Tweet
SEATTLE, WA -
Monday, June 17th, 9:30 AM. In front of a field of reporters General Manager Pat McLaughlin, hitting coach Ivan Mendoza and owner Keng Shui are prepared to address the media.
"Good morning. Today we are announcing three major changes to the Seattle Pilots roster. Long-time 3B, Donnie Benoit has been traded to the Indianapolis Clowns.... I mean Speedways? Races? Racers? Racers, yeah. In exchange for future draft picks and pitching prospect Stu Few. Painful to say goodbye to Benoit with all he has accomplished in his career here," said McLaughlin.
Benoit, originally the 49th overall pick in 2018, has been the Pilots starting 3B since 2020. Touted, by the GM himself as "the steal of the draft" then, Benoit went on to make the 2021 All-Star Game, win the 2021 Designated Driver for 3B and hit a career high 28 HRs in 2023. After spending much of the available budget on Free-Agents this off-season, Benoit making $5.3M in arbitration and the depth in the organization at the position, no one was surprised to hear the trade rumors.
"We are also announcing a change at catcher, as we call up veteran Norm Deiwert from the minor leagues. We hope his veteran presence will be a welcome addition at the plate and with the glove."
Deiwert, 33, declined his contract option from Carolina expecting to cash in after hitting 54 homeruns in just 250 games over two seasons. Unfortunately for him, the offers dried up and he found himself once again unsigned as teams broke for Spring Training. In May, he signed a one-year $2.6M deal to play with Seattle. After 10 games in Double-A, they feel he is ready.
"I wanted to be here today to not only say proper good bye to Donnie, who I just loved, but also to announce his replacement. We are calling up 3B Johnny "Big Stick" Swope from Triple-A Vancouver and he will inserted into the starting... Wait, am I not supposed to say that?... He will be added to the roster stating today," said Shui.
Swope, originally drafted 1st overall in 2022, has dominated minor league pitching since his arrival. In 2024, after a Spring Training stint where he hit .283/.775, he was sent down to Triple-A to learn RF and SS, two positions he has a steep learning curve at. So far this year he has hit .323/1.026 and according to the Baseball News Network he is the top position player at that level.
"I'm just really excited to work with these two players," says Mendoza. "My speciality is dudes who hit the ball hard. They say chicks dig the long ball, well, I like them a lot too. What has two thumbs and loves blowjobs? Wait.... wrong joke... What has two thumbs and loves homeruns? I do! Did I do that wrong? "
Seattle is 38-26 with a two game lead in the Bock over the incumbent Phoenix Roadrunners, who have not only won the division the past two seasons, but represented the IL in the Brewmaster's each of the last three seasons, winning two. It's no coincidence that Seattle, after a travel day, host Phoenix for a three game series to open this weeks slate of games. Moves like this suggest the team is desperate to win their first Bock title since 2017, their inaugural expansion season.
###
Monday, June 17th, 9:30 AM. In front of a field of reporters General Manager Pat McLaughlin, hitting coach Ivan Mendoza and owner Keng Shui are prepared to address the media.
"Good morning. Today we are announcing three major changes to the Seattle Pilots roster. Long-time 3B, Donnie Benoit has been traded to the Indianapolis Clowns.... I mean Speedways? Races? Racers? Racers, yeah. In exchange for future draft picks and pitching prospect Stu Few. Painful to say goodbye to Benoit with all he has accomplished in his career here," said McLaughlin.
Benoit, originally the 49th overall pick in 2018, has been the Pilots starting 3B since 2020. Touted, by the GM himself as "the steal of the draft" then, Benoit went on to make the 2021 All-Star Game, win the 2021 Designated Driver for 3B and hit a career high 28 HRs in 2023. After spending much of the available budget on Free-Agents this off-season, Benoit making $5.3M in arbitration and the depth in the organization at the position, no one was surprised to hear the trade rumors.
"We are also announcing a change at catcher, as we call up veteran Norm Deiwert from the minor leagues. We hope his veteran presence will be a welcome addition at the plate and with the glove."
Deiwert, 33, declined his contract option from Carolina expecting to cash in after hitting 54 homeruns in just 250 games over two seasons. Unfortunately for him, the offers dried up and he found himself once again unsigned as teams broke for Spring Training. In May, he signed a one-year $2.6M deal to play with Seattle. After 10 games in Double-A, they feel he is ready.
"I wanted to be here today to not only say proper good bye to Donnie, who I just loved, but also to announce his replacement. We are calling up 3B Johnny "Big Stick" Swope from Triple-A Vancouver and he will inserted into the starting... Wait, am I not supposed to say that?... He will be added to the roster stating today," said Shui.
Swope, originally drafted 1st overall in 2022, has dominated minor league pitching since his arrival. In 2024, after a Spring Training stint where he hit .283/.775, he was sent down to Triple-A to learn RF and SS, two positions he has a steep learning curve at. So far this year he has hit .323/1.026 and according to the Baseball News Network he is the top position player at that level.
"I'm just really excited to work with these two players," says Mendoza. "My speciality is dudes who hit the ball hard. They say chicks dig the long ball, well, I like them a lot too. What has two thumbs and loves blowjobs? Wait.... wrong joke... What has two thumbs and loves homeruns? I do! Did I do that wrong? "
Seattle is 38-26 with a two game lead in the Bock over the incumbent Phoenix Roadrunners, who have not only won the division the past two seasons, but represented the IL in the Brewmaster's each of the last three seasons, winning two. It's no coincidence that Seattle, after a travel day, host Phoenix for a three game series to open this weeks slate of games. Moves like this suggest the team is desperate to win their first Bock title since 2017, their inaugural expansion season.
###
Comment