I don't think an extra couple hundred ABs from a 25 year old who's been in the minors since 18 really does much. I was pretty down on Gamel when we added him - because with him, Dyson and Martin there wasn't a clear CFer, and all those guys should be center fielders. Haniger is a Saunders-type who can play CF if we need him to, so that helps. The best hitting prospect in the system (Lewis) is a CFer in the same vein as Haniger, so that's good. Even if he works out he won't be ready for 2-3 years, though.
So in the meantime, Seattle needs a CF. They have several options. Their options in RF and LF are basically Haniger and O'Neill - or one of the CFs, which we're trying to avoid. I'm okay with Gamel in CF, or Dyson. I don't think I like them playing next to each other any more than I liked Martin and Dyson playing next to each other.
Gamel's career ISO is .115. That's fine if he draws a bunch of walks and hits for average, much as it was fine for Chone Figgins. Figgins also had 3000 minor league PAs and a .109 ISO. He worked because his "soft WAR" as Doc would put it held up. He got a bunch of walks, could play a defensive position (several, actually) and run the bases. If Gamel can be a Chone Figgins / Randy Winn type then more power to him (so to speak).
That's what we don't know, and won't know until he's up here. If his OBP crashes without that power threat and his BA sinks in concert (which is more what I expect) you're still looking at a Leonys-Martin-like .260/.310/.360 - for several million dollars cheaper.
If Seattle is gonna rush somebody, "rush" Gamel. I want O'Neill to work out a few more kinks in that strike-o-riffic approach first. Gamel can slap singles and play a glove OF anywhere.