Seattle acquires Wilson and Snell from Pirates

   Seattle,  WA  (Sports Network) -  The Seattle Mariners acquired shortstop Jack Wilson and right-handed pitcher Ian Snell from the Pittsburgh Pirates for five players,  including first  baseman Jeff Clement and shortstop Ronny Cedeno, on Wednesday.
   In  addition  to Cedeno  and Clement, Seattle  also sent right-handed pitchers Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock to the Pirates.
   Playing  in the  ninth season of his  career, Wilson, 31, is batting .267 with four home runs and 31 RBI over 75 games this season.
   Over  1,159  games, all  with Pittsburgh, he  is a career  .269 hitter and has clubbed 60 home runs and driven in 389. Wilson was also an All-Star in 2004.
   Snell has started 15 games for the Pirates this season and has posted a record of  2-8  with a 5.36 ERA.  Over six seasons,  all with Pittsburgh, he is 33-46 with a 4.75 ERA over 128 games (116 starts).
   "This  was an opportunity for us to acquire a veteran shortstop, a former All- Star  player,  with leadership qualities  and above average defensive skills," said  Seattle general  manager Jack Zduriencik. "We also acquired Ian Snell, a talented  pitcher  with Major League experience  who now has an opportunity to re-start his career after a very successful re-assignment in Indianapolis."
   Clement,  Seattle's  first-round selection (third  overall) in the 2005 draft, was  hitting .288  with  14 homers  and  68 RBI  in 92  games  this year  with Triple-A  Tacoma  of the Pacific Coast  League. Over parts of two seasons with the Mariners, he has hit .237 with seven home runs and 26 RBI in 75 games.
   "Our  scouts have  consistently  projected  Clement to  be  an everyday  Major League  contributor with  the power to hit 20-plus home runs," said Pittsburgh general  manager  Neal Huntington.  "He has  been an extremely highly-regarded prospect  since  he was  drafted  third  overall  in  2005 and  has  performed consistently since then, showing the tools to be a quality offensive player."
   Cedeno  had  spent his  first four years  in the majors  with the Chicago Cubs before being acquired by Seattle in January in a three-player deal.
   The  26-year-old has  appeared in 59 games  this year for the Mariners and has posted a .167 average with five home runs and 17 RBI.
   "Ronny is a solid Major League defensive-oriented shortstop," said Huntington. "We  feel we  can help  him become  more productive  with the  bat, while  his defense helps our pitching staff."
   None  of  the  three  pitchers  Pittsburgh acquired  in  the  trade  have  any experience   on  the  MLB  level.  While  Clement  was  assigned  to  Triple-A Indianapolis,  Pribanic and  Lorin were assigned to Single-A West Virginia and Adcock joins Single-A Lynchburg.






   (Copyright 2005 by The Sports Network)

    Delivered by Newsroom Solutions