Atlanta acquires LHP Marco Gonzales, OF Jarred Kelenic, INF Evan White
ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves today acquired LHP Marco Gonzales, OF Jarred Kelenic, INF Evan White and cash considerations from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for RHP Jackson Kowar and minor-league RHP Cole Phillips.
Gonzales, 31, made 10 starts for the Mariners in 2023, compiling a 4-1 record, a 5.22 ERA (29 ER/50.0 IP) and 34 strikeouts. The left-hander was St. Louis’ first-round selection (19th overall) in 2013 and made his debut with the club in 2014, pitching parts of three seasons, before joining Seattle in 2017. Gonzales, a Fort Collins, Colo., native, has pitched to a 65-49 career record with a 4.14 ERA (411 ER/893.0 IP), 665 strikeouts and 238 walks across 163 games (155 starts).
Kelenic, 24, finished his third major-league season in 2023 and slashed .253/.327/.419 (94-for-372). He hit 11 home runs, logged 49 RBI and stole 13 bases. The Waukesha, Wis., native was originally drafted by the New York Mets with the sixth overall pick in 2018. In three MLB seasons, Kelenic has posted a .204 batting average (178-for-872) with 32 home runs, 109 RBI and 24 stolen bases.
White, 27, appeared in two games with Triple-A Tacoma in 2023. He played 84 games at the major-league level from 2020-’21, batting .165/.235/.308 (46-for-279) with 10 home runs, 35 RBI and 24 walks. White was selected by Seattle in the first round (17th overall) of the 2017 MLB draft. The Columbus, Ohio, native was the American League’s recipient of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award at first base in 2020.
Kowar, 27, was acquired by Atlanta from Kansas City on November 17. He went 2-0 with a 6.43 ERA (20 ER/28.0 IP) in 23 games for the Royals this season.
Phillips, 20, was Atlanta’s second-round draft pick (57th overall) in 2022. He has yet to make his professional debut.
