This offseason, former Atlanta Braves outfielder Mallex Smith was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. He wasn’t traded directly from the Braves to the Rays, however, as he first made a pit stop in Seattle. Although history might remember the larger deal as a three-team trade among the Braves, Rays, and Mariners, there were technically two trades, separated by an hour. And, even at the time, it wasn’t a lock that the Mariners, who’d received Smith from the Braves in the first trade, were going to deal Smith to the Rays – after all, Mariners GM Jerry DiPoto put out this statement shortly after the first deal was done:
#Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto on the acquisition of Shae Simmons and Mallex Smith. pic.twitter.com/OmnFA2DTsF
— Mariners (@Mariners) January 11, 2017
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Of course, just an hour later, Smith was dealt from the Mariners to the Rays as part of a larger deal to net lefty Drew Smyly.
I offer that as background to the following hilarious comments from Smith:
New #Rays OF Mallex Smith on his "time" with #Mariners after trade from #Braves pic.twitter.com/OIDTO5EVCD
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 19, 2017
Being traded is probably rarely a pleasant experience from the human side of things, but it’s nice to see Smith have such a good sense of humor about it.
I will now be pulling for him to break out with the Rays, where hopefully his compelling experience with the Mariners will help propel him forward.
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