M's Trade For Kevin Mitchell -- Deal Sends Swift, Jackson Burba To Giants

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - The Seattle Mariners today acquired former National League MVP Kevin Mitchell in a blockbuster five-player trade that sent pitchers Bill Swift, Mike Jackson and Dave Burba to the San Francisco Giants.

Mariner General Manager Woody Woodward, announcing the deal at baseball's winter meetings this morning, said Mitchell, who will play left field, is the right-handed slugger the team has sought for years.

"We know this man comes to play," Woodward said. "He wants to play. He's a gamer."

The Giants sent left-handed pitcher Mike Remlinger to Seattle in the deal, which Woodword said had been brewing since late last season.

Mitchell said he doesn't know much about the Mariners or their new manager, Bill Plummer. But he does know the Kingdome is known as a home-run haven, and that's all that matters.

"I've heard about the dome," he said from his San Diego home this morning. "I heard the ball really travels. All you've got to do is make contact."

Of going to Seattle, Mitchell said: "I really don't mind. It's going to be fun. Maybe we can get a winner up there . . . I'll go out there and give the fans what they deserve."

Woodward and Plummer said Mitchell will fill the team's greatest gap: A No. 4 hitter to prevent opposing teams from pitching around star center fielder Ken Griffey Jr.

Mitchell, 29, has all the credentials. He was the NL's most valuable player in 1989, when he hit 47 home runs and drove in 125 runs.

No major-league hitter has matched Mitchell's longball numbers in recent years. The former New York Met and San Diego Padre has hit 162 home runs in six seasons, including a major-league high 109 the past three.

"I'm happy," Plummer said. "This is an opportunity to fill that four spot with a quality hitter. There are not many opportunities to get a guy like Kevin Mitchell."

Mitchell's production tailed off - 27 homers with 69 RBI, batting .256 - with the Giants last year, when minor injuries limited his playing time to 113 games.

He's been in the news most recently because of his troubles off the field. Mitchell earlier this week learned he wouldn't be charged in connection with an alleged rape.

Mitchell was arrested Nov. 30 at his off-season San Diego home and booked for investigation of rape, battery and false imprisonment. Prosecutors opted not to file charges after interviewing the woman, who they said had had a previous relationship with Mitchell.

Woodward said he examined the case closely, and that the Mariners are not concerned.

"It was certainly something we were aware of and we looked into," Woodward said. "When we finished the discussions, we were comfortable."

The Mariners were further assured of Mitchell's character by Roger Jongewaard, the team's vice president of scouting and player development. Jongewaard, a former Met scout, initially signed Mitchell as a free agent in 1980.

"Roger has known Mitchell for a number of years," Woodward said. "He knows him as well as anybody. Obviously, we're comfortable."

The risk for the Mariners - one that made them leery of a deal earlier, is replacing three proven pitchers, Woodward said. That concern grew when starter Brian Holman underwent shoulder surgery expected to sideline him until the All-Star break.

"If we had him, and knew he was going to be there at the start of spring training, we'd be more comfortable," Woodward said.

But steady development of young pitchers Gene Harris and Calvin Jones reduced the risk to Seattle, he added.

"We made the decision to go with a young staff," he said.

Plummer said Swift's stopper role will be filled by Mike Schooler and Jones will step into Jackson's middle relief shoes.

Mariner owner Jeff Smulyan said the deal won't worsen the team's financial crisis. The salary exchange should be close to a wash, he said.

Mitchell has three years remaining on a four-year, $15 million contract, an average salary of $3.75 million a year.

"If you add up the salaries on both sides, they're about equal," he said. "It's not a salary issue."

Smulyan said the deal reflects his commitment not to dismantle a franchise whose future is in doubt.

The attraction of Mitchell peppering Kingdome fences might improve the team's lot in Seattle, Woodward said.

"If he hits enough out of the Kingdome, and Griffey hits enough out, I would think that would create some interest," he said.

Remlinger split last season between the Giants and Class AAA Phoenix. He was the Giants' top pick in the June 1987 draft. He had a 2-1 record with a 4.37 earned-run average in eight games (six starts) with the Giants.

Rosen said the Giants were reluctant to part with Mitchell, but came to the winter meetings in search of young, proven arms.

"Our quest was pitching," he said. "We'll miss Kevin Mitchell. He was a tremendous bat for us. We wish him well. We just felt we needed more experience at the starting (pitching) position."

Woodward and Rosen met through the night to close the deal. A final meeting concluded at 1:30 a.m. EST, and Woodward got the final confirmation call at 5:30 a.m.

Swift, 30, pitched in 71 games for the Mariners last season, going 1-2 with a 1.99 ERA and 17 saves.

Jackson, 26, was 7-7, with a 3.25 ERA with 14 saves in 72 appearances. --------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin Mitchell at a glance

-- Age: 29. -- Last season: Hit 27 home runs with 69 runs batted in and batted .256 while limited to 113 games because of a groin pull.

-- Noteworthy: MVP of the National League in 1989 when he hit 47 home runs with 125 RBIs . . . hit 104 home runs in the past three seasons . . .

-- Inside: A look at the Mariners' previous top six trades, E 5. --------------------------------------------------------------- M'S PREVIOUS TOP SIX TRADES

The Times picks the previous six biggest trades in M's history:

-- May 25, 1989: Pitchers Mark Langston and Mike Campbell to Montreal for pitchers Randy Johnson, Brian Holman and Gene Harris.

-- Dec. 10, 1986: Outfielder Danny Tartabull and pitcher Rick Luecken to Kansas City for pitchers Scott Bankhead and Steve Shields and outfielder Mike Kingery.

-- Aug. 17, 1986: Shortstop Spike Owen and outfielder Dave Henderson to Boston for shortstop Rey Quinones and pitchers Mike Brown and Mike Trujillo

-- Dec. 7, 1983: Tony Bernazard to Cleveland for outfielder Gorman Thomas and second baseman Jack Perconte.

-- Dec. 13, 1980: Pitcher Rick Honeycutt, catcher Larry Cox, shortstops Mario Mendoza and Rick Auerbach, and outfielder Leon Roberts to Texas for outfielder Richie Zisk, pitchers Brian Allard, Ken Clay, Jerry Don Gleaton and Steve Finch, and DH Willie Horton.

-- Nov. 1, 1979: Outfielder Ruppert Jones and pitcher Jim Lewis to the Yankees for pitchers Jim Beattie and Rick Anderson, catcher Jerry Narron and outfielder Juan Beniquez.