Mariners acquire Jack Wilson, Ian Snell from Pirates

For Jack Wilson, the day started with him innocently headed to AT&T Park in San Francisco for what he thought was another game with the Pittsburgh Pirates, his team since 2001.

Wilson's day ended with him getting on a plane with his new team, the Mariners, for a flight to Texas, where today he'll assume his new position as the M's everyday shortstop.

In between, Wilson gave an emotional goodbye to his Pirates teammates in San Francisco, flew to Seattle and arrived at Safeco Field in the seventh inning, just as Ken Griffey Jr. was hitting a go-ahead, two-run double.

"I was pretty pumped," Wilson said. "It was a pretty good first impression."

Everything changed with the phone call Wilson received in the cab to the ballpark in San Francisco from Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik, informing him he had been traded to the Mariners.

The Mariners also received talented but erratic pitcher Ian Snell from the Pirates in the seven-player trade. The M's gave up Jeff Clement, whom they once envisioned as their catcher of the future, as well as shortstop Ronny Cedeno and three Class A pitchers — right-handers Nathan Adcock, Brett Lorin and Aaron Pribanic.

In a separate trade on Wednesday, the Mariners parted with another formerly touted prospect, outfielder Wladimir Balentien, sending him to Cincinnati for right-handed pitcher Robert Manuel.

Manuel will join Class AAA Tacoma. Snell, recently demoted to AAA by the Pirates, is expected to start out with Tacoma as well, though he will most likely be in the Mariners' rotation soon.

"Maybe this guy is somewhat of a reclamation project," Zduriencik said. "We're hoping we can help resurrect his career."

Said Wilson of Snell: "Ian's got some stuff, man. He can pitch, bottom line. For him, a new atmosphere is going to be key to his success."

Wilson, meanwhile, will replace Cedeno — who replaced Yuniesky Betancourt — as the Mariners' everyday shortstop.

"Some of the questions we might have at shortstop, we've answered them," Zduriencik said. "If we can get Ian back on track, he's a talented pitcher we can add to our major-league club."

For a team many had pegged as leaning toward a "seller" status as Friday's trade deadline approached, the Mariners went the opposite direction in their first salvo.

"The hardest thing is to try to add without subtracting," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "It's not an easy task. To be able to get a shortstop of this caliber obviously makes us better."

Zduriencik admitted it's risky to give up three young arms, but said, "You have a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher with three years of major-league experience, and a former All-Star shortstop that is arguably one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, for players that are yet to be proven."

Clement, 25, was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2005 draft. But he has had knee issues that hampered his progress as catcher. In 75 games with the Mariners, Clement had a .237 average and .309 on-base percentage, compared to .286 mark and .374 on-base in the minors.

The Pirates reportedly will use him as both a catcher and first baseman.

"I feel very bad about him not being with us," Zduriencik said of Clement. "Pittsburgh pursued him. Sometimes when you're traded like this, it creates an opportunity."

"I'm really excited for him," said Mariners catcher Rob Johnson, a close friend. "I think he's going to get a good opportunity in Pittsburgh. Knowing Jeff, wherever the wind blows is going to make him happy. He has a lot of faith. He believes in his ability."

Zduriencik said the Pirates insisted that Cedeno be included in the deal. He was hitting .167 and was in the midst of an 0-for-26 slump.

"I'm really sad," said Cedeno, a close friend of Mariners ace Felix Hernandez. "I feel very comfortable here. Everything's great — teammates, coaches, manager, everybody. I'm going to miss them."

The word out of Pittsburgh is that the Mariners are on the hook for only $400,000 each for the remainder of Wilson's and Snell's 2009 contracts. Wilson, 31, is in the final year of a three-year, $20.2 million deal that pays him $7.25 million this season. He has an $8.4 million option for 2010 with a $600,000 buyout.

Snell is making $3 million in the second year of a three-year, $8.6-million contract. He's owed $4.25 million next year, with a $6.75-million club option for 2011, and a $9.25-million club option for 2012.

According to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are paying Seattle $3,308,702.19 as part of the trade.

Zduriencik said no decision has yet been made on Wilson's option, and he deflected talk of a contract extension — Wilson was unable to reach one with the Pirates in recent days, leading to the trade. But he spoke optimistically of Wilson remaining in the organization beyond this season.

"Obviously, we'll see how Jack likes it here," Zduriencik said. "I'd like to think he'll be here for a lengthy period of time."

Wilson is hitting .267 with four homers, 18 doubles and 31 runs batted in this season for the Pirates.

"I've loved being in Pittsburgh and being with my teammates over the years, but playing meaningful games in July, August, September is something I haven't had before," Wilson said. "So that's what I'm really excited about coming here."

Snell had a checkered career in Pittsburgh. He was regarded as one of the rising young pitchers in the National League when he won 23 games in 2006-07, and signed the long-term deal last year — one the Pirates have since said they regret.

He dropped to 7-12 with a 5.42 earned-run average last year, and was 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA this year when he admitted to having bouts of depression and reportedly requested that the Pirates send him to the minors.

Since joining AAA Indianapolis, Snell has excelled, compiling a 0.96 ERA in six starts, while striking out 47 in 37-1/3 innings. The Mariners got a glowing report from Ken Madeja, special assistant to Zduriencik, who scouted Snell in Indianapolis.

"Kenny was a large part responsible for us moving forward in picking up Ian Snell," Zduriencik said.

Adcock was 5-7 with a 5.29 ERA in 21 games (19 starts) with High Desert. Lorin was 5-4, 2.44 in 16 starts for Clinton, and Pribanic was 7-6, 3.21 in 17 starts for Clinton.

Pirates GM Neal Huntington told reporters in Pittsburgh that Snell could blossom with the Mariners.

"We certainly know how talented he is and fully understand that he is capable of winning games at the major-league level because he has done it before," Huntington said. "For various reasons, it just wasn't going to work here anymore between us and Ian. He needed a change and we did, too."

Snell told The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he welcomes the change of scenery.

"I have a lot to prove," he said. "I mean, I have a lot to learn. Every game since I've been down here, I've learned something new about myself. I'm just going to continue to learn and grow as a person and a teammate.

"Not so much be that person that sticks out in the crowd, a loudmouth speaking out of turn. I think I learned my lesson about that. It came back to bite me in the butt. I have a lot more respect for the game now than I've had since I've been playing."

Manuel, acquired in the Balentien trade, was in the majors with the Reds. The 26-year-old right-hander had appeared in three games in relief without giving up a run in 4-1/3 innings.

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com