Former LumberKings packaged in trades
CLINTON, IA (November 16, 2017) - Former right-handed Clinton Lumberkings pitchers Emilio Pagán and Thyago Vieira have been traded out of the Seattle Mariners organization in a pair of trades that were finalized November 15 and 16. Pagan was sent to the Oakland Athletics along with shortstop Alexander Campos for
CLINTON, IA (November 16, 2017) - Former right-handed Clinton Lumberkings pitchers
Pagan, 26, spent the majority of his 2014 season with the LumberKings. The South Carolina native made 42 relief appearances while in Clinton, going 2-3 with a 2.89 ERA. Pagan was the second former LumberKing to make his Major League debut during the 2017 season. On May 3rd, in Seattle, he faced the Los Angeles Angels for his first action as a Major Leaguer. Pagan bounced back and forth between the Mariners and their Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers, for the remainder of the season. He ended his 2017 season with the Mariners going 2-3 with a 3.22 ERA in 34 bullpen outings. In exchange for Pagan and Campos, the Mariners will receive slugging infielder Ryon Healy from Oakland. Healy ranked tied for second on the A's in home runs, with 25, during the 2017 season.
Viera, 24, was a teammate of Pagan's in Clinton in 2014. The Brazilian native spent parts of two seasons with the LumberKings, wowing fans with one of the fastest fastballs in the Mariners farm system. Regularly reaching 100 MPH Viera lacked the control in Clinton that he would harness to rise to the Major Leagues. He made his Major League debut on August 14 against the Baltimore Orioles, throwing a perfect inning of relief with one strikeout. The trade of Viera to the White Sox for international pool money likely will mean a more aggressive stance by Mariners General Manager Jerry Dipoto in trying to sign Japanese pitching and hitting sensation Shohei Ohtani.
The baseball offseason will continue to heat up from here. Currently team's General Managers are meeting in Orlando for the General Manager meetings. Beginning the second week of December free agents, agents, and Minor and Major League staffs will converge on Orlando for the Winter Meetings. Last offseason, seven former LumberKings were involved in trades.
About the LumberKings
The LumberKings, the only remaining Charter Member of the Midwest League, are preparing for their 63rd season in the league and their 10th as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Since the club's inception in 1937, 274 former Clinton players have made it to the Major Leagues. The LumberKings play at historic Ashford University Field located off 6th Avenue North at 537 Ballpark Drive. Advertising and tickets for the 2018 season are available by calling (563) 242-0727 or by visiting lumberkings.com