The Mariners’ acquisition of utilityman Danny Valencia from the Athletics in exchange for right-hander Paul Blackburn is likely to end the Seattle tenures of two free agents – first baseman Dae-ho Lee and outfielder Franklin Gutierrez – general manager Jerry Dipoto revealed Saturday (via Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune).
“There’s very little likelihood that both (Valencia and Lee) will fit on the same roster,” Dipoto said. “I (also) don’t think we have to go out and focus on getting a right-handed-hitting outfielder just to have one.”
Valencia expects his role with the Mariners will be “to play first base, probably some right field,” which would make both Lee and Gutierrez superfluous to the club. All three are right-handed hitters, and barring more moves, Valencia is a strong candidate to complement lefty-swingers Dan Vogelbach at first base (previously Lee’s role with now-free agent Adam Lind) and Seth Smith in the outfield (fomerly Gutierrez’s job). Valencia seems likely to see most of his action at first, as Dipoto said Saturday that August acquisition Ben Gamel is slated to start in one outfield corner and Nelson Cruz and Guillermo Heredia will join Valencia in platooning with Smith. However, given that it’s so early in the offseason, Dipoto unsurprisingly isn’t ruling out further acquisitions.
“If we see a good fit, or the ability to go acquire a player who makes us better, we’re not going to hesitate. Valencia’s flexibility allows that,” he commented.
Ben Gamel swings left.
So it’s looking like:
Zunino
Vogelbach
Cano
Seager
Marte or somebody else.
Hopefully a left fielder.
Martin
Smith
Cruz
Ruiz
Valencia
O’Malley
Heredia
Myself, I’d still like to see them bring back Gutierrez and push Heredia back to the MiLB depth chart. It’s not popular, most fans are done with him but Gutierrez fills a lefty mashing niche for something in the neighborhood of $2 million. I’d prefer going that route before turning to Heredia even though Heredia’s possibly going to be a better player at this point, mostly for depth’s sake. Lots of lefties in the AL West that Gutierrez is familiar with and knows how to produce against.
I don’t get the appeal of Gamel, he doesn’t strike me as much more than quality depth for the high minors but he’ll get some more exposure at some point.
I’m not really sure on how to judge any of JeDi’s moves so far, I’m just going have to wait until pitchers and catchers report because right now they don’t really make complete sense but I can see where there going.
Not looking at what they gave up, it made sense to bring in a veteran catcher to help Zunino (hopefully, one that can actually hit at a respectable rate). The Valencia moves also makes some sense but it comes with a bunch of “ifs”. Like if Lee signs for less than what Valencia stands to earn, I’d be a little upset. I’m a huge Gutierrez fan, so I’m upset he’s probably gone, but the Valencia move allows them some flexibility (even if it means Valencia isn’t that good in the outfield).
The team couldn’t pass
On acquiring Blackburn? They must know something no one else knows.
Actually he kind of reminds me of how Kyle Hendricks pitches so maybe their on to somthing.
Good analysis. That stinks for the Mariners then given that DV was almost tendered after the whole DV vs Billy Butler incident last year.
My take on the move is I hate it if it give Smith more playing time I love it if it gives him less. I am with the kid I am confused with some of the moves he has made. Trade LH relievers only to go out and try and find LH relievers that wil cost more money and maybe get a better result. You never know with relievers. I guess we wait and see what he does and what the results are. I just hope the team doesn’t look like they did after Bavasi was done with them.
Looks like he plans on using an outfield of Smith, Martin, and Gamel with Heredia filling for Smith against lefties . If read that correctly, he doesn’t see adding another outfielder at this stage.since both Cruz and Valencia can also be use in the outfield (although badly).
Not sure what he doing with bullpen but I’ll bet if he plans on dipping into the FA pool he’ll go for a power lefty. Doesn’t sound like he’s gonna spend much of FA’s.
This still leaves us with no bat off the bench most nights. It also flies in the face of what he says he wants his OF to look like fast and athletic. Smith is neither of those he is a decent bat that sees a lot of pitches. Really I don’t see much more value than that in him. Still don’t like the Vogelbach trade not a fan of platooning players and we gave up a decent LHP for him but that trade will take time to see if it is good or bad. The trade that scared me the most is the one he didn’t make and that was Gohara for Cozart. Unless there were other pieces coming our way that was a bad trade. I am glad it didn’t happen. I don’t see Cozart being that big of an upgrade over Marte that you part with one of the team’s best young arms a couple 3 years out for 1.5 years of service. In fact it probably wouldn’t have been that long. Marte would have been down looking good in AAA and gave them no choice but to give him his job back this year. I have said it many times I hope he doesn’t improve the team and kill the long term success off it. I mentored Bavasi in my last post he killed both short and long term success. Hopefully Dipoto doesn’t hurt one tout both.
Platooning players can be unfortunate at times, but its hard to find 8 or 9 guys who can play almost everyday and hit against righties and lefties. The benefit is that it usually keeps players’ salaries low since they usually can’t hit one side of platoon that well.
Don’t forget about O’Malley, he’ll be the backup SS but probably see time in tye OF. I also doubt Gamel is ahead of Heredia on the depth chart but if they really think they can get away with not adding an outfielder they can carry both.
It’s Dipino who said Gamel is slated to start at one of the outfield corners and he sees no reason to add a right hand hitting outfielder just to have one and I agree O’Malley’s in that outfield mix,too. But then he also said if we find a player we think is a good fit or makes us better we’ll add him. That’s pretty much GM speech.
My question is who leads off?
Signing Valencia also signals to DJ Peterson that he still isn’t ready to step up to the big league team (rightfully so in my opinion). Of course it is always possible that Peterson does well enough in AAA to earn a call up later in the year.
“We need major league outfielders,” Forst said. “We have to be (open) to any means of acquiring, whether it’s free agents or trades. It’s certainly not our history to be aggressive at the top end of the free agent market, but we have money to spend”
“Forst said”
“but we have money to spend”
“Forst said”
“but we have money to spend”
“Forst said”
“but we have money to spend”
Just bears repeating, people need to watch out for Oakland this offseason, they are absolutely going to be taking on a lot of contracts by either trade or FA. The DO have money to spend, and MLB is forcing them to spend or else risk losing revenue sharing altogether. Expect them to bring in 3 quality or even a star-level OF.
Sales the A’a to the Warriors ownership… Prosper minded eager to win business group… Billy – he’s just a minority owner – will surely offer his job back and the Athletics will have the resources to put a winning team on the field… C’mon…
It’s natural that it is always possible for Peterson in AAA to earn a call up. I agree. However, it’s not a big time now. He’s gonna be there in a few years for sure,
BrotherBlack – find me doing sports reviews on custom written research papers on WMET.
I think that if there is an opportunity then why not. the more that the team has the ability to replace the injury to the player so that the candidate is only benefit to the game in promising marrybrides.com/blog/russian-woman/best-about-russ…