As expected, Hisashi Iwakuma and Taijuan Walker both won't be ready for Opening Day, Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon told reporters (including MLB.com's Greg Johns) yesterday. Iwakuma is dealing with a strained tendon on his right middle finger and will be sidelined until mid-to-late April, while Walker has been shut down for a week with shoulder inflammation. With Seattle's rotation thinned, it will only increase speculation that the M's could increase their interest in Ervin Santana. Here's some more from the M's…
- While the Mariners could still use a pitcher and a right-handed bat, two sources tell CBS Sports' Jon Heyman that the team has "little or no loot left to spend," which GM Jack Zudriencik wouldn't confirm. A lack of payroll space could explain why the Mariners haven't extended offers to Santana or Kendrys Morales, and didn't make an offer to Nelson Cruz (before he signed with the Orioles) despite interest in all three players.
- Missing Iwakuma and Walker early in the season could particularly hurt the Mariners since they play the A's 10 times before May 7. "If Walker and Iwakuma miss the month of April, with our schedule that month it could get ugly," a Mariners source tells Heyman. Robinson Cano and at least one other M's player expressed the opinion that Santana would be a great fit, while Cano would also like to see the switch-hitting Morales brought back. "I'm not going to lie. We need an extra bat, especially a right-handed bat," Cano said. "We have many left-handed hitters. We need at least one more righty. You don't want to face a lefty pitcher with a lineup of seven left-handed hitters."
- The Mariners have sent scouts to watch young Rays pitchers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The two clubs recently came close on a trade that would've sent Nick Franklin to Tampa, though Topkin believes that the M's can find a better fit elsewhere for the young infielder.
- Danny Hultzen will miss the entire 2014 season as he recovers from major left shoulder surgery, but the highly-regarded prospect tells Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times that he's optimistic about his recovery and resuming his pro career.
Never got a quote like that from Cano while he was with the Yankees. I wonder if he is now starting to realize what he got himself into.
The M’s minor league system is far better than the Yankees. They have money, regardless of what Heyman says. Cano may very well be in a better organization than the Yankees right now.
Let’s not buy FA’s when there may be deals to be made. We don’t have any idea what Mr. Zduriencik has up his sleeve at this time. I would like to see another LH SP, too. If Wolf can grab a spot in the rotation he may be a better option than Santana, especially when Santana costs a draft pick and 4 years.
The Mariners seem to have just as much trouble producing quality major league players as the Yankees.
The Yankees having nothing close to the youth the Mariners have. It’s taken the M’s time to get Zduriencik’s draft picks to the show. The Yankees have nothing like Seager, Miller, lFranklin or Zunino. Almonte may break camp as the cfer and leadoff hitter. Oh, the Yankees used to have a guy like that. Ackley and Smoak were rushed to the big club before they were ready and messed up by Wedge. Let’s see what HoJo and McClendon can do with them before we write them off.
Put Cano and Hart in the middle of these kids? Me may have a better offense this year than the Yankees.
Well good luck with that.
Yes, the M’s needs some luck. That’s for sure.
Well hopefully the Mojo can transfer from the Seahawks this year to the M’s now. I’m hoping Seattle lands Morales and uses Franklin to score a SP like Montero or a Price. It’s obvious that Seattle needs Paxton now more than ever, and with Walker sore, “if” TB is involved for Price they are not going to expect Walker/Paxton back if Price comes our way.
Which means a trade with the Mets is a Lot more likely!
The Mets have Niese hurting so they may need Montero, too. Montero strikes me a lot like Erasmo. The arm I was hoping the M’s could have went after was Jaime Garcia. But he’s not in the rotation right now due to bursitis.
Mariners are ranked better but they are not that far apart. BA ranks the Mariners 13th and the Yankees 16th. Now with Walker battling shoulder soreness and Hultzen getting TJS, I expect them to drop, but let’s wait and see
I’m not arguing which farm is better because clearly it’s the M’s, but the Yankees is not a terrible farm as non-Yankee fans say it is. A very bad year from most of the Yankees top prospects last year hurt them big time.
Nothing like Zunino? Gary Sanchez isn’t far off. Not saying he’s better but Yankees have some of the best Catching depth in the minors.
I think what the Yankees have is catching depth. Not Zunino level talent. Zunino hit 6 homers last year, all over 400 feet. He’s got MLB bloodlines and is strong behind the plate. When Zunino starts hitting, he will be closer to Buster Posey than Gary Sanchez. Zunino was rushed to AAA after all of 44 games between short season A and AA. Then rushed to the show after 52 games in AAA. He’s played 96 games in the minors. That’s rushed.
The M’s ranking took a hit because Franklin, Miller, Almonte and Zunino all had too many MLB AB’s this year to qualify as prospects. Who on the Yankees roster compare to those 4 in the Yankees system?
The M’s have kids behind them on the way, too. Hicks and Marlette may be better catchers than anything the Yankees have. Chris Taylor may be the best overall SS in the M’s system and he’s not even ranked on any list, yet.
“Hicks and Marlette may be better catchers than anything the Yankees have.”
Certainly not better than Sanchez or Murphy. I can’t expect much out of Austin Romine though anymore from the Yankees.
May. Key word. What has Sanchez done besides hit in Low A ball?
Everything I’ve seen is that Zunino should blow Posey stats away. I’ve seen BA say he’ll be more on the lines of a Mauer level C in MLB. Us Mariner fans can only hope, because we’ve been through 3 top catching prospects over the past 6 years that were suppose to be some of the top catchers in MLB and NONE of them panned out. Hopefully Zunino can live up to BA expectations.
Yep! The difference with Zunino vs Clement, was Clement was drafted for need where many thought Zunino was top 3 talent. Imagine passing on Clement and landing some of that other talent. You know, Zimmerman, Braun, Tulo, Bruce or McCutheon.
Or passing on Ackley at #2 and selecting Trout instead who went for what #26.
Yeah, 25 other teams missed on that one, too.
He was picked 25th and 22 teams passed him up, including the Angels.
Yes, this is the fact that I find interesting, the Nationals, the Diamond Backs and the Angels all had 2 picks, and the Angels didn’t pick Trout until their 2nd pick.
Thanks for the correction. 🙂
Thanks for the correction. 🙂
enjoy your comments doc, not trying to correct, just clarify.
I just think it is interesting as a M’s Fan how people that want to bash Jack Z, say “we drafted Ackley and not Trout”, when Ackley was the consensus choice and the Angels themselves past up Trout once, with their 1st pick. True it’s a small matter since their 2nd pick was right after that.
Unfortunately it also would not surprise me if he, like many other top prospects, is a bust. I can’t tell you how much stuff people said about Matt Wieters who I’m sure as you know was once the #1 prospect in baseball. He’s had maybe an average to slightly above average career thusfar (at least Offensively).
The Only reason Seattle dropped from #3 last year to 13th now is that Franklin/Miller/Zunino/etc/etc are ‘not’ counted on the prospect list any longer. Seattle if I recall is the ‘youngest’ MLB team out there at this point. So that has to be taken into consideration ‘if’ you’re comparing to the Yankees or any other team. Seattle has graduated a TON of prospects over the past 2-3 years that are no longer on the prospect list, but yet we still have 3 in the top 100 and a few that just missed the top 100.
Mariners have youth sure, but look at their roster. The talent on the Yankees roster far exceeds the mariners.
MB923 was comparing the farm systems and said the M’s system was ranked slightly ahead of the Yankees system.
As far as the big club goes, we’ll see at the end of the year. Teixeira, Jeter, A-Rod and Suzuki are long in the tooth. It’s been a while since Teixeira has really produced. Beltran isn’t getting younger, either. McCann and Ellsbury have had some injury history lately and are signed for 5 and 7 years. CC lost some weight and looks good, has his lost velocity shown it’s face in camp yet? Kuroda and Tanaka should be good, but how is the rotation after that? Finally, how does the bullpen look after Mo has left? The Yankees have questions. Oh, and I forgot… the Yankees lost Cano.
Overpaid doesn’t mean a bad team though. My point was that Yankees farm is worse, but they also don’t have as many holes to fill.
2nd and 3rd are holes. SS is a question mark since Jeter feels likes it’s been 2 years since he’s played. Teixeria hasn’t played in about 2 years and before that he was in serious decline. The Yankees may not make it thru the season with that infield. They had to crash the salary cap to put an outfield together and spent big bucks on Ellsbury who has played 3 full seasons out of the last 6. The holes are in the bottom of the boat in NY.
They have problems, but I would say the same about many other teams. The Yankees have a whole lot less problems than the Mariners. The Mariners are this years Jays. I said the same thing about the Jays, just because you fix a few holes does not make you a complete team.
The Yanks do have veterans like Beltran/Arod/Tex/Jeter/Cano (oh wait Cano is a Mariners now). Yanks have always spent their money on ‘proven’ veterans, instead of relying on ‘potential’.
Yanks have a decent offensive roster, but there are serious concerns:
1. 2014 Arod is out.
2. Jeter’s been on a serious decline
3. Mo is Gone now
4. CC not only had a Horrible 2013, but his FB the other day topped out at 88mph. Yes it’s early in the Spring, but if CC can’t return to his elite level the only SP I would be worried about is Tanaka and he’s still unproven in MLB so far.
5. Tex still continues injury issues, and is still out until next week, so we’ll see if he can return to form without another serious injury in 2014.
6. I wanted Beltran in Seattle after he left the Mets, and sure his bat will be a major asset in 2014 for the Yanks, but his defense is not like his 20’s and early 30’s.
I think BoSox and O’s will give the Yanks a run for their money with the BoSox winning the division (and I’m NO BoSox fan).
I’ll take Seattle’s ‘young’ roster w/Cano in 2014 over the Yanks. But SP wise Seattle is dependent upon a serious SP trade this month or else they will be out of it by early May when Iwakuma and Walker start showing starts.
It’s a must for Seattle to land Morales bat at this point and trade Franklin for Montero (Mets), or trade Franklin++ for Price.
To be fare though the Yanks have Beltran/McCann/Tanaka/Ells/Gardner that will need to carry the team. Everyone else is a serious question mark.
You really don’t think your Mariners have even bigger question marks? I’m not sure why you’d take Seattle over NY. Their pitching is worse (it was worse than the Yankees last year despite having 2 Cy Young candidates) and the Mariners probably have the worst OF in baseball. Yankees infield isn’t good but even with the loss of Cano, I can’t see it being worse than last year
Give me Jeter/Tex/Roberts/Johnson over Cano/Overbay/Nix/Nunez
Best of luck to your team, because you’re going to need it, Yankees will too but the Mariners need it and A Lot more than the Yankees
I’d rather my team rely on veterans (some who are recently all stars) than rookies.
But it’s baseball, we all should expect the unexpected
Per division, I think the M’s have a chance of being *better*. I believe the Yankees will finish in 4th behind TB, BOS and BAL. I think the M’s will finish 3rd behind TEX and OAK.
Don’t see why you expect Baltimore above NYY. Both teams may have a decent shot at 3rd in their division, but yankees have much better shot of winning division.
Don’t see why you expect Baltimore above NYY. Both teams may have a decent shot at 3rd in their division, but yankees have much better shot of winning division.
You do realize Overbay/Nix/Nunez aren’t on the M’s roster right. I’ll take Seager/Miller/Franklin/Cano with a Hart/Smoak platoon at 1b
Over the Yankees current options!
I think you gotta re-read what I wrote. The players I wrote were on the Yankees Last year and it was their primary infield all year with Jeter, A-Rod and Tex out.
Their IF still isn’t good but it’s better than last year’s (at least on paper), even without Cano. Losing Cano hurts, but Jeter/Tex/Roberts >>>>>>>>>>>> Overbay/Nix/Nunez/whoever
Beltran made some pretty clutch defensive plays in the playoffs
Good points. The TV revenue hasn’t kicked in and operating revenues have definitely suffered from the declining on-field product since 2007 (that will only be cured by winning, then increasing viewers and attendance).
I just don’t see the M’s committing multiple years to erratic Ervin Santana. I do think there is a strong rationale for signing Kendrys Morales though, since neither Smoak or Logan Morrison have yet to prove themselves as major leaguers and Hart’s durability is a questionmark with his knee surgery.
I have strong suspicions that the M’s are interested in signing Morales, but that both Drew and Morales are being subsumed by Scott Boras’s massive ego which is looking more and more unyielding in the face of the QO complications which paint Boras-o-topia’s multiple year, extravagant, fully guaranteed deals as the birthright of all his clients. How Mickey Mouse! Too bad Kendrys Morales and Stephen Drew are left twisting in the wind.
The Mariners ” a better organization than the Mariners right now ” ??? Are you serious ? They might have a couple of more prospects than the Yankees,but with a GM like Jack Z,they will even find a way to screw that up.
LOL.
Thay have a whole team of prospects better than the Yankees have. Zduriencik has had to deal with a Japanese owner (deceased) and player ($18.5 mill/yr) that are no longer an issue. His drafting is starting to reach the MLB team and they can spend more if they find the right deal.
I was talking about the minor leagues, not the entire system. But in a year or two, the M’s will have the better system top to bottom.
I agree. I also think Seattle has to be committed to Zduriencik beyond 2014. Seattle can NOT afford to even give MLB or M’s fans any inclination that we are in yet ‘another’ rebuild after 2014.
After Rodney’s salary that pushes Seattle’s 2014 payroll to $80m. + another $6m approx on 12 club controlled players just signed. + a potential $6m of incentives on Hart/Rodney & ‘if’ Baker makes the team. If I recall Seattle budgets for 25% of contract incentives, meaning Seattle’s 2014 budgeted payroll at this point is sitting at $88m and topping out at $92m ‘if’ all incentives are met with Hart/Rodney/Baker.
Yes we Finally have our stadium paid off, and this new ownership TV deal with RSN. But I think the ‘true’ money is going to start showing itself, from this TV deal by the 2nd half of 2014. So, I think Mariner fans have a LOT to look forward to with potential mid-season trades and next offseason especially!
I like your enthusiasm… Need a right-hand DH that is NOT named Hart…
He has made many questionable moves these past 2 years that really suggests his job is in jeopardy. Team should have prospects coming up, they have been terrible.
Montero was hitting in the 4 spot at age 22 in new organization trying to catch. This club didn’t have vets to carry the load like Cano can this year. Kyle Seager has a career OPS of .684 hitting 3rd. His OPS in every other batting spot is over .850. Why is he hitting 3rd? Because there was no one else. The prospects were expected to do things they shouldn’t have been doing. They were set up to fail. Heck, Zunino has 90 games in the minors.
Zduriencik had to deal with a lot of bad contracts and a barren minor league system. He’s filled the minors and last year was the first year that Suzuki’s $18+ mill/year was off the books. In 2012 they went after Fielder. In 2013 they went after Hamilton. This year, they finally got someone to take their money.
Billy Beane couldn’t have done better with the mess Zduriencik walked into.
This year Zduriencik finally got to hire his own coaching staff. I think the ownership group has always had their hand in the process. It’s not been an easy job for Zduriencik. The FO knows how they have hindered Zduriencik and his job is safe.
You are the ultimate dreamer sonny. That guy is probably the worst GM in MLB right now,and unless he pulls a rabbit out of his hat this season,such as a glorius 3d place finish,he is O.U.T.
The Pirates didn’t get good by spending big on free agency, they got good by keeping their own players. Being aweful for years didn’t hurt getting all of those top prospects. The M’s are just getting to where the Pirates have just gotten to by developing their farm system. The FO knows exactly what they have done to hamstring Zduriencik, they know exactly why it’s taken so long to rebuild. The FO is the group that gave Zduriencik the team and system they had to work with.
I am a dreamer and I have no problem with that. However, I’m not delussional. The bad GM isn’t our current one. It was Bill Bavasi who threw away draft picks on FAs like Gregg Colburn, Ibanez, Sexton and Beltre. He signed Washburn, Bautista and Silva to long term deals. He traded away Choo, Jones, A Cabrera and Rafael Soriano for nothing. He drafted guys like Garciaparra and Tuioasosospo with first round picks.
Spend 4 years with Bill Bavasi as your GM and them maybe you will know all about the worst GM in all of baseball.
Wow. Z LOVES you man… Wait, you’re Z, Right?
🙂
Shhhhhh.
LOL
Do you think Jack Z might try to do something like ink Seager to an extension and then deal a big piece of the farm like D.J. Peterson? Not that Peterson will end up at 3b anyways, just curious as to his willingness to trade from any depth.
Why would he make a trade now? He may have everything he needs now. He’s not going to overpay, FAs or in trade. Let’s let him keep doing what he has been doing.
“Let’s not buy FA’s when there may be deals to be made.” What kind of deals were you referring to?
I have no idea. I’m not Mr. Zduriencik. The rumor was they were in on some non-Price pitching from Tampa. Hellickson? You never know how things are going to work in LA (Dodgers). You just never know. Santana isn’t a difference maker. He’s a solid MLB pitcher, but why spend 4 years and a pick on him when we may get similar production from Wolf and Baker? They are on minor league deals. If Almonte wins the CF job and pushes Hart to DH, do the M’s need Morales? They surely didn’t need Cruz. He may have a good year in Camden Yards, but his career stats in Safeco are awful.
Seattle was one of the top HR teams last year and basically lost Ibanez & Morales.
We added Cano & Hart & Morrison. I think these additions solidifies that our HRs will be pretty close to the same, and if Morales bat is added I think Seattle will be in line for not only the top HR hitting team, but we’ve improved BA average in Cano/Hart to our lineup. Our problem in 2013 was not HRs, but batting avg. I think Seattle fixed that, but Morales switch hitting bat will compliment the offense at this point and put Seattle over the top.
Out SP has so much potential, but with the Iwakuma/Walker injuries we are in serious trouble in that area and something has to be done this month about that.
I’m no Ervin Santana advocate, but I am an advocate of trading Franklin for Montero (Mets) or landing Price now as long as Walker/Paxton aren’t involved. My bet is on Seattle landing Montero with the Mets. That should be able to get us to May/June holding out own with the rest of the division until Iwakuma/Walker show up.
The Rays are in a win-now mindset, so there is no way Price gets traded before he would be useful for the Mariners.
However, I think they should trade for Cliff Lee. He would cost less in terms of prospects (meaning they could probably do it without Walker, Paxton, or Zunino), and he has more team control than Price. Plus, he is still a phenomenal pitcher. Lee liked Seattle, and even though he didn’t like the team as much when he was there, they look a lot better now, and even better when compared to a Phillies team that is about to sell its players.
Rotation of Hernandez, Lee, Iwakuma, Walker, Paxton come April looks very good.
I agree with u and have been pushing for Cliff Lee all offseason. Phillies landed AJ so I think they are going out for a contention run, and now won’t trade Lee unless they fallout by June July. I think Seattle can hang in there thru June as long as they add Morales bat, and then trade for Cliff Lee for half his 2014 salary. I think M’s will land the Morales thing, and trade Frnklin for the Mets Montero to hold us over until they can land Lee. I also can see them still trading for Kemp early in the season. I really think Seattle will be willing to go to the $120-$130 range if the could get those players.
We’re now 2 weeks in to ST and hello, Hart’s hitting a buck eleven. He’s not the DH – We need Morales.
I have no idea. I’m not Mr. Zduriencik. The rumor was they were in on some non-Price pitching from Tampa. Hellickson? You never know how things are going to work in LA (Dodgers). You just never know. Santana isn’t a difference maker. He’s a solid MLB pitcher, but why spend 4 years and a pick on him when we may get similar production from Wolf and Baker? They are on minor league deals. If Almonte wins the CF job and pushes Hart to DH, do the M’s need Morales? They surely didn’t need Cruz. He may have a good year in Camden Yards, but his career stats in Safeco are awful.
That doesn’t make much sense to me. Like Cano just mentioned today, we still have glaring holes. There is a sure need for a right handed bat, we could really use one more starter especially with Kuma and Walker missing the beginning of the season, and unless Franklin is seen as safety depth in case of infield injury, he should be moved.
Morales would be nice. Until he accepts a reasonable offer though you have to go without him. Your RH bats will be Almonte, Zunino, Smoak, Hart and Buck. You can catch Buck vs lefties, DH Smoak and play Hart in RF. That gives you 5 bats from the right side.
Franklin and Miller have more trade value at SS so play them there until you decide to keep one and move him to the OF.
Baker and Wolf are likely 3 and 4 out of spring training if they make it. Felix, Paxton, Baker, Wolf, Erasmo.
From a personal standpoint… I’m jumping ship if Jack ever trades Peterson before we see what he can do in the show.
Good call! The dude looks like a stud so far and we can always use a good hitter
Im sure we will keep Peterson because Smoak will probably have another counter productive yr.
I really think by next offseason we are gonna see Peterson, Choi, Romero, and Chris Taylor in the top 100 prospect list.
What are you basing this off of? He’ll have more protection than ever… hopefully we see an increase in production with less pressure on him to hit a bomb every time at bat.
Because hes always been a replacement level player. He has a high K rate and doesnt square up the ball for good contact enough. He needs to drop being a switch hitter and make contact more often along with drawing mkre walks to be productive.
I like the idea of trading Smoak to someone like Pittsburgh, and signing Morales as a stop-gap until Peterson can come up and take over at 1B…
I hate to break it to you but the Mariners do not have money left over after they got Cano or else they would have gotten more FA to help them
I think I said “they have money in spite”. They have plenty of money to do what they need.
Most counties in the World don’t have more money than the Yankees.
Yea i know I corrected myself shortly after but i still disagree with you that they have money to spend
Earlier this spring there was talk for the right players they would be willing to go over $100 million. Last I read they were under $90 still and closer to $85. They just bough ownership in their TV network and their TV deal starts next year. They could easily add $20 million this year. Why spend it on guys that aren’t good signs? Save if for guys like Price or Kemp if they become available.
Exactly! With the now TV ownership deal I personally think by mid-season they could easily have a $120-140m payroll “if” they “chose” to! I don’t think they need to though, but if they somehow landed:
1. Morales
2. Price or Montero
3. 1st Half trade for Kemp
4. Mid-Season trade for Cliff Lee ‘if’ Philly’s are out of contention.
They would be unstoppable in the 2nd half. Of course doing all the above is unlikely, but if they chose to do this would push payroll up to the $120+ level.
There we go. I just replied to your post above and hadn’t read this one. I like the idea of Lee more, and they could maybe even pry him away before the season for a decent return. Price definitely won’t go anywhere until mid-season at least, and the Rays should still be in contention then, so I don’t think he will be traded until next offseason.
Like the idea of Kemp…not sure it will happen though. Again, the Dodgers should be in contention. However, two scenarios that could happen….
1. Jose Bautista. The Jays figure to take last in the East this year, so he could become available mid-season. That would be a very nice bat to protect Cano, and he has position flexibility.
2. Believe it or not, but Stanton. Miami won’t contend, and if he doesn’t extend soon, they may decide to maximize his return. Plus, they have a future outfield in Marisnick, Yelich, and Ozuna already in the big leagues to take over.
Get Lee and Stanton, and problems of protection for Cano and the rotation would be set for years to come.
You can disagree but you’re wrong. The numbers show it.
Didn’t they get a $2 billion TV deal?
But their ownership didn’t let Jack Z spend any more money on major free agents which is why they did not go after Tanaka. Maybe they do have money but unless they are going to spend it I don’t see its relevance.
True that! They have to be willing to spend it. I think we will see that by mid-season and especially next offseason!
I think they have money, they are just waiting for that right talent. I think they know that they needed a better bat than Morales and Cruz, and are waiting for a trade that would help long term. Someone such as Kemp, Stanton, or Bautista come mid-season when their respective teams are either out of contentiion, or for a guy like Kemp, is able to prove he is healthy enough to be worth the prospects.
The same goes with pitching. They could be waiting on a team like the Phillies to fall out of contention so they could acquire someone like Lee.
Better than that…they have majority ownership in RSN Sports Network. This blows the Rangers and Angels TV deal away.
I’m not sure sure about the Mariners finances. Remember, their parent company Nintendo’s latest console, the Wii U is a colossal failure. They have been losing money, I can’t see them sinking much more into the M’s, especially after giving 10/240 to Cano.
“I’m not sure sure about the Mariners finances.”
Then you seriously need to research it more.
The M’s have been turning a profit with garbage for teams and they just bought their TV network. They don’t rely on Nintendo’s P&L for their income. These guys bought the team for $300 mill and it’s now estimated at being worth over $700 mill and that was before they purchased Root Sports.
If this team starts playing good ball, Safeco will fill back up and the M’s will be making record profits.
1 other thing. Last month the A’s just signed their 2014 stadium lease for nearly $2m. Seattle just paid off their stadium last year, so that’s another cost savings for the M’s!
New owners would be nice
Morales would be nice on a one year deal. LoMo has an option remaining I believe and could go to Tacoma if he doesn’t beat Smoak for the 1B gig. Almonte is looking good so far this spring, too. If he wins the CF gig, the Saunders can move to RF and move Hart to DH. I’m starting to wonder if Saunders to Toronto wouldn’t be a bad fit. He’d be much better in LF than Melky and always hits well in Canada.
Did I say Franklin could be a nice RH bat?
A big problem for the M’s that still really hasn’t been addressed is how poor they are defensively. Seager, Smoak, Hart, LoMo, Saunders in CF, Ackley in CF are all below average. Even players like Miller and Zunino who project to be around average were below average last season. Other than Cano, you don’t have any regular player that you can confidently say will be above average defensively. This a huge problem for the Mariners and they don’t look like they are doing much to address it.
It’s only 3 games in, but I have a hunch the M’s are looking at Abraham Almonte in CF and possibly leading off. Oliver projections have him at 5.7 dWAR and Steamers has him at -.3. Anything in between gives a +dWAR in CF. Saunders had a + UZR in RF about as big as his -ve UZR in CF. If the M’s move Saunders to RF, Hart to DH and play Almonte in CF (switch hitter) and Ackley in LF, their OF defense will be much better. That means LoMo either beats out Smoak at 1B, gets traded or ends up in Tacoma. I’m pretty sure LoMo has one option left.
Does that help?
How about Alejandro De Aza/Viciedo (CF/LF) and Chris Beck (top SP prospect) for Nick Franklin. Sounds reasonable for both teams.
No
you’re right, Mariners would never get a package that good
I think Chris Back is an over kill, especially since he’s regaining his form that would have made him a first round pick. De Aza and maybe carlos sanchez, jared mitchell, tracye thompson would work.
I hope the M’s continue to wait – and see what Baker & Wolf do throughout the spring, if Maurer or Beaven can offer an option for the M’s.
Santana is a long term commitment and this team has a lot of young talent that can break through this year. Kuma and Walker will only be out for a few weeks…Santana would be here for 3-4 years. He’s not a stud. Walker and Kuma are…Paxton has serious potential, Baker could be a solid #4. We have Erasmo too.
I wouldnt count on Maurer and Beaven, unless I’m pleasantly surprised.
Erasmo seems like the clear winner to crack the rotation and possibly Baker too?
I’m pulling for Erasmo Ramirez to make the rotation, and one of Baker or Wolf. Maurer is a possible fit as a beginning of the year starter and then shifting to the bullpen when the injured return. Maurer is probably better suited for the bullpen anyway, due to his struggles vs. left handed hitters.
NO WAY can we count on Maurer and Beaven!
I didn’t mean to imply I was counting on Maurer, Beaven as SP or even Wolf as a regular rotation guy.
I am optimistic that Baker can make the rotation, and I’m counting Erasmo as one of our 5.
1 – Felix
2 – Kuma (Baker 1-3 starts)
3 – Erasmo
4 – Walker (Wolf for a couple starts? )
5 – Paxton
I hope that Wolf could play well enough in spring training that he could spot start early on until Kuma/Walker come back.
Maurer and Beaven – maybe they surprise and we could get a some solid innings out of them before sending them back to AAA or pen.
The intent of my post was that I want to M’s to wait and see how spring training progresses – and not go out and just trade Franklin out of panic. I’m a Franklin fan. If we can get comparable value great. But, the M’s have made too many bad trades over the years…
Cano is correct about the disease, but not the cure. Morales was decent vs. lefties last season, but has not been so for his career. There is a very good chance his performance from the right side last year is a small sample size fluke. There isn’t room on the roster for a player who can’t play the field.
Which brings me to Franklin. As much as the team needs pitching I would really hate to end up repeating the Bedard trade by giving up a position player for a pitcher. Pitchers just vanish sometimes. All too often, really. Position players rarely do so due to injury. If the M’s trade Franklin for a young pitcher I would hope they would build the extra risk into the equation and demand more than a potential #3 starter in return. A solid regular position player is worth a potential ace starter, and that’s what the Mariners need in return for Franklin.
I want to see Franklin traded for an outfielder. A defensive whiz who is great against left-handers should be the target. If they can’t hit righties well, that’s ok and that’s probably all the M’s could ask in exchange value-wise. This will help all the M’s pitchers and the lineup as well.
Cano was acquired for business reasons, to get fans in the seats, because if it was to win – i.e., baseball reasons – they would have addressed their other needs. As it stands right now, the Ms aren’t contenders.
Wonder if Frankin+ to LAD for Kemp would make sense. Dodgers are big on Guerrero at 2B, but perhaps moving HanRam over to replace Uribe at 3B would allow Franklin to play SS. I have some internal debate whether I would want to give up Franklin for someone with Kemp’s injury history, and don’t feel that Ethier is enough return, especially being a lefty. Maybe expand the deal that would bring some SP to Seattle too? Not sure what those specifics would look like, but seems like there could be a fit on a few levels.
One idea for M’s fans- if you need a bat on the cheap- what about Ernesto Meija from the Braves? He can’t field at all, but he likely can hit- and could be gotten for a PTBNL, cash consideration, or a non-prospect. Might be worth a shot and very low-risk.