The Mariners shored up their offense at backstop today when they traded Josh Lueke and a player to be named later to the Rays for John Jaso. Jaso is a left handed hitter and it’s expected that he’ll be platooning with Miguel Olivo in 2012. His season was partially cut short because of an oblique injury and while he struggled at times at the plate, he still hit five home runs and he hit .224 in 246 at bats.
Jaso does have some potential though. He hit well enough to finish fifth in the ROY voting in 2010 so you’d hope he might bounce back. One thing Jaso is good at is making contact. He has 84 career walks to go with 77 strikeouts and he has been used as a leadoff hitter so the Mariners could be getting a really nice table setter.
