The Mariners are one of the winners of the Winter Meetings, John Harper of the New York Daily News writes. Many in baseball have predicted Robinson Cano's 10-year, $240MM deal will end poorly, but the contract will help the Mariners attract other stars and generate fan interest, Harper says. More Saturday night links from baseball's Western divisions:
- The Seattle Times' Ryan Divish has new quotes from Mariners GM Jack Zdurienick on the club's plans for the rest of the offseason. While the Mariners still aim to acquire a right-handed bat, bullpen arms and a back-up catcher, they may have to get creative to do so, Zdurienick says. Nelson Cruz would appear to fit the club's need for right-handed offense, but Divish says he's asking for a deal with a $16-17MM annual salary.
- Bill Dwyre of the Los Angeles Times has high praise for Mark Trumbo's character following the trade that sent the slugger to the Diamondbacks. "I've been a lifelong Angels fan, and in many ways, it has been pretty much all I've known," Trumbo said of the deal. "It'll be a little tough."
- An unnamed Dodgers player told Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal (via Twitter) that Juan Uribe is an "amazing teammate and defender who hit [the] organization's biggest [home run] since [Kirk] Gibson." The third baseman, who will reportedly re-up with the Dodgers for two years and $15MM, clubbed a dramatic go-ahead homer that helped the Dodgers clinch the National League Division Series over the Braves this year.
- The Rockies want to add a veteran to their bench, and Michael Young may be available now that the Dodgers have re-signed Uribe, Troy Renck of The Denver Post writes (Sulia link). Young is reporetedly looking for a starting role, however.
- Carlos Gonzalez says he's prepared for an upcoming move to center field, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. Gonzalez will shift to center from left following the Rockies' trade of Dexter Fowler to the Astros.
How many times did the Rockies almost trade for Michael Young … It was meant to be, although about three years too late.
Winning the winter meetings doesn’t win championships.
Must’ve missed the part where the author said they would.
If the author actually said that…
John Harper should revisit history. Go back and reread articles from the original A-Rod signing. Same justification provided …
Winning attracts other stars, along with the market. I’m sorry, but the M’s are in for disappointment if they think that just adding Cano will turn the fortunes of the franchise.
There are a lot of differences between the Rangers and the Mariners in their given situations. First, Texas allocated over a 1/4th of their payroll for a single player, remember salaries werent nearly as high back in 2000. Second, Seattle has talent and prospects, outside of Palmero and Ivan Rodriguez, Texas didn’t have many other players. Thirdly, Seattle has good, proven and young talented pitching. Texas had none of that in a hitters park. To say Seattle is the same as Texas in 2000 is getting old and is proving people are ill informed when it comes to the differences between Seattle now and Texas back in 2000. The Cano move may prove to be a sour one, but the franchises are in much different positions.
And let’s DEFINITELY not forget that Tom Hicks NEVER tried to open his wallet after he signed A-Rod.
Exactly! And after Hart and Morrison, and the expected Arb $$$’s $2.5M/ea for Smoak/Saunders/Morrison, that only brings Seattle to $81.5M (and that INCLUDES approx $7.5M for 15 league min players).
Instead of Choo OR Cruz…I think I would rather sign Gutierrez ($2M) and Morales ($8M/yr $24M) and Kurt Suzuki ($3M) THEN:
1. One of Schezer OR Price (Approx $13M)
2. One of Balfour OR Benoit (Approx $8M)
3. Tanaka $13-$16M
Of course Seattle picks up those 6 players, and that’s approx $3M less on club control league min players.
So that puts Seattle around $125M approximately.
2014 OFFENSE
SS Miller
CF/RF Gutz ($2M) (Saunders OR Almonte as 4th OFer/CF)
2B Cano
RF/DH/1B Corey Hart
DH/1B Morales $8M/yr
3B Seager
1B Smoak
C Zunino and Kurt Suzuki ($3M)
LF Morrison
2014 BENCH
OF Saunders
PR/OF/CF Almonte (5th OFer)
IF/OF Bloomquist
DH Morales
2014 ROTATION
Felix
Scherzer OR Price ($13M)
Iwakuma
Tanaka ($16M)
Walker/Paxton
What exactly are you getting at with the original ARod signing?
mets montero,murp and minor league OF to arizona for ownings and aaron hill
The M’s really need to open up payroll and go sign Choo and trade for pitching, the pen under preformed and should be better.
They might as well sign him to a LT deal. The Cano signing is likely going to be a huge burden in 3-4 years. They might as well go all-in, get Choo and hope the two can help the team win something before then.
I was in the seats for that Uribe homer. It was quite an evening in the ballpark.
Me too, loge 135. never heard anything so loud before. poor little kid next to me started crying
Infield Reserve, Sec. 1. That was one of the more memorable moments, but I was also there for the NLDS win against the Cubs in 2008, Manny’s “bobble blast” against the Reds, and the four consecutive homers in the ninth against the Padres. You never know what you will see at the ballpark!
Was watching over the internet. First time I’ve ever sat in stunned silence because something GOOD happened.
16-17 million annually for someone caught with PED’s. Oh my.
A 33 year old PED user who bailed on his team down the stretch, nonetheless… More than enough reasons to avoid paying him that much annually.
Cruz isn’t a bad player, but he’s got enough flaws in his game that he’s not worth 16-17 million a year.
That 2009 Barons squad isn’t looking so hot anymore. Filled with top prospects at the time, they’ve all mostly flamed out. Gordon Beckham, Dayan Viciedo, Tyler Flowers, Jordan Danks, Brandon Allen, Aaron Poreda, Lucas Harrell, Daniel Hudson, John Ely, Sergio Santos… ugh, the players on that team had some serious potential – it doesn’t like any of them will realize it.
A 15 million dollar home run I guess.
To that unnamed player: I beg to different, and so might Steve Finley.
It’s funny. Go look at the mariners roster when they won 116. No one was really a big name. It’s all about connectivity with players and the game.
I totally agree! That’s why I’m thinking right now that Gutz and Morales would be more versatile options than either Choo or Cruz! Then a few pitchers and Kurt Suzuki should be an extremely solid 2014 team for Seattle!
So YES Seattle is in a VERY difference situation than Texas was when signing Arod.
Plus now with a very lucrative TV Ownership deal. $25M extra from MLB TV. Coming in under payroll budget every year since Z took over. Paid off stadium. etc, etc,
Seattle could “easily move payroll to $140-160 “if” they wanted to.
But the above lineup and rotation and bullpen @ approx $125M is one wonderful competitive and contending team in 2014 and beyond!
No way will Walker & Zunino be involved for Price. Seattle would still be able to offer a killer deal for TB. I am also all for trading for Lee or Hamels.
I think signing Gutz & Morales would be, not only cheaper, but also more versatile than Cruz OR Choo.
The thing I do like about Lee OR Hamels is that they are already locked up to $20-25M over the next 3-5 years. Still think Seattle will outbid everyone if Tanaka is posted.
Also, remember Walker & Paxton will be on limited PC’s this year, so alternating them in the #5 spot could be very doable if 1-4 is set.