M’s Sign Miguel Olivo
I spent the last couple of days making it clear that I was not a big fan of this move. Safeco is a terrible park for Olivo, and this move essentially ends Adam Moore’s chances at turning into something in Seattle. Maybe he never would have developed, but this seems like a premature end to his chance to prove himself as a big leaguer, and Olivo is not likely to make a significant impact on the Mariners. At best, you’re hoping for something like a +1 win upgrade in a year where that win probably won’t mean anything.
Even worse, it’s a two year deal, so we’re not only punting Moore’s future, but we’re taking away potentially needed payroll space next winter. The team has a lot of cash coming off the books after 2011, but has now committed a part of that to an aging catcher who has never hit outside of Colorado. He’s simply not very good, and now the team has less money next winter to throw at someone who might be.
Olivo might only make $3.5 million, but the cost of this move is significantly higher. I’m not a fan of this at all.
Gibbo – I will certainly wait and see what else is in the pipeline, come spring training, before making any final judgments; but expecting people like me not to complain in between times is too much to ask. 😀
Good news!
Now we have on our roster the 2010 AL and NL leaders in passed balls.
Combined in 160 games or so last year they allowed 19 passed balls.
I’m really hoping that Jack Z has something up his sleeve here. I sort of doubt that though.
Nobody thinks Ryan Doumit would have been gettable huh? For those thinking this was our best option.
I am not wowed in the least by this move, but if M.O. is the key to acquiring Z.G. then the deal might be O.K.
I really like Doumit, and I don’t know if he was gettable.
But to be honest, given the direction this team has chosen to go, I don’t know that I give a s–t any more.
We just signed a guy who is basically a replacement-level catcher for 2 years and 7.5 million. And he’s 32. And he’s already been here. And wasn’t any good.
This year is shot, everyone knows it. Why add this crap to the books? Let Moore play. Let the fat guy with the funny name from Tacoma play. Hell, let ME play. I’ll do it for free.
Basically, I’m going to watch when Felix and Pineda pitch. As far as I’m concerned the M’s other 60% of the games aren’t worth watching or listening or caring.
Just remember guys, “In Jack We Trust”. IT wasnt much fun watching baseball after baseball flying at the backstop thanks to our young catching this last year. Maybe a 2nd year was not really necessary, but at least we have somewhat solidified the catching defensively. Have to think Jack has an ace up his sleeve somewhere…?? Have faith, might not like every move that Jack makes up front, but we can’t really deny he is a very smart baseball man. Pitchers and Catchers don’t report for several more months, he can still pull an unexpected rabbit out of a hat… Remember Cliff Lee anyone?
Geez, Jamie Burke was available. He’s 39, he’s not great, but he didn’t suck too bad and would have been much cheaper.
all of this reaction over a minute move. If 3.5 million stops the M’s from making a move next year…then they never were really going to make the move in the first place.
This deal isn’t that bad. Zduriencik made clear in his recent interview, Adam Moore needs to become a major leaguer. This seems like Jack is sending a message to Moore. Also, he’s a catcher. Somebody will want him if he becomes useless here.
Not that I’d sign Miguel Olivo, but that’s what they had to spend on a catcher. It’s not like any of the other free agent catchers are great.
First of all, I’m sure JZ knows all the saber facts because he does his homework. Olivo is being brought in for a good reason, and offense is just a small part of it. He’s prepares well, he’s got a highly competitive spirit, he throws well, he calls a decent game, he’s a good clubhouse man, and he can’t hit any worse than the M’s catchers of last year. I’m guessing that JZ brought in Olivo for the intangibles as well as a little more offense. In other words, Moore if you want the job – prove it.
I know I’m late to this party and I haven’t read the whole thread, but in the first 50 no one pointed out that Olivo can stop a sinker or splitter in the dirt. If League knows that Olivo can keep it in front of him, League will throw that sinker with a runner in scoring position. If batters know that, League is a much better pitcher. The same goes for any other pitcher with a sharp breaking ball. If Olivo can help prevent runs in the late innings of close games, then who cares if he can’t hit any better in Safeco than any of the other stiffs, excuse me, catchers, who have tried in the last few years.
The Mariners are becoming a joke. We’re setting ourselves up to lose another 100 games next season. We keep signing these useless players to 1 or 2 year deals. Miguel Olivo is a joke. He sucked here the first time, he will suck here the second time. It’s sad to see a team you love and want to cheer for turn into the American League version of the Pittsburgh Pirates! In my opinion Jack Z has made 1 good move to improve this team in the long run and that was getting Franklin Gutierrez. We gave him far too much credit far too fast. The only good news I saw came this morning when the hyphen signed with the Astros. I really hope we can turn this around and get a team on the field that I can care about. Like those mid-90’s teams that we all loved and were excited to go watch.
Why is this signing such a big deal to Mariner fans? I don’t get it. This guy has averaged 15 home runs, 50-60 rbi, .250 average, .425 slugging over the past few seasons in Florida, KC and Colorado.
In case you forgot, Rob Johnson and Adam more hit .190, .280 slugging last season. That was terrible and this is a clear upgrade.
Plus even average hitting catchers are in short supply right now. So come trade deadline time, we can easily trade him to a contendor for prospects.
Let Olivo start and if Moore plays well, trade Olivo. No big deal.
Our “big” splash, this off season, needs to be acquiring Matt Garza.
The M’s want to lose.
I honestly don’t understand what all of the grief is about. Whether you believe in Adam Moore or not, the Mariners needed to add a catcher. We can all agree on that, so why not Miguel Olivo at 2/$7.50MM? Check out the current FA catcher landscape:
Signed Yrs $M/Yr WAR WAR/$M DRS DRS/$MMiguel Olivo 2 $3.50 2.10 .60 5.67 1.62
A.J. Pierzynski 2 $4.00 1.93 .48 .00 .00
Ramon Hernandez 1 $3.00 1.50 .50 -4.00 -1.33
Rod Barajas 1 $3.25 1.13 .35 2.33 .72
Yorvit Torrealba 2 $3.13 1.10 .35 1.00 .32
Ronny Paulino 1 $1.30 .93 .72 2.00 1.54
Jason Varitek 1 $2.00 .67 .34 .00 .00
Corky Miller 1 $0.50 -.07 -.14 1.67 3.34
Kevin Cash 1 $0.50 -.13 -.26 -1.00 -2.00
*AVERAGE 1.33 $2.35 1.02 .33 .85 .47
Unsigned Yrs $M/Yr WAR WAR/$M DRS DRS/$M
Bengie Molina ? ? 1.77 ? -1.33 ?
Gregg Zaun ? ? 1.07 ? -4.67 ?
Dioner Navarro ? ? .93 ? .67 ?
Gerald Laird ? ? .90 ? 3.67 ?
Henry Blanco ? ? .73 ? .67 ?
Josh Bard ? ? .13 ? -1.00 ?
Matt Treanor ? ? -.07 ? -.33 ?
AVERAGE ? ? .78 ? -.33 ?
WAR and DRS = 3-yr avg
*Victor Martinez and John Buck excluded for obvious reasons.
At the time Olivo was signed, I believe every other catcher on the top list was signed or had agreed in principal to a contract with his new team. Same goes for Navarro (LAD) and Treanor (TEX) on the bottom list. In addition, Zaun reportedly face-palmed the Mariners in hopes of signing with Cardinals (or anyone other than the Mariners) and Laird got arrested for assaulting security guards at an NBA game last January. Jack-Z doesn’t stand for that shit. Not from his catcher anyhow.
So what else happened behind the scenes? Who knows for sure, but if the Mariners list of non-Olivo candidates was Molina, Blanco and Bard (providing none of them pulled a Zaun) how can you blame Jack-Z for choosing Olivo? Is it the guaranteed 2nd year? If so, check out the list of FA catchers for next season:
2012 FA class Yrs $M/Yr WAR WAR/$M DRS DRS/$MKelly Shoppach ? ? 1.73 ? -3.67 ?
Chris Snyder ? ? 1.37 ? -.67 ?
Ivan Rodriguez ? ? 1.33 ? -.33 ?
Jason Kendall ? ? 1.30 ? .00 ?
Brian Schneider ? ? 0.87 ? -1.00 ?
*AVERAGE ? ? 1.32 ? -1.13 ?
*Yadier Molina excluded due to odds of him signing with STL, NYY, NYM, LAA, LAD, PHI, BOS, etc.
*Jorge Posada excluded because he will no longer be catching by 2012.
Brutal. By then, I-Rod and Kendall could be retired and Snyder’s spine might have launched itself from his body for good. Regardless, from the standpoint of a GM, I wouldn’t want any of those guys racking up meaningful innings for my club, especially if things go well in 2011 and I find myself in a position to contend in 2012. That would force me into making a trade I don’t want to make – a trade that I can avoid by signing Olivo to a 2nd year at a rate that, all things considered, is pretty damn good. And if the club isn’t ready to contend by 2012? No problem. The ultra-thin catcher market will probably lead to a couple of nice offers for Olivo.
After all the bile spewed here, by so many, at poor Joh, too. Those people truly DESERVE to watch Olivo bat .211 and play poor defense every single day. Until he’s injured – say 6/10/11 or so.
Another year of Ichiro’s career being flushed into the toilet. And Felix’s as well, though he’s still plenty young enough to be on a decent team as his talent and effort deserves.