The Mariners signed Adam Kennedy to a minor league deal and invited him to Spring Training, the team announced. Kennedy, who turns 35 today, enters the mix for a utility infield job with Seattle.
I suggested ten days ago that Kennedy would be a good fit for the M's, who also have Josh Wilson and Matt Tuiasosopo in the mix for utility roles. The former first rounder hasn't played shortstop since 2007, but he played everywhere else on the infield for the 2010 Nationals. His .249/.327/.327 batting line wasn't as robust as it was in 2009, when he hit .289/.348/.410 for the A's. To his credit, Kennedy chipped in with 14 steals in 16 attempts and nearly as many walks (37) as strikeouts (44) in 2010.
Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik will likely consider ways of obtaining pitching between now and Spring Training. The Mariners could use relief help, especially now that David Aardsma might not be healthy to open the season. The team could also look to improve its rotation depth.
Unless Kennedy has a Spring that makes everyone’s eyes bleed, I’d say this just about marks the end of The Paperboy Era in Seattle.
Very good signing for the M’s! Adam Kennedy has been worth at least 1.0WAR in each of the last three seasons. Even if Kennedy flops in Spring Training, no big deal (It’s a minor league signing). However, I totally expect to see Kennedy make the M’s 25-man roster, and be a bargain.
Very good signing for the M’s! Adam Kennedy has been worth at least 1.0WAR in each of the last three seasons. Even if Kennedy flops in Spring Training, no big deal (It’s a minor league signing). However, I totally expect to see Kennedy make the M’s 25-man roster, and be a bargain.
Adam Kennedy and Brendan Ryan, Boy are the M’s stacked or what?!
Wow, jokes about Mariner utility infielders are so hilarious and creative!
At least B-Ryan and Kennedy can be joined in their mutual hatred of Tony LaRussa.
a ingredient in the rebuilding process?
I’m not a fan of TLR but if you haven’t noticed if you got a problem with him, you usually get exiled somewhere…unless Walt Jocketty saves you…
Hey, careful here. Cardinal fans are going to come get you. Jocketty was the Sporting News executive of the year-for Cincinnati. You knew that, right?
LaRussa is…….oh, don’t get me started. I can’t even watch the Cardinals, even if they’re the only game on, because I can’t stand the genius. He’s got to be the most unpleasant man in sports. Any sport.
i’m a huge cardinal fan. But I like Whitey Herzog as a manager…TLR should have alot more championships..
i’m a huge cardinal fan. But I like Whitey Herzog as a manager…TLR should have alot more championships..
This is the greatest signing of all time.
Believe it or not I think Kennedy would be a better mentor for Ackley than anyone else on that Mariners infield.
I hope you’re right and I’m wrong. Tui is an awful, awful baseball player.
At the same time, he’s got youth and “potential”, two things Josh Wilson doesn’t quite have. Since Seattle doesn’t have a dearth of middle infielders, Wilson definitely has a chance to stick (especially given the fragility of Jack Wilson), but his new contract definitely isn’t one of the reasons why. Remember, the Mariners signed Langerhans to a big-league deal last winter only to cut him off the 40-man in ST and bring him back later in the season.
Regardless, I do hope you’re right. Josh Wilson is no marvel, but he’s better than Tuiasosopo and I’d much rather have the former on the Mariners as a backup than the latter.
Well, the Paperboy is Josh Wilson…