The Mariners have acquired Logan Morrison from the Marlins in exchange for right-hander Carter Capps, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald (on Twitter).
Morrison, 26, was a known trade candidate that was a near-lock to be traded at the Winter Meetings following the Marlins' signing of Garrett Jones to a two-year deal. The former top prospect has batted just .236/.321/.387 with 17 home runs in 178 games over the past two seasons after hitting .259/.351/.460 with 25 long balls in his first 185 big league games. Morrison's tenure with the Marlins has been rocky to this point. He's come under fire for his prolific and sometimes controversial Twitter presence and filed a grievance against the Marlins in 2011 after he was sent to the minor leagues in controversial fashion.
Morrison is under team control through the 2016 season and is projected to earn $1.7MM via arbitration by MLBTR's Matt Swartz.
Capps, 23, posted a 5.49 ERA with 10.1 K/9, 3.5 BB/9 and a 40.1 percent ground-ball rate in 59 innings for the Mariners last season. Though his ERA is unsightly, Capps has averaged 96.5 mph on his fastball in his brief big league career. xFIP pegs a fluky homer-to-flyball ratio (18.8 percent) and a .365 batting average on balls in play as the reason for Capps' woes, suggesting that an ERA of 3.53 would've been more representative of his work in 2013.
Capps will join a Marlins bullpen that is anchored by closer Steve Cishek, lefty setup man Mike Dunn and right-hander A.J. Ramos. He provides a cheaper alternative to the recently departed right-handers Chad Qualls (free agency) and Ryan Webb (non-tendered).
Morrison is the second bat reeled in by Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik in the past hour, as the M's have also agreed to a one-year deal with Corey Hart. Should Morrison be able to rebound, he, Hart and recently inked Robinson Cano give the Mariners some added punch to their lineup. However, Hart and Morrison profile better as first basemen than outfielders, but one will now need to roam either right or left field at Safeco Field now that they're both in the fold.
The addition of these two bats calls into question the role of either Jesus Montero or Justin Smoak with the Mariners and could ensure that Kendrys Morales will need to find a new home this winter, which would net Seattle a draft pick.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
The Mariners are just going gang busters this off season! I kinda like it.
Yeah, they’re kind of like the Blue Jays of last off season. Only I hope things goes better for the M’s this time round.
You’re not the first person to make a comparison with the Jays, but I don’t see it. The Jays picked up Reyes, Buehrle, Johnson, Bonifacio, and Buck from the Marlins, then they added the reigning Cy Young winner from the NL. The M’s have signed a second baseman, two outfield/first base/DH platoon candidates, and Bloomquist, a utility player. The M’s have a ways to go before their activity this offseason parallels Toronto’s last year.
think there going to try and package smoak in a deal for price since the rays need a 1stbaseman
smoak, franklin and either paxton or hultzen
Think that Rays would prefer Miller and honestly for Seattle having Franklin at short in my opinion is a better option
does kendrys morales play center field? does morales go to the hiroshima toyo carp?
Can’t decide who will look grosser in that big old outfield of theirs: Hart or Morrison.
Hart will DH and Morrison will play 1st probably
So Seattle sees Hart as an upgrade to Morales? This move doesn’t make much sense.
I’m guessing the Mariners don’t want to deal with Boras and want to move on.
He’s probably cheaper than Morales
He’s a better hitter than Morales.
Hart is cheaper, although with slightly more injury concerns.
As a hitter I’d say one isn’t much better than the other.
not signing morales will net them a 1st rounder
no first rounder if kendrys has to spend a year in japan
If Morales leaves, they get the draft pick.
ya got it backwards hart will play first and morrison lf or dh
No, Hart will probably DH most of the time after those knee surgeries. He’s right up there with Sizemore in the “Most Likely To Get Hurt By April” list in my mind.
LoMo is still 26. I’d stash him in left and keep smoak at first. Hart is a one year rental. Overall its a pretty solid line-up
Seager-3B
Miller- SS
Lomo- LF
Cano- 2B
Hart- DH
Smoak-1B
Zunio- C
Ackley- CF
Almonte- RF
and Bloomquist, Franklin, Avery on the bench
However, once the Cano deal is finalized, a DFA will need to be made
I’m thinking Noesi, Romero or Witherspoon
Seager shouldnt lead off. Next to Morales, he was the most clutch on the team in 2013 and since he started coming up. Plus he cranked 22 HR last year. Miller, Ackley, Seager, Cano, Hart, Lomo, Smoak, Zunino, Saunders. And if they go with Almonte over Saunders, Almote would more likely lead off because of his speed.
Replace Smoak w/ either Mark Reynolds or Kevin Youkilis as either can be as good as Morales/Smoak for an average offense upgrade.
Hart will DH and Morrison will play 1st probably
The answer is “yes”.
The answer is “yes”.
more speed in outfield corners with hart and morrison compared to morse and ibanez. next, add billy butler for DH/1B
this was hilarious… but sadly true lol
Hart isn’t terribad in the OF even now. But Lomo….lol…
and they continue.. Z is starting to save his job again
Interesting deal. I don’t want LoMo in the OF, but he can replace Smoak. Hopefully neither Hart or LoMo are being regarded for OF duty, they are awful there.
Capps certainly had his control problems, but if he irons them out he will be very, very good. Closer potential.
M’s have a lot of trade chips right now for another starter, OF, or both.
Funny… your user photo looks like Jack Z.
Funny… your user photo looks like Jack Z.
Capps was broken anyways. Adding some nice competition for First base and a corner outfield spot. I like it.
Bye-bye, Smoak.
What are the Mariners trying to accomplish? Logan Morrison and Corey Hart are good ball players but they won’t be able to come CLOSE to justifying the Cano signing.
Right, because finishing in last place was working out so well.
So Corey Hart and Logan Morrison are going to boost you from 4th to 1st? Come on man. I have no venom vs the Mariners, I just don’t understand why they’d sign Cano for the big deal and then back it up with Corey Hart (who seems like Richie Sexon 2.0 waiting to happen in Safeco) and a player like Lomo who can never stay healthy. I know they probably aren’t done but I just don’t see the upside of this plan.
Point being, they are at least trying. Are they going to beat the A’s or Rangers? No, but it’s better than rotting in the basement year after year. And give some credit to Hart. That guy can hit. Now he is going to be hitting in Safeco.
We aren’t done. Idk why you commenters always do this. Oh you signed 1 player that’s not gonna take you anywhere. Wait till spring training. If we add Choo and a pitcher we can seriously contend
The upside is Hart being his 3-4 win self. Morrison chipping in 2 wins. The cost being $5-$13m and a broken, albeit high-upside reliever.
Morrison hasn’t chipped in 2 wins over the course of his big league career thus far.
He asked for upside
2 wild card spots. Who says you gotta finish 1st? Just get 1 of the wild card spots.
So Corey Hart and Logan Morrison are going to boost you from 4th to 1st? Come on man. I have no venom vs the Mariners, I just don’t understand why they’d sign Cano for the big deal and then back it up with Corey Hart (who seems like Richie Sexon 2.0 waiting to happen in Safeco) and a player like Lomo who can never stay healthy. I know they probably aren’t done but I just don’t see the upside of this plan.
Hart was the best RHB available. This is the one move they needed to make to justify Cano.
I’m sure they’re not done yet. They’re probably go after another starter or two and maybe another outfield bat.
They don’t need to justify the cano signing. To anyone. They have a ton of money to spend and they needed to bring in a star to help bring them back to being a relevant mlb team. Lomo is a good young cheap player who has years of team control this is a trade that m’s fans should love. This kid has a ton of potential and was just screwed over by the marlins(like most players). Hart has been very consistent his entire career. Last year was lost to injury but it should hurt his ability to hit this season.
Mariners wasting no time.
Somebody needs to take Jack in out of the sun. I think his brain is frying.
Somebody needs to take Jack in out of the sun. I think his brain is frying.
The 2014 Mariners will be the first team in MLB history to field 3 players at 1st base at the same time.
Do the yankees become first to start 3 at DH in 2014?
No because the guys the Yankees have can at least play passable defense at a position other than first base. There is a reason Logan Morrison isn’t starting in the outfield for the Marlins.
Beltran, Soriano, and Wells totally rock in the outfield! And Ichiro is amazing too. /sarcasm
Yeah, because Ichiro’s 10 gold gloves love your sarcasm as much as I do.
Oh yeah, the gold glove… best argument ever haha. As picked by managers! By your logic someone should run out and sign Frank Thomas, he has 4 silver sluggers! He’s a great bat, right???
Ichiro has been one of the best defenders over the last 13 years. Frank Thomas probably hasn’t touched a bat in years. I’d have Ichiro over 80% of major league outfielders.
For defensive purposes.
I love Ichiro but come on dude. 80%? Ichiro hasn’t touched Ichiro like play in years.
for all qualified OFs last season, Ichiro had 13th best UZR/150 (FG version). Guess what rank 13 out of 62 OFs means.
Fair enough. But his UZR has also been trending downwards. I just don’t think the defense justifies his bat in the lineup, but he’s a good late game defensive switch still.
I don’t understand this post. Frank Thomas was an amazing hitter and Ichiro was a fantastic outfielder. You don’t need coaches awards to see that.
My point is WAS fantastic. I’m not arguing that Ichiro hasn’t had an amazing career.
I agree, the yanks OF minus Gardner is laughable
Where have you been? Gardner-Ellsbury-Beltran, Soriano DH and Ichiro the 5th outfielder. Wells is likely out of a job if they stay with what they have now. Soriano switches between LF/RF when Beltran/Jeter DH’s and Gardner to the bench. The difference is theres 3 outfield spots you can switch between, theres 1 first base spot.
Also key word was “passable”. Beltran is not a great defender anymore but he isn’t going to kill the Yankees playing in their small right field with two all-world defenders next to him. Logan Morrison or Corey Hart’s knees playing in the Mariners massive outfield however, IS an issue.
Additionally if theres one thing Ichiro still can do its play defense so.
But in reality, Hart will likely DH and LoMo will probably share time at first base. I’d be more worried about the Yankees infield than their outfield. Jeters range is gone. His range is about the same as Peralta’s, 2nd Cano is gone, and who the hell is going to play third. Texiera is your only great infielder defensively. And when is he healthy? Gardner and Ellsbury can cover most of the outfield, but outside of that the Yankees can’t criticize anyone’s defense. Especially behind that atrocious pitching staff.
More often than not it’ll be Jeter at DH and Ryan at SS. They are still searching for an infielder, so get back to me in about a month. I didn’t once say the Yankees have some other worldly defense. I was saying that playing 1st basemen out of position in a huge ball park is an issue. 1st base is the last place you put a player when he can’t play another position, so having multiple of them out of position is a huge issue.
The Yankees don’t have a great defense by any means outside of Gardner/Ellsbury but at least their guys have proved they can be….heres that word again…PASSABLE at their positions.
I never said anything about 1st base but alright. I just think that revolving that DH spot with all of those old outfielders is going to be tough, and the defense is going to be hurt for it. I’ve been watching Ichiro play D for years. It ain’t what it used to be. It’s not terrible per se, but he doesn’t do enough on the other side of the game to justify his being out there, unless he is primarily a late game defensive switch. I’m sure the Yankees will figure a way to make it all work and have a 90+ win season, they generally always do.
Ellsbury and Gardner are not old. I have no idea what you’re talking about. Which “old outfielderS” are you talking about? Beltran is the only one. The other two are great defenders and definitely not “old.”
Ichiro is not a starter. Wells is not a starter. Soriano is the DH.
So when Beltran needs a day off they put Ichiro in the lineup then? Or Wells? I’m just trying to figure out how they divvy up the playing time here. As I said earlier I’m sure the Yanks will figure a way to make it productive and win 90+ games, it just seems like an awful lot of old guys clogging up the same corner outfield spot. I am aware that Gardner and Ellsbury are going to be in the lineup everyday and doing their thang. It’s just a lot of roster spots at the moment given to the same positions (dh/rf)
Yes, Ichiro will play when Beltran sits. Or Soriano.
First off, you’re worrying about the bench OF, and the everyday DH, both of who may have to field to give the starting OF a day off? Seems very insignificant.
Just for the record, Soriano had a 7.3 UZR/150 last year. Ichiro had a 14.7 UZR/150 last year. They are not bad fielders. So… again, I don’t see the problem here.
There aren’t a lot of roster spots at the moment given to the same positions (dh/rf). You are wrong. There is one RF. One DH. When those players sit, there are bench players. Seems pretty simple, and pretty similar to how every other team does it.
It seems you’re trying to make an issue out of a non-issue. Other teams have a way worse OF/bench situation. Yankees’ OF is actually near the top, bench included.
Fair enough, best of luck to ya next season!
Ichiro is old. Wells is old. Soriano is old. Beltran is old. We’re saying the same thing here but arguing different points. I get that they’re not starters, they’re still outfielders though, and Soriano is going to get 100% of the DH duties. Other guys (like Beltran, Jeter, and possibly A Rod if he’s even playing next season) will need a day off
Beltran is the worst RF in baseball now. But playing in Yankee stadium helps hide that.
Uhh… you know Yankees signed Ellsbury, and still have Gardner, right?
Most likely, it’s Beltran/Ellsbury/Gardner in the outfield. Not really a DH heavy OF. Like… at all. Beltran is the only one who will need time off. Gardner and Ellsbury play great defense.
Soriano will DH, Wells will be cut and Ichiro will be the 4th OF.
/reality
Ya but did Garner not miss an entire year last year? And Ellsbury has missed significant time 2 of his last 4 seasons, not to mention 30 games last year.
What happens when one or both of them go down?
No that was the 2013 Yanks… Wells, Hafner, Youkilis…. any others?
Do the yankees become first to start 3 at DH in 2014?
Kendrys Morales may actually have to defect back to Cuba now to play baseball in 2014! Nobody is giving up a draft pick for him and the only team that wanted him no longer needs him
IDK about that, although Kendrys may very well get peanuts compared to that 14.1 mil arbitration number
problem isn’t the money it’s the draft pick tied to him. You are right he won’t sniff 14 mil….but nobody is going to give up a draft pick for him
What about at team that already signed a FA? I think he’s worth a second rounder.
or a team with a protected pick… Astros?
I like the deal from the Mariners aspect. Need more protection behind Cano and todays moves to get Hart as well as Morrison come wayyyy cheaper than a Nelson Cruz, or Choo.
WoW!! Seattle really dislike the Brewers.
The Brewers were the Seattle Pilots before they were stolen from us. Maybe you’re on to something…
Poor Brewers.
They still have options: Loney, or Ike Davis.
That is true but Loney wants a 3 year deal which the Brewers will not give him. I’m also worried Davis’s asking price is impractically high.
Thank you Mariners. That has opened up a potential deal for the Mets to trade Ike the the Brewers.
You might be getting Smoak!
If Logan Morrison is only worth Carter Capps, Then I don’t really see the point in trading Ike.
Mariners getting errybody
Next headline: Mariners Front-Office Arrested for Printing Money.
LoMo made 400K last year, not sure how your terrible joke is relevant.
Clever remarks never get old. That made me, a 44 year, LOL. That’s hard to do.
Kendry Morales looking like this year’s Michael Bourn. I wonder what type of contract he’s realistically looking at now.
Probably 2/18M at this point if the Orioles and/or Rangers still need a bat.
1 year with M’s probably, no one will give up a pick for a so-so DH
I still can’t believe he declined the QO. Now there’s no place for him in Seattle.
seemed ridiculous at the time. is unquestionable insanity now.
I really hate this surrendering a draft pick rule, I think it just keeps smaller teams from landing big name free agents, and punishes players for playing good.
in this case with Morales the small clubs can likely sign him to a 3/21mil deal as that is likely close to the best he’ll be offered. It’s like Lohse last year 3/33 when it was 13.3 for the QO he turned down.
If you’re giving up a mid 20s draft pick or later It’s not even 50/50 that drafted player ever makes it to the Major League team.
You understand that the acquiring team always gave up their draft pick right? The major change now is that the pick just disappears where as before the team who lost the player would get the pick.
Yes and I didn’t like that system either, I feel this one may be worse though.
In what way? The rule is designed really to protect the smaller teams. This penalizes the teams that are out there signing top 10-15 free agents every year for big money.
Morales could have made 14 million next year if he had taken the qualifying offer. I don’t see how he could complain about that except he gambled and apparently will lose.
Morales shouldn’t have declined the QO. He wasn’t worth 14 million and now he won’t come close to that number unless it’s a 2 or 3 year deal.
3/21M ?
Good moves, and I don’t think they’re done. Wouldn’t shock me to see them trade Smoak, then re-acquire Morales and maybe even Choo, who would replace Guti in the outfield. Hell, an outfield of Ackley-Choo-Saunders/Hart won’t be terrible offensively at all. (that is, if the choo rumours are true, and he goes to the mariners).
im assuming he going to play LF in Seatle
Now sign Choo and Colon and this team could make some serious noise.
Why not trade for Price or sign Garza over Colon?
Colon is better and cheaper than Garza. Price is a waste of resources. This team has money to spend, but not that much. This team still needs an OF or two.
Now this is the kind of protection Cano needs in 4 spot!
I don’t think Cano needs any protection. You realize that Vernon Wells was his protection last year right? VERNON WELLS!!!1!
M’s are all in for next season, LOVE IT!
M’s are all in for next season, LOVE IT!
Locobinson CaMorrart
Maybe the Mariners will take Ike too!
AWESOME, I suggested M’s trade for Morrison, a day after they signed Cano, he is going to be the new Firstbaseman!!
why would you take Smoak out of lineup when Morrison can play LF
Smoak is an upgrade over anybody else they would put in the OF unless they sign an OF
Because Morrison can’t really play LF
Neither could Ibanez.
Now go get Choo, and trade Paxton, Smoak, Franklin, and Erasmo Ramirez for David Price.
Successful off-season, would be first in many many years for M’s.
Sounds like to me that these moves are a prelude to a trade that will include Smoak+++ now.
Not sure on the Price thing after his agent made the comments about not extending with Seattle. BUT just read that Detroit is “aggressively” shopping Schezer and with only a 1yr rental won’t get back as much as what they got in the Fister deal???!!!! They are saying now that Detroit will not be able to extend him. That’s why I questioned the Kinsler salary addition only saving $3M from the Fielder contract. Just doesn’t make sense to me what Detroit is doing here…1st Fielder swap, and then Fister, and now potentially a minor return for Scherzer??!!
I don’t know about that, but if Seattle didn’t have to give up Walker/Paxton OR Zunino I think Scherzer is a no brainer if that is the case.
Now go get Choo, and trade Paxton, Smoak, Franklin, and Erasmo Ramirez for David Price.
Successful off-season, would be first in many many years for M’s.
Jack Zduriencik laughed at the column margins when one of his colleagues told him they can only have one first basemen.
They had just as many last year, really.
The M’s are burning up the wires!
Angels, sign Garza, NOW.
Do not hesitate. Go all in.
DiPoto: Good idea!
(Angels sign Kendrys Morales for 4 years, $65 million)
Does not compute
How many 1b/DH types do the M’s have now? LoMo, Hart, Smoak, Montero…. eesh. 3 of em didn’t work out so hot for Detroit
Z said on MLB yesterday that he’s not counting on Montero in 2014 on the 25 man roster, but going to AAA. LoMo could also be AAA bound, depending upon where Smoak and Morales are come ST.
1 AL pennant in 2012 and one trip to the ALCS in 2013…. so terrible
How many 1b/DH types do the M’s have now? LoMo, Hart, Smoak, Montero…. eesh. 3 of em didn’t work out so hot for Detroit
Kendrys isn’t gonna sign till after the draft now.
Nah, I’m sure Jack Z can squeeze a 5th 1b/DH type into that lineup… err, yeah
Don’t get too excited Mariner fans. Don’t forget Boston and Marlins two years ago, Blue Jays and Angels last year. All picked up big time players by huge spending or trading, and all ended up not contenting. Looks great on paper, but the team still has to perform. Glad to see the AL West strengthening!
Red Sox did contend in 2011. They would’ve been fine had they not acquired large buckets of chicken from the Popeyes down the street.
Mariners have only spent big money on one player. Not a big comparison here.
Lets not get carried away, now. Hart and Morrison shouldn’t be considered “huge spending or trading.”
To be fair with the m’s it’s only been one big signing. Lomo is a trade of a young cost controlled high potential 1st basemen/left fielder. And Corey harts deal won’t be that expensive because of his injury.
AWESOME, I suggested M’s trade for Morrison, a day after they signed Cano.
LoMo WILL probably start out in LF if they do sign Hart, who will DH, Smoak will probably stay at 1B for now. Eventually LoMo will move to 1B. Hart won’t stick around very long. Hart reminds me of M’s signing Richie Sexson, ironically. Hart is also a better base-runner than Kendrys, which you need in a big ballpark.
There having a good offseason. But they need to realize Cano, Hart, and Morrison aren’t gonna win now. why waste all that money and give up a possible future closer? REALLY
Carter Capps isn’t good…
Hes got potential
Not closer potential. He has no ability to get left handed hitters out and he gives up too many HRs.
And he lost, like, 5mph on his fastball.
Yup exactly, and since all he throws is fastball/slider that means he has no out pitch vs lefties. Back when he was throwing 100, he could get away with it but not anymore.
They’ll win now with 1 more good OF, and another front line starter.
Both are very do-able, via trade or FA.
Also, Capps has potential, but who knows if he’ll ever reach it. M’s need bats, badly. Smoak is now a trade piece.
not with Justin smoak, miller, and saunders
thery have two good straters now and have 3 NO-NAMES
Oh c’mon Miller is going to be very good.
Cano and the rest of the infielders will have plenty of margin for error in their throws since the M’s are looking to have 3-4 people play first at the same time.
Hart is much like Morse last year for Seattle, nice buy low option but likely to bomb just the same.
Not sure if Hart is a buy low
How is he not? If he were healthy last season, he’d be looking for $75MM.
it’s a 1 year deal that could be worth 8 MM, which would be more than Morneau’s AVV, and probably in-line with Loney’s. It’s more like the lower end going-rate for that middle-ish tier 1B. I’ll wait a lil on Morales to see what he signs for, but it’s just going rate for what he is.
okay, NOW how does Ike Davis sound? haha
Seattle is looking like a playoff team now.
In what sport?
He is obviously talking about the Seattle Seahawks.
Or maybe the OKC Thunder….ooops….low blow
Baseball.
Nope. Maybe if they sign Garza, trade for Price, sign Balfour and bring in another big bat to protect Cano.
So you think they have put together enough pieces to go form 71 wins to 92 plus?
How many 1B does Seattle need?! Didn’t they learn their lesson last year after the 5 DH’s failed to get them close to contention?
I count 3. Two of whom had recent knee issues and one who can only hit RHP. None of them are probably playing anything close to 162 games this year and LoMo can hide in LF from time to time, so there is certainly room for all 3. This isn’t like last year yet until they bring in another one. When that happens then we can complain about too many 1B.
I can count, and LoMo is terrible in LF and Hart shouldn’t be trusted in RF (especially with their knees), add in that Montero is terrible behind the plate, and would be best played elsewhere to include the bench and that’s 4. If they resign Morales (because who else will sign him with compensation attached?) then that’s five.
More Mariners moves that don’t make much sense and bring them no closer to contention. I had hoped that with Cano’s signing they’d put down the all-bat no defense kool-aid.
Montero is done as a Mariner until further notice, the M’s haven’t resigned Morales yet and Hart doesn’t need to play in the OF at all.
Qualifiers like ‘if’ should mean that it’s conditional, and 3 guys who can’t really play anything other than 1B, who will be their backup C? I’m almost certain that Montero ends up getting AB’s over the course of the 2014 season.
There’s a great article on Fangraphs that talks about how Smoak and Morrison are really pretty much identical players. The only way that this makes sense is if Smoak plays LF, because Morrison and Hart can’t roam the OF. And I absolutely would not be surprised if Morales comes back to Seattle, if he doesn’t he probably doesn’t have a job in 2014.
You really don’t follow the M’s at all do you? Montero is 100% starting the year in the minors trying to resurrect his career as a 1B. He is never playing catcher in the Mariners organization ever again. A back up catcher has been on GMZ’s off season wishlist so they will sign someone or if they do decide to stay in house, then it would be Jesus Sucre. Smoak in LF but not Morrison? Huh?
Do you really want a guy who wasn’t even passable in LF and just underwent knee surgery playing LF for your team? And if Zunino goes down, don’t you think the Mariners will want to bring up some one who can play C so that they don’t rely on Sucre only? It also seems overly harsh to give up on such a highly touted prospect that you traded a promising stud for. There’s no way he stays on the 40 man roster and is ‘done’ as a Mariner. We’ll see him up next year, I’m sure.
Edit: Changed 25 man roster to 40 man, sorry, hard to concentrate with a baby that decides to freak out at the end of your post.
On a once maybe twice a week basis sure if he can hit to justify it. He’s not nearly as awful as Ibanez or Morse out there but we’ll see with the knee.
Montero was a highly touted prospect for his bat (which failed as well), not his ability to play C and he showed everyone how truly awful of a catcher he was in his time with the M’s. The organization has already moved on from him as catcher and moved him to 1B last year before his suspension cut his season short. He will never play catcher ever again. If Zunino goes down, there would be countless better alternatives available before having to turn to Montero.
Never said he’d play catcher, in fact, if I remember saying that he shouldn’t be playing at C, but that he’s likely to get some reps there if Zunino goes down. I also lumped him into the 1B/DH logjam in my first couple of posts. His bat is decent enough that he wouldn’t be terrible offensively behind the dish, so I’m not sure why you seem to think that I’m insisting he’ll be their starting catcher
“Never said he’d play catcher…but he’s likely to get some reps there if Zunino goes down.” “His bat is decent enough that he wouldn’t be terrible offensively behind the dish, so I’m not sure why you seem to think that I’m insisting he’ll be their starting catcher”.
Other than the fact that these statements are all incorrect, you’re completely contradicting yourself within the same sentences.
Montero is a 1B now and will not be seeing any reps at C even if Zunino were to get hurt. He also won’t be playing at 1B in the majors this season unless he shows significant improvement with the bat, an ability to actually play 1B, and multiple injuries from Smoak/Hart/LoMo. That is all possible but highly unlikely.
Oh, I forgot about Smoak, so that’s 5 guys already to man 1B/DH
5??? Smoak/LoMo/Hart is 3…
Actually, I forgot that Carp went to Boston
You must not follow the M’s then and probably shouldn’t be drawing harsh conclusions about them.
I don’t, but I remember when they signed Ibanez, traded for Morse and Morales while still having Smoak and Carp. I am, however, a fan of Hart and Morrison, but neither one really helps the team out.
This isn’t last year and you shouldn’t be calling it a repeat of last year without doing any research into a subject that you don’t follow. Carp is not on this team, Montero is in AAA, Smoak and Morrison won’t be everyday players, Morrison CAN play LF once or twice a week and Hart is one big question mark on how much playing time his knees can take. These arn’t 3 every day players fighting over 2 starting spots.
Kinda surprised that all LoMo cost was Carter Capps. He was a highly praised relief prospect before last season but had a pretty bad year. He also has no ability to get left handed hitters out so he’s basically a right handed specialist. Great trade for the M’s
I think it’s pretty fair. Capps has a lot of upside as a guy who tops out at 100mph with decent secondary pitches. He’s got some control problems and has been surprisingly hittable for his stuff. A small tweak could make him a top notch closer. Morrison’s ceiling is probably decent DH, platoon outfielder.
His fastball lost about 3 MPH last season averaging around 95MPH instead of 98MPH the year before. Also the only other pitch he throws is a nasty slider but that doesn’t work as an out pitch against lefties. To be a closer you have to be able to pitch to both lefties and righties, and Capps has nothing to offer against lefties. Maybe he can develop a change or curve down the line.
Think that a package of James Paxton Nick Franklin and Jesus Montero could get us Cliff Lee and Jon Papelbon?
I read they are trying to attach Papelbon to Dom Brown or something… but if they swung a deal for Lee/Paps or Paps/Brown with everything else the M’s would look a whole lot better
How about we give you Papelbon, Lee, Brown and Kendrick for Walker, Paxton and Franklin. You get you’re #5 hitter, your number #2 starter, your closer and your #4 starter.
no thanks.
don’t trade Paxton
I want him but if we wanna win now, I think Cliff Lee and the other pieces we’ve added could push us. Especially sense Lee is making less then what he deserves. Trading Paxton for Lee would be better then Walker for Price who doesn’t wanna stay
I could see Philly biting on that if you ate all of Pap’s and Lee’s salary.
Z knows what he’s doing. Similar to Moore last season in KC, seattle wants to take steps forward. good moves.
I question whether Moore knows what he’s doing sometimes
Miami to Seattle must be the longest flight ever.
Hart and Lomo add probably about another 8-10 mil on the payroll.
They should still have around 20 mil left to spend. More if they want to break a 90m budget.
I am stunned. I seriously seen Capps as Seattle’s future closer maybe even before the end of this season. Such a huge young talent given up for LoMo who currently sits 3rd on Sea’s 1b depth as I see it.
No way he would close. Stephen Pryor is our future closer. I thought Lord Farquarr was good and would be good but apparently we want to pay for a closer
Oh, you’re right but that would make Capps the ideal setup man. 96.5MPH heat high K rate. To me that has more value than watching Morrison put up pedestrian numbers offensively while being poor defensively.
AWESOME, I suggested M’s trade for Morrison, a day after they signed Cano.
LoMo
WILL probably start out in LF if they do sign Hart, who will DH, Smoak
will probably stay at 1B for now. Eventually LoMo will move to 1B. Hart
won’t stick around very long. Hart reminds me of M’s signing Richie
Sexson, ironically. Hart is also a better base-runner than Kendrys,
which you need in a big ballpark.
Base paths are the same distance, regardless of park.
Smoak is finished. LoMo was mishandled, and he could bounce back and turn out to be a serviceable player.
They can afford these moves. The Mariners are buying hope and will put fans in the seats at Safeco. They’d need to spend almost 100 million more this season to approach the luxury tax, it’s hard to hate spending by a team with so much space.
The mid 00’s Yankees and the 2013 Dodgers spent all the money in the world and STILL got burned in the postseason, though playing in close LDS’ and LCS’ is never a bad way to end a season.
Did Seattle change the dimensions of the ballpark? Bringing in a bunch of guys that hit for power in a park that is unfriendly to that attribute does not seem like the right building map for a team. I will say they have made good moves with the exception of Cano.
They actually DID change the dimensions of the ballpark!!
I stand corrected, they are making good moves.
Actually they did bring the fences in, last season.
Do you realize how funny that is?
And the Baltmore Orioles were the only team to hit more homeruns than the Mariners in 2013.
Cano was a good move. The contract was just a couple years too long.
Cano Hart Morrison – Mariners fans get ready for late 90’s-esque Seattle resurgence! Seattle fans have to be thrilled about this offseason!
How about no?
What more do you want? They signed the best hitter on the market – followed that up by adding more pop in Hart and Morrison. Very much improved!
They have improved, but how will that offense hold up against elite pitching? Yes they’ve improved and should be competing for 2nd/3rd in the west IMO, but cohesiveness, chemistry, and moxie against good pitchers has yet to settle in for your M’s and my Yanks. Still think the M’s need to shore up their OF situation as well.
I was talking to mariners fans about being thrilled with their offseason not to Yankee fans thrilled with the mariners offseason. We all know how the Yankees fans feel about the mariners moves this offseason.
Actually, there are more than a few Yankee fans who are glad they didn’t sign Cano for 10 years 240 million so they are paying him 24 mil when he’s 41.
They are paying a broken-down Derek Jeter a kazillion dollars and a never-gonna-play-again A-rod the same, so what’s your point?
If you consider 12 million/year a kazillion, then yes. In this day and age, I don’t.
A-Rod is looking like he won’t get paid this season by the Yanks. And Jeter is getting $12MM this year, and in this offseason market is a surprise and not overly expensive.
The only reason why I’m bitter about Cano leaving is that I was expecting him to become the next Yankee lifer and face of the Yankees. But money still does talk unfortunately.
They haven’t even started on their pitching moves “yet” this offseason. M’s fans will go ballistic if they somehow land:
1. Schezer
2. Tanaka
3. Axford
4. Balfour OR Benoit
Oh did I forget Gutz and Choo?
If I had to pick two out of those 5/6, I’d go with Tanaka and Choo. Scherzer will command 150MM+ and will cost some prospects. Choo will command the same, but their offense and OF still needs more help.
Don’t forget about Nick Markakis of the Orioles.
You can’t possibly compare this team to Griffey, A-Rod in his early days, Buhner, Edgar Martinez, Russ Davis, Joey Cora…
What? I guess I’m not a baseball fan. Oh wait Yankee fan – cano heartbreak – I get it now.
…John Olerud, Randy Johnson, Jamie Moyer, Freddy Garcia…
That’s hilarious. You’re putting wayyyy too much stock in two injured first baseman
funny cause Smoak out hit him last year by a lot.
NOT against LHPs. Hands down LoMo has way better splits against RHPs and LHPs vs Smoak over the past 3 years! Smoak just needs to bag attempting to hit as a RHB and his splits would probably improve drastically!
That 3rd place will be a battle, but the Mariners are going All IN!
The Rangers or Angels will have a fire sale on the trade deadline if the Mariners will be calling out for either Albert Pujos, Josh Hamilton, or Adrian Beltre should either be healthy & available during the trade deadline for second or third place in the division standing.
Cano at second, lomo at 1st, hart at dh, trade smoak and montero for pitching
Also Paxton or Pike, Landry or Morban, Romero instead of Montero to replace Longoria in couple or few years in free agency, and John Hicks or Marcus Littlewood for David Price.
This is funny in re: Ike Davis. It was mentioned yesterday that the Brewers were out, as they were waiting on Corey Hart and failing that, they’d look to trade for Morrison. Seattle just took both of them. Wouldn’t be surprised if they started talking to the Mets again.
lol…maybe this was a precursor to a Braun trade now…lol
Wow, that would be. . .something.
Mariners will not receive compensatory pick for Morales: If another team signs him, M’s will forfeit the pick due to Cano signing.
They already forfeit a pick for the Cano signing. If Morales signs they would forfeit the compensation pick, rather than their second-round pick. If Morales signs, the M’s have one more pick than if he doesn’t sign or re-signs with the M’s, regardless of anything else.
No matter who signs Morales, M’s will not have a pick in compensation round. If by some chance M’s resign Morales, they will lose a 2nd-rounder for signing Cano.
He did not word it very well, but that is what he said.
Actually if another team signs Morales, Seattle lands the compensatory pick after 1st round but lose their 2nd round due to Cano.
Oh, they’d get to keep the comp pick and give up the second rounder? Sweet.
No they don’t. The only pick protected is a top 10 pick. They would lose the compensation pick.
Wasn’t Morrison one of Miami’s top prospects? So, after the Cano signing, and now Corey Hart, Seattle “also” improves their own Farm System from this deal with someone that is under club control for the next 4 years and not even Arb eligible?!
Plus he has better LHP & RHP splits versus Smoak.
Wow this was a great move by Seattle!
Not really on the Farm, but under club control is what I really meant from that post.
You realize you can edit posts?
WOW! Looking more and more like a slap in Wedges face on his Mariner Comments this past week!
Forget Price…it’s sounding more and more a precursor to a trade for Schezer that was reported today that Detroit is “aggressively” shopping and not expecting more back than they got from the Fister trade….
I don’t know if I believe that, because they should get a lot more, but Scherzer does only have 1yr remaining though…so maybe it wouldn’t take a Walker OR Paxton OR Zunino for Scherzer…but STILL a really DECENT package. Hmmmm…sounding very interesting to say the least for us Mariner Fans!
Been a Tiger fan my entire life, this includes 1989 1996 and the epically bad 2003 season. I never thought I’d be so ticked at a Dombrowski move like I was when he dealt him to the Nats for filth. If he really deals Scherzer and gets back another stink bomb of talent like he did for Fister, I might have to wish they had Randy Smith back. (Joking about Smith…..slightly)
It would take Zunino or Paxton for sure.
Like this move for Seattle, this guy has a lot of talent and potential. Sorry that he and Stanton have been stuck on the Marlins so long (and Stanton still is). Salty doesn’t know what he got himself into
Poor Salty…
Wish we offered him a 4 year deal worth slightly less. When Papi retires he could DH and then call up Swihart to catch
I agree. Not a fan of Pierzynski, Salty’s numbers and defense has gotten better year by year. He turned down a 2-year and for as low as he was going, I don’t see they couldn’t throw another year at him. Who’s to say Swihart or Vazquez will even be ready in 2 years?
Completely agree, catching prospects are even harder to judge than most others. Plus Pierzynski is a the definition of a jerk. Can’t decide between him and A-Fraud for my least favorite
I’m pretty sure Morales won’t net the M’s a pick. They currently own the sixth pick in the draft, and the top 10 are protected so they won’t lose that pick for signing Cano. Once Morales signs elsewhere, the M’s would get a compensatory pick, but they lose their highest pick (top-10 protected) because of the Cano signing. If Morales somehow doesn’t sign, the M’s would lose their 2nd round pick.
They would lose their 2nd pick but they would have the signings team pick. The pick they gain from a free agent who declined a Q.O. is safe and can’t be traded (which is possible to trade picks now) or lost by signing a free agent. They would lose their 2nd round pick, not necessarily their second overall pick. For instance, if the Rays were to sign Morales, the Mariners would get the Rays 1st round pick because they are picking outside of the top 10, but if the Twins signed him, they would get a compensatory pick and the Twins would keep their 1st round pick and lose their 2nd round pick.
No, the new CBA did away with getting the signing team’s pick. The Mariners will lose their Morales compensation pick because of the Cano signing.
Oh, well then it would be like not signing any free agents because they just have their normal picks then?
Yep, they will have their 1st, 2nd, etc. round picks. Morales declining the QO saved the Mariners their 2nd round pick they would have otherwise lost for the Cano signing.
Seems like Corey Hart will play almost everyday — he’s the best hitter of Seattle’s 1B/DH types. Morrison, Montero and Smoak can compete for the other half of the 1B/DH ABs without the Ms having to play either Morrison or Hart in the OF. (I do think Morrison is the better OF choice among the two of them though — mediocre vs. once mediocre.)
LoMo’s twitter account went silent after this deal
I wish I was reading a headline about Stanton to Seattle…
No way, I called dibs on him for the Red Sox!
Well I just wish he wasn’t stuck in Miami! haha
Wow the Mariners are going all in and their moves have been solid, even though they overspent for Cano, they got him some help with Morrison and Hart. Wow good for them
It makes perfect sense! Just like last year, Jack Z likes to load up on First Basemen. You can never have too many of those right?
Jack Z goes into the offseason with an empty lineup card and just signs players that will look good on the card with no regard to the position they can or can not field. Then when it’s time to play he tells the players to just go out on the field and find a spot to stand.
I liked Morrison during is time at Miami but I don’t think he’ll be a game-changer, specially in another pitchers park.. the best of luck to him but hope that Capps prove the doubters wrong and become a fantastic setup-man for Miami..
Title should read: “Mariners About to Learn LoMo Isn’t Really That Good at Baseball.”
I am not saying he is a stud, but pretty hard for you to say that about anyone who can hit 20 plus home runs in a season in the show.
It was more a harsh exaggeration than anything else, but I understand your support. My only thing is I’d be cautiously optimistic considering his track record, however hurt he may have been. Then again, the Mariners probably did their due diligence while I pretend to play GM from my cushy armchair, and for Capps (considering he appears to be broken), they could do worse.
Also, I just don’t like LoMo very much.
Smoak/Morales/Zunino to the Rays for Price/Lobaton/Beckham. Done deal everyone wins.
How are you trading a free agent?
My apologies, I completely thought he was still there. In that case, he’ll never be a Ray bc he’ll get way more on the market. I don’t see this happening now and if I were a Mariners fan I’d be happy not to get him. Todays moves just added some nice pop and I have a feeling they’re not done.
A below average player the last 2 years/ >250 hitter who doesn’t display alot of power. Par for the course for GMZ
Corey Hart is definitely a better hitter than Morales. Has more raw power and looking at overall offense, he is better because he is faster. Injuries are a big concern with Hart though but I think that he can do well with the M’s.
Nick Franklin for Colby Rasmus
Mariners need a #3 starting pitcher, after Felix and Iwakuma. Maybe invite a few of Kazmir, Johan Santana, Tommy Hanson to Spring Training and/or give them minor league deals. Price said he isn’t open to an extension in Seattle.
Kazmir signed a lucrative deal with the A’s.
Walker’s not a #3?
Price wants to be a Yankee… he wants that C.C. deal + 40 MM
HaHaHaHaHaHa!! That’s hilarious.
The Yankees wish they could buy David Price, too bad he isn’t interested in them.
I love DP so much more after he went on record saying he would pass on that Yankee $ and never sign with them or any team like them with outdated or numerous rules. All because it is a matter of principle. Coming from a org that treats him with respect and not like a child, He’s not down with those old school rules.
What is equally funny is that the yankees would prevent themselves from acquring a player with his talent on the field & his dedication in the community because they value their grooming policy more than the product on the field and winning championships.
$ talks more than grooming habits. Look at Cano, the Mariners will only compete for a WC1-2 playoff spot, the Yankees will be in it each year for divisional to WC 1, but he chose $.
Did he come right out like Zack Greinke and say “I signed with the team who offered me the most money?”
Not every player is a sell out.
$ talks more than grooming habits. Look at Cano, the Mariners will only compete for a WC1-2 playoff spot, the Yankees will be in it each year for divisional to WC 1, but he chose $.
nomo lomo in Miami
Logan Morrison and Cory Heart? Well any chance Justin stays with the Mariners just got smoaked
GM Jack just said Smoak is still 1B, but after 2014, you’re probably correct.
Yea if Corey Hart can’t play, why close the door if LoMo doesn’t produce and Montero doesn’t produce, Smoak’s the last guy standing.
Smoak or Montero may be the answer to the Rays needing a first basemen on top of packaging James Paxton or Tyler Pike, Anthony Fernandez, Nick Franklin, and a player to be named like Leon Landry or Julio Morban to bring in David Price since Cano will take playing time away from Franklin and Morrison on Landry or Morban in a year or two. Smoak then gets dealt back to the Texas Rangers w/ a player to be named from the Rays (low level prospect) for Mitch Moreland.
So glad the cubs didn’t trade for this guy.. he seems like he’s just full of himself.