Teoscar traded to Mariners

Macko grew up in Ireland and graduated high school in Alberta, but he was born in Slovakia. If he reaches the Majors, he’d become the third player ever to do so from that country. When his family moved to Alberta, he enrolled at Vauxhall Academy, one of Canada’s premier baseball schools, which put him on scouts’ radars. And his rise has been reflective of today’s YouTube era, given that he taught himself how to pitch by watching videos of David Price and Justin Verlander, among other elite aces.

When the Mariners drafted him in the seventh round in 2019, he was in the 150-155-pound range, and he’s since bulked up to 205, which has helped bring his stuff along in an incredibly positive way. Averaging 88 mph right after he signed, he averaged around 93.5 mph in 2021 and topped out at 97 as recently as the club’s Gas Camp this offseason, with more bite. While Macko’s curveball has always been his bread and butter, and that pitch has improved, his new slider might end up his best weapon, sitting around 83-85 mph with a lot of sweep. Overall, he struck out 36.1% of the batters he faced last season.

For all of these reasons, the 21-year-old possesses a unique blend of movement and velocity, which isn’t exactly what the Mariners were expecting – a much-improved product compared to the raw lefty who entered 2021. Macko experienced some rotator tendinitis that halted his season after just 33 1/3 innings, but if he returns healthy in ’22 and gets back to the level of production he was pre-injury, he could continue to get long-term consideration as a starter.

rarefind · Post #10 » by **rarefind** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 4:02 pm

Really not liking this deal.

rarefind · Post #11 » by **rarefind** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 4:02 pm

If getting swept by the M's wasn't bad enough...

Madvillainy2004 · Post #12 » by **Madvillainy2004** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 4:07 pm

At least Swanson is good (elite even) was afraid we did this for Flexen which would've been awful. I assume this is to let us put money into the OF FA pool and move Springer to right.

Post #13 » by **Duffman100** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 4:11 pm

Any chance they'll revisit Brantley? The outfield FA market doesn't look ... great.

Post #14 » by **Duffman100** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 4:13 pm

Or ideally are we signing a SS, move Bichette to 2B and have Merrifield as a perm OF?

Greatness · Post #15 » by **Greatness** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 4:15 pm

I'm good with it. Time to focus on pitching & defense and this deal helps with both

Raps in 4 · Post #16 » by **Raps in 4** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 4:27 pm

Swanson has had just one good season (last season). I hope it wasn't a fluke.

Hoopstarr · Post #17 » by **Hoopstarr** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 4:32 pm

Yikes, this does not look good at all

WeThe2019Champs · Post #18 » by **WeThe2019Champs** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 4:33 pm

Time to save $$$

s e n s i · Post #19 » by **s e n s i** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 4:35 pm

yeah, there has to be a pending position player acquisition/signing because on the surface it does not look great (for next season)

bye teo :cry:

SharoneWright · Post #20 » by **SharoneWright** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 4:43 pm

Clearing future salary obligations for flexibility and in order to extend Vladdy.