Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto provided updates on the recoveries of a pair of injured players (via Greg Johns of MLB.com). Right-handed reliever Austin L. Adams is progressing well in his rehab from surgery to repair a torn ACL. While Adams was placed on the 60-day injured list in February, Dipoto said there’s now a real chance he could be ready whenever MLB returns from the coronavirus hiatus (assuming it does at all this season). As MLBTR’s Steve Adams explored in detail last week, the relatively unheralded 28-year-old quietly emerged as a relief weapon for manager Scott Servais last season.
Unfortunately, progress seemingly hasn’t been as rapid for outfielder Mitch Haniger. He’s still limited to walking and exercise as he recovers from a pair of offseason surgeries, Dipoto told Johns. The GM stressed that Haniger did not suffer a further setback; rather, his ramp-up was always expected to be slow. There’s still no timetable on his potential return.
The 29-year-old Haniger had emerged as a key long-term asset for the Seattle organization before myriad injuries over the past year knocked him off course. From 2017-18, Haniger hit .284/.361/.492 with 42 home runs (134 wRC+). He’ll be looking to bounce back after a ruptured testicle limited him to 283 plate appearances last year.
Josh Reddick anybody???
No thanks.
For what? Why block young guys from playing, particularly in a likely short season. It’s quite possible no minor leagues this year so it’s more likely to have even younger guys get some experience
Only move Reddick for starting pitching. Need someone who can fill the 4 or 5 spot. But it’s not a bad idea. They would be able to give Tucker regular playing time. I’m just not sure that anyone would give up any back of the rotation pitcher for Reddick right now. At the moment, his value seems to be a pair of low level minor leaguers with potential.
No one is giving up worthwhile starting pitching for Josh Reddick. At best, maybe an overpriced but still effective reliever (Andrew Miller?).
Depends on your definition of worthwhile. Josh Reddick had 1.4 WAR last season. A lot of pitchers that would be considered quality had a war less than or equal to 1.4. Kenta Maeda, Rick Porcello, Sean Newcomb, Andrew Heaney, and many other lesser known players. Now you can argue that Reddick earned that by playing in 141 games and accumulating 501 at-bats and some of those pitchers made less than 20 starts. So it is not an exact apples to apples comparison but you never know how much a team will value another corner outfielder versus a number five starter. Probably depends a lot on need, contracts, and payroll situations. I’m just trying to show that there are serviceable pitchers for the back of a rotation that had roughly the same value as Reddick in 2019.
You really cant compare Newcombe and Reddick like that. You glossed over the fact that Reddick had 501 AB’s to Newcomb’s 68.1 innings but that difference is just silly.
Read my comment again. I literally mentioned that there are differences and said they are not equals.
You should read MY comment again because I acknowledged that YOU mentioned that there are differences but that still doesnt do enough to justify any comparison at all.
Sucks for Seattle. Haniger was probably Seattle’s last chance of infusing some young prospects outside the organization to this team. Now they are stuck hoping he can regain some of his trade value, and even then, they aren’t getting the haul they would have even last season. Reminds me a lot of AJ Pollock where the injuries pile up to a point where Seattle cuts bait for nothing which seemed like a laughable scenario just last year,
It would probably take 2-3 more years before they decided to “cut bait” on him. He’s very cheap especially if he does manage a turnaround. At this point there’s no reason not to see what happens
I can still see a couple of teams that would take a chance on him if the price is relatively low. Seattle may want to take what they can get now rather than risk the value falling lower. The Angels, Rangers, Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Padres could have room for him in the OF and are self described contenders. If Seattle were to take on a contract like that of Dexter Fowler they could essentially buy some better prospects.
No soul is foolish enough to take on the accursed contract of Dexter Fowler.
I would not do it if I were Dipoto but history is littered with contracts that were traded to buy cheap young talent or prospects and Fowler’s contract would not come close to being the worst if he were in that group. Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford, and Melvin Upton all come to mind.
Who on the Blue Jays would you get rid of to facilitate Haniger? I like your idea but Blue Jays fans think the world of Grichuk, Hernandez, Alford and Fisher. I do not, but the team would have to get rid of a couple OFs to open a spot for Mitch.
Fowler for Grichuk straight up, I’d make that deal with no money exchange. Fowler only has 2 years left and it would free up some cash for 2022 when the Jays should be going all-in.
Definitely seems like a Preller trade and they match up well.
JtS12- That ship has sailed. Theres no way the Mariners are going to move Haniger until he raises his value after getting healthy. He has a 5+ WAR season on his resume and has been really unlucky w his bizarre injuries. After all they’ve been through they’d be foolish if they just let him go for peanuts.
Would LOVE to see Haniger have a bounce back campaign. Hopefully he’ll be ready to contribute come summer time. If I can choose hope or despair, I’ll choose hope every time.
Now PLAY BALL…May 1st!
I know, shouldn’t feed the troll … but, if MLB were to announce tomorrow play would resume ASAP, we’re talking Memorial Day before we get meaningful games.
Players and coaching staffs have to return to ST facilities, testing done, players with positive tests quarantined. Then everyone has to get back in game shape, regular stadiums set up for the return, etc.
I hope they play again this year too. I’d imagine July 4 is the earliest we’ll see games that count. If then.
Middle initials!
Yes!
Would love to see Haniger manage to string together 3 or 4 healthy seasons to see what he is really capable.
At this point I’d love to see him just get back in the batters box! Dipoto has been really careful with his words when asked about Hanny’s health and that scares me. It makes me worry that Mitch is going to become the Mariners version of CJ Prosise
Spoken like a Mariners fan hoping for anything at this point. I dont blame you. Mariners aren’t my first team so for me its an academic exercise to wonder what Haniger can do. For you it means a little more.
Myth- a lot more! I was ecstatic when we made the trade to get Haniger. We hadn’t had a great OF in Seattle since Ichiro left in 2012. We had some decent players this decade but none that were much better than replacement players. Some were terrible. When Haniger became an AS in 2018 after a 139 OPS+ / 6.2 WAR season I thought we had found our next franchise player.