A’s deal Yonder Alonso to Seattle, acquire minor-league OF Boog Powell

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Seattle Mariners acquired All-Star first baseman Yonder Alonso from the Athletics on Sunday for minor league outfielder Boog Powell.

The Mariners, who have not been in postseason play since 2001, enter today’s action trailing the Kansas City Royals by 1½ games for the second wildcard spot.

Alonso, 30, is hitting .266 with 17 doubles, 22 home runs and 49 RBIs. He ranks second among American League first basemen with a .527 slugging percentage.

“I feel like it’s a complement he brings to our lineup, particularly the left-handed bat and how he pairs with Valencia, which they’ve done before,” Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said. “It’s a balance he brings to our lineup, especially looking ahead, we’ve got quite a stretch of right-handed starters that we are seeing over the next three weeks.

“This is something we discussed for a length of time heading into the July 31 deadline. We felt like we were at the goal line to get a deal done. And through the August trade period, we were able to complete it.”

Alonso is eligible for free agency after this season.

“He’s had an excellent year to this point, an all-star season, real breakout year for him,” Dipoto said. “We are acquiring a bat that makes us a difference in the middle of our lineup.

Alonso, a left-handed hitter, could platoon at first base with Danny Valencia. Alonso has 18 home runs, 40 RBIs and a .948 OPS against right-handed pitching this year.

Powell hit .194 in 23 games with three stints with Seattle this year. He has spent most of the season with Triple-A Tacoma, hitting .340 in 58 games.