Brewers trade Wong to Mariners for Winker, Toro
The Milwaukee Brewers traded second baseman Kolten Wong and cash to the Seattle Mariners for outfielder Jesse Winker and infielder Abraham Toro, the team announced.
The Mariners are receiving around $1.75 million in cash, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Brewers GM Matt Arnold said the two clubs discussed a Wong trade for weeks and there were "a lot" of teams interested in the second baseman, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Wong spent the past two seasons with the Brewers, hitting .262/.337/.439. He's considered a gifted defender who will form a solid double-play combination with shortstop J.P. Crawford in Seattle.
The two-time Gold Glover will earn $10 million this season after the Brewers exercised a club option for the 2023 season.
Winker struggled last season after the Mariners acquired him from the Cincinnati Reds. The 29-year-old hit .219/.344/.344 with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs in 136 games.
The one-time All-Star has performed well at American Family Field throughout his career, slashing .344/.440/.591 with five homers and 14 RBIs in 32 games.
Winker underwent two surgeries during the offseason on his knee and neck and is expected to be ready for spring training. He's in the final year of his contract, which will pay him $8.25 million.
"When you're dealing with things like that, it's challenging," Winker told Rosiak. "But it's a no-excuse league. I had a bad year. I'm just really excited to be a Milwaukee Brewer."
Toro spent parts of two seasons with the Mariners after Seattle acquired him in a 2021 trade with the Houston Astros.
The 25-year-old infielder hit .185/.239/.324 with 35 RBIs in 109 games last season. He's under club control for another four seasons.
It's been a busy offseason for the Brewers, who traded outfielder Hunter Renfroe to the Los Angeles Angels and acquired right-hander Javy Guerra from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Milwaukee also lost left-hander Brent Suter on a waiver claim to the Colorado Rockies and declined right-hander Brad Boxberger's 2023 option.