Tacoma, but don’t be surprised if he gets a call-up at some point down the stretch.
Kennedy was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of Millville Senior High School in New Jersey. He’s also the grandson of former big leaguer Don Money, who played 16 seasons in the majors. That’s a nice baseball lineage, but the Mariners aren’t paying for nostalgia. They’re buying a lottery ticket on a guy who keeps mashing in the minors but hasn’t figured it out at the highest level yet.
This is Seattle’s first move before the trade deadline. It’s a small one. But sometimes small moves lead to unexpected contributors. Or sometimes they lead to a guy getting DFA’d again in three weeks. The Mariners are betting on the upside.
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