Royals, Mariners swap Jarrod Dyson for Nate Karns

The Mariners have acquired outfielder Jarrod Dyson from the Royals for righty Nate Karns, according to a team announcement.

The deal is the second one-for-one swap of the day for the Mariners, who shipped outfielder Seth Smith to the Orioles for starter Yovani Gallardo earlier in the day. By completing both swaps, general manager Jerry Dipoto has essentially replaced Smith with Dyson in left field while upgrading from Karns with Gallardo.

Dyson is the second significant Royal to be traded this winter, joining Wade Davis as members of the club’s 2015 championship team to be shipped out of town. Dyson drew strong interest from many clubs, including the Athletics and Orioles, since the winter meetings and will likely assume full-time left field duties in Seattle.

Dyson joins Mitch Haniger, Leonys Martin and Ben Gamel as options in Seattle’s outfield, and is the latest trade addition for a club that has already acquired Haniger, Danny Valencia, Jean Segura, Chris Heston and Taylor Motter this winter. The 32-year old Dyson hit .278/.340/.388 with 30 steals for Kansas City last year, and will become a free agent after next season.

Karns, 29, is under control through the 2020 season and will likely compete for a chance to join the Royals’ rotation during spring training. The former Ray has now been traded three times in four years; first from the Nationals to the Rays before being shipped to Seattle from Tampa Bay last winter.

Karns made 22 appearances (15 starts) during his only season in Seattle, posting a 5.15 ERA and 4.3 BB/9 in that span. Kansas City will hope he can return to the form that led him to be effective for the Rays in 2015, when he pitched to a 3.67 ERA in 147 innings.