The Mariners are next in our Offseason In Review series.
Major League/International Signings
- Miguel Olivo, C: two years, $7MM. $3MM club option for 2013 with a $750K buyout.
- Jack Cust, DH: one year, $2.5MM. Can be controlled for 2012 as an arbitration eligible player.
- Esteilon Peguero, SS: $1.1MM bonus.
- Erik Bedard, SP: one year, $1MM.
- Gabriel Guerrero, OF: $400K bonus.
- Total spend: $13MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
- Josh Bard, Denny Bautista, Manny Delcarmen, Gabe Gross, Charlie Haeger, Adam Kennedy, Ryan Langerhans, Nate Robertson, Jamey Wright, Fabio Castro, Justin Miller, Chris Ray, Royce Ring, Luis Rodriguez
Extensions
Trades and Claims
- Acquired SP Chaz Roe from Rockies for IF Jose Lopez
- Claimed RP Jose Flores from Indians in Rule 5 draft
- Acquired SS Brendan Ryan from Cardinals for SP Maikel Cleto
- Acquired a player to be named later or cash considerations from Padres for C Rob Johnson
- Acquired P Aaron Laffey from Indians for IF/OF Matt Lawson
Notable Losses
- Jose Lopez, Maikel Cleto, Casey Kotchman, Russell Branyan, Rob Johnson, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ian Snell, Sean White, Matt Lawson
Summary
The Mariners "won" the 2009-10 offseason and ended up winning 61 games. Now they're in a difficult position: they're not committed to a full rebuild, but they probably don't have the talent to contend in 2011. Let's see how GM Jack Zduriencik handled this conflict within the confines of limited payroll flexibility this offseason.
Baseball America's 2011 Handbook ranked Seattle's farm system 18th in the game, and the Mariners added quality prospects by signing Peguero and Guerrero. Getting Roe for Lopez was a win in that the latter appeared headed for a non-tender. However, Zduriencik did subtract one live arm in sending Cleto to St. Louis for Ryan. The goal should be to add to the farm system while retaining players who can help the Mariners compete in 2012.
Given the importance of intangibles when evaluating catchers, free agent contracts are often difficult to assess. I don't love the Olivo signing, but the price is OK compared to John Buck and there is something to be said for having a veteran behind the plate for top prospect Michael Pineda and other inexperienced pitchers. Going entirely with youth behind the plate last year did not go well.
Cust, Bedard, and minor league signings like Delcarmen and Ray are smart moves with little downside. Perhaps with more stability Cust can post a .400 OBP over a full season. Bedard took less to remain in Seattle and says he's as healthy as he's been in years. Delcarmen and Ray will take on prominent bullpen roles, which is a risk a contending team couldn't take. Ryan did cost Cleto, but the infielder fits with the Mariners' tendency to scoop up underrated defenders. The Mariners reportedly checked in on many starters with health concerns beyond Bedard, such as Justin Duchscherer, Chris Capuano, Rich Harden, and Jeff Francis. In the end, the risk/reward equation didn't work for Seattle with these free agents.
2011 may be more of a regrouping year than a rebuilding one for the Mariners under new manager Eric Wedge. They'll be free of significant payroll commitments after '11, though Felix Hernandez's salary takes a big jump for '12. I think the Mariners intend to make more of a push toward contention for '12, after seeing what they have in Pineda, Dustin Ackley, Michael Saunders, Justin Smoak, Dan Cortes, and Josh Lueke.
Trade Ichiro. I want to see him get a ring.
What about Pujols to the Mariners? I know it is highly unlikely, but they can accommodate him in the payroll (they stand around 70 millions right now and have gone over 110 before) and having the best two batters of this generation together would automatically make their offense a force to be reckoned. Add King Felix, the top-line defense and the young developing pieces in the organization (Ackley and Pineda for starters) and suddenly you have a team that is WS material.
Well that’s not any more ridiculous than saying they should trade Ichiro…
Come on… how many teams can actually accommodate a 30 million contract in their payrolls? I know it’s highly unlikely, but if things go well for them I’d not be surprised if the Mariners seriously pursued Pujols next winter.
They’d be more likely to make a move for Prince Fielder, and I don’t think that is all that likely either.
i really like these posts, but i’d love to have a section added that compared the previous year’s lineup/rotation/bullpen with the ones projected for this year. i think that would kind of bring together the list of transactions & commentary in a way that’s easier to talk about & have fun with
also i promise not to spend 10 comments defending jack cust’s honor this time around
But but but…but but….he Strikes out a lot!! who cares about that 400 obp he puts up or the (potential) 30 home runs he can hit!?
Dominican OF Phillips Castillo should be listed under international signings. I think he cost more than Peguero.
He was signed in July, so technically he was not an off-season signing.
It’s probably worth noting that the 2010 Mariners put together one of the worst offensive performances of the modern era. It would be statistically impossible for their club to post those types of numbers again in 2011 (even if they had kept the team completely intact – almost every single batter underperformed versus his prior historical standard).
This, it may be a rebuilding year, but if their pitching holds up like last year and they find the middle of the pack offensively. This is a .500 team without really saying it’s much of a stretch.
The 2010 Mariners will forever be associated with failure/unreasonable expectations, MLBTR should do a “Mariners offseason award” and award to whichever team completely and utterly bombs after “winning” the offseason. I think the Brewers have a chance this year
Brewers were the polar opposite of the Mariners last year. Great Offense, crap Pitching.
That said a Marcum, Gallardo, Greinke rotation isn’t really that bad. No idea what their bullpen is like, Milwaukee is in the middle of no where.
Thank God they’ll be free of few contracts, & could stand to bring in a BIG name or two, maybe get the royal Prince to adorn the blue & teal.
Is it just me but is Olivo really undervalued? I haven’t looked at all the metrics, but seems to me if you’re gaga over Napoli then you should be with him as well or moreso, and 7mil for 2 yrs seems like a bargain when you look at Buck’s contract and other C’s.
Without looking at numbers I feel like he had a great year last year… coors field maybe… but still.
so the mariners will be as bad as last year, but with less hype?
It’s basically impossible for them to be as bad as last year. Regression is a powerful force.
Someone needs to work on their reading comprehension.
hype kills and love hurts (trails off with Incubus chorus)
Bradley has more personal issues to deal with these days. That’s never good for the team or those around him.
King Felix’s contract jumps significantly? how about you compare his salary after that “significant jump” to other Cy young pitchers and see if he is making too much money, that statement is a stale attempt to say the M’s should trade him, enough about that already, this isn’t a broke or tight wad team, they are just waiting for the right moves, I could see Prince Fielder interested in playing at Safeco, he is left handed after all.