NOV. 13: Gutierrez will earn a $1.5MM base salary and can collect up to $4.25MM more via bonuses based on plate appearances, according to Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune (Twitter link).
NOV. 11: The Mariners announced that they’ve re-signed outfielder Franklin Gutierrez to a one-year, Major League contract. The Octagon client and long-time Mariner enjoyed an excellent rebound season in 2015.
Gutierrez, 32, returned to the Majors in 2015 after missing all of the 2014 season. The oft-injured center fielder signed a four-year, $20MM extension with Seattle prior to the 2010 season but saw that deal turn sour due to a litany of injuries. Over that time, Gutierrez battled a stomach disease (gastritis), a torn pectoral muscle, oblique injuries, a concussion which had long-term lingering effects and a series of hamstring injuries.
Gutierrez, though, made his way back to the Majors midway through the 2015 campaign and delivered unprecedented power numbers, relative to his own standards. The 32-year-old batted .292/.354/.620 with 15 home runs in just 189 plate appearances. While Gutierrez saw far more time against left-handed pitching than he did against right-handers, he posted nearly identical OPS marks of .973 and .978 against lefties and righties, respectively.
Once known as a premier defender in center field, Gutierrez played exclusively corner outfield in 2015 and probably won’t be counted upon for center field defense at this stage of his career, considering his lengthy history of injuries. However, he still graded out quite well in 301 innings of left field duty (+3 Defensive Runs Saved, +3.4 UZR). It’d be unreasonable to expect that Gutierrez can maintain an OPS just shy of 1.000, but he could certainly profile as a capable platoon partner for left fielder Seth Smith, who has historically struggled against left-handed pitching.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Gutierrez deserved a pretty significant deal with his performance in that small sample size. Surprised he didn’t test the market more.
The M’s stuck by Guti the last 2 years during his battle getting healthy. Guti like Kuma will be was just a matter of time.
He might have made a good fit in Detroit. He could have platooned with Collins and spelled Gose.
Franklin Gutierrez is likely to platoon again with Seth Smith in the Seattle outfield.
As a Mariners fan I love this. Always been one of my favorite players.
Does this decrease the chance of a Gardner trade to Seattle?
I don’t think so.They would view Guti to platoon with Seth Smith in LF, RF or DH. Gardner would be the CF for the Mariners.
I don’t think they should trade for Gardner, they need to get someone younger than him
As a Mariner fan I like the idea of Gardner. Let him cover some CF until Boog Powell gets some seasoning in AAA and then move him to LF next year when Smith leaves. Now the M’s just need a quality RF bat to move Cruz to DH full time.
Who would the Mariners need to give up to get Gardner and Miller
Mariners don’t need Gardner. For what he’s getting paid, or near enough, they could just sign Denard Span. Then they don’t have to give anything up.
Cue the Felix, Walker plus prospects responses from the Air Heads from NY
Not Walker but maybe Paxton
The Yankees are selling unrealistically high on Miller though. They would probably demand walker.
The Mariners shouldn’t give Walker for Gardner and Miller UNLESS a prospect is thrown in say Sanchez or Bird or Mateo not Judge though he’s probably the one untoucheable, doubt it happens though I think the Yanks are looking to add to a formidable bullpen not subtract from it just for a maaaybe #2 guy
Over his final 20 starts this season, Taijuan Walker turned 23 years old while striking out 118 and walking only 17 in 126.2 innings as the Mariners went 15-5 in those games.
I doubt Walker is going anywhere this offseason.
Walker was horrendous to begin the season. If he builds on his June – September in 2016 he will be a monster. Nobody is untouchable. But I just can’t realistically see any club offering anything to pry him away.
Paxton has durability concerns. He has great stuff from the left side but the command isn’t what you hope from a TOR starter. Healthy with out a command improvement he’s a good 4/5. I hope the command comes along because he’s missed time. But he’s also getting older.