Yanks, Cashman To Talk Extension

Bill Bavasi finally got something right (it is his fault), Mariners fans rejoice!!!

That dude is truly an atrocious GM. The Mariners are probably my 2nd favorite team (after the Astros), so it hurts to see such poor decisions made.

Everyone expected Bedard to pitch better (and I think he will), but the team would have been much better off with Tillman and Adam Jones still in the organization. They would have helped form a very competitive ball club in 2-3 years, assuming a few of the other prospects develop.

Imagine if Bavasi had correctly gauged that he couldn't catch the Angels this year and that his team's record was extremely luck last year. No impetus for the Silva signing. No impteus for the Bedard trade. Hopefully no impetus for the Johjima extension. He could have dumped Sexson last fall when he was supposedly claimed by another AL team.

That would free up a ton of cash over the next couple offseasons to sign a legitimate star (Sabathia?) and let the kids develop. Now he has blocked Clement, traded Jones, traded Tillman, locked up an aging Johjima and Silva.

Seems like it will take one more bad move to get him fired, maybe extend Ibanez, Vidro, or Batista?

Seriously, I can's really think of a good move Bavasi has made over the past few years.

Trading for Vidro?

Trading Rafael Soriano for Horacio Ramirez?

Signing Miguel Batista and Carlos Silva?

Sexon?

Washburn was paid for his mirage 2004.

Even Ichiro is grossly overpaid at $17 million per year, though its hard to imagine him outside Seattle.

Beltre hasn't been too bad, but he was paid based on his 2004 career year. The only reason the contract doesn't look horrible is because salaries have escalated the past few years.

Plus they rush their prospects way too much.

How does he still have a job with that track record? What could he possibly do worse to get himself fired?

Don't forget Jeff Weaver. Bavasi is the worst thing that ever happened to the Mariners. As someone from the Seattle area, I cry everytime Soriano pitches or Vidro plays. I am not worried about Bedard because of the promise his home stats show. I love how the article states Bavasi "expressed his disappointment over ace Erik Bedard's performance (4-4, 4.47 ERA) this season, as well as just about everyone but his clubhouse attendants and batboys." That doesn't really sound like someone taking the blame.

Just a side note.

In my fantasy world Bavasi wakes up one day and realizes that his club stinks. He realizes that as it stands now they are probably 3+ years away from being extremely competitive.

That would mean holding on Bedard for the next 1.5 years is basically throwing money down the drain. And Felix won't be able to really help until he hits his FA years.

If that was the case, I wonder what type of building blocks the Mariners would receive if they traded away Bedard AND Felix this year? I have to believe that they could fill just about any gaps they have with very high ceiling talent.

You either trade them or you are looking at paying both them $15-18m/year over 5-7 years.

It would be interesting to see what Cashman could do without an unlimited bank account. I imagine he's a better GM than he appears to be, since the Yanks ownership has always been breathing down his neck, and he did manage to change the dynamic of their system from FA-heavy to prospect-heavy.

Someone above implied that Dodgers' GM Ned Colletti's job was safe, but the reality is that he has made a number of mistakes (Jones, Schmidt), and owner Frank McCourt is very impatient...just ask Grady Little. For this reason I think Cashman should steer clear of LA if offered the job. He would be joining a franchise nearly as unstable as the one in NY.

I would think it is in Cashmans best interest in waiting to see what jobs open up. If cubs crap the bed Hendry is gone - may be a nice gig especially if cuban is the owner. Right now he only has theoretical leverage - there are no other jobs open. At the end of the year all the leverage goes to him. My guess is he bails out of NY first chance he gets - just a hunch nothing to verify it before people start hounding me

"Even Ichiro is grossly overpaid at $17 million per year, though its hard to imagine him outside Seattle."

Overpaid? You are kidding, right? His BA may be down a bit (so far), but he is one of the absolute best pure hitters in the game. Not to mention that he is the best all around defensive outfielder, is on pace to steal more than 60 bases and a HUGE draw for the Mariners, both in Seattle and around the world. Don't get obsessed with home runs

"Someone above implied that Dodgers' GM Ned Colletti's job was safe, but the reality is that he has made a number of mistakes (Jones, Schmidt), and owner Frank McCourt is very impatient...just ask Grady Little."

Jones was definately a mistake, though I have an inkling that the McCourts blessed that deal before it was made. Schmidt was coming off a very good year and there really wasn't a reason to worry. As for the comparison with Little, it just doesn't work. Little allowed his team to blow a major lead in both the NL West and the Wild Card because he couldn't control clubhouse behavior (or at least marginalize Jeff Kent enough to make his big mouth a non-factor).

why does everyone always talk aboot seattle?