The Roster As It Stands
The Mariners are very clearly focused on adding an outfielder who can hit, and Josh Hamilton looks like their preferred option. They’ve also talked about upgrading the back end of the rotation and adding a third catcher. They just signed Jason Bay, and so far, they haven’t gotten rid of anyone besides Trayvon Robinson. So, let’s take a look at what the current roster looks like, and what pieces might fit together based on who is acquired.
| Position | Player | Salary | Position | Player | Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | John Jaso | $1,300,000 | SP | Felix Hernandez | $20,700,000 | |
| 1B | Justin Smoak | $550,000 | SP | Hisashi Iwakuma | $6,500,000 | |
| 2B | Dustin Ackley | $1,500,000 | SP | Jason Vargas | $6,500,000 | |
| SS | Brendan Ryan | $3,000,000 | SP | Erasmo Ramirez | $500,000 | |
| 3B | Kyle Seager | $550,000 | SP | Blake Beavan | $500,000 | |
| LF | Michael Saunders | $550,000 | ||||
| CF | Franklin Gutierrez | $7,500,000 | CL | Tom Wilhelmsen | $500,000 | |
| RF | RH | Carter Capps | $500,000 | |||
| DH | Jesus Montero | $500,000 | LH | Charlie Furbush | $500,000 | |
| RH | Stephen Pryor | $500,000 | ||||
| C | LH | Lucas Luetge | $500,000 | |||
| IF | Robert Andino | $1,000,000 | LH | Oliver Perez | $1,500,000 | |
| OF | Jason Bay | $1,000,000 | RH | Josh Kinney | $700,000 | |
| OF | Casper Wells | $500,000 | ||||
| Cut | Chone Figgins | $8,000,000 | ||||
| Declined | Miguel Olivo | $750,000 | ||||
| Total | $66,100,000 | |||||
| — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Optionless | Player | Optionable | Player | |||
| 1B | Mike Carp | OF | Eric Thames | |||
| IF | Carlos Triunfel | RH | Hector Noesi | |||
| RH | Shawn Kelley |
There are two currently open roster spots, though since Bay and Wells are mostly redundant, odds are decent that the team only carries one of those two, so it’s probably more like three open roster spots on offense. And maybe a fourth if the organization decides to replace Blake Beavan with a better pitcher, which they should, because he’s bad.
If we set the pitching spot aside for now, that leaves the team with three roster spots, and in need of a starting right fielder, a guy who can catch, and a corner infielder who can push or replace Justin Smoak, depending on the size of the leash that the team wants to give him for 2013. And, realistically, an outfield that depends on the simultaneous health of Franklin Gutierrez, Jason Bay, and maybe Josh Hamilton is ridiculously thin, so you could argue that the team is likely to need five guys capable of playing outfield on the opening day roster.
And that’s why you see the Mariners checking in on such a wide variety of players, ranging from Josh Hamilton down to Dee Gordon. For as much as everyone talks about the team just needing to upgrade the offense, the reality is that the Mariners can’t just squeeze a couple more 1B/DH types onto this team. They need an outfielder, and they need a catcher, and they need a corner infielder.
One possible solution to this roster crunch is to add a guy who can cover several of these spots by himself. For instance, one of the advantages of adding Nick Swisher is that you can slot him in as your right fielder while also ensuring that the team has a guy who can easily take over first base if Justin Smoak flops again. Jack has also talked about finding a catcher who can do other things besides catch, but in reality, there just aren’t very many guys like that.
Ryan Doumit, Chris Gimenez, Yan Gomes, and Jordan Pacheco pretty much comprise the entire list of catchers who could also represent some kind of depth at either the infield or outfield, and Doumit/Gomes/Pacheco are probably out after Jack talked about wanting to add a “defensive catcher” to complement Jaso and Montero. Don’t get too excited about that option.
So, if we assume that the third catcher is pretty much going to be just a catcher, that leaves them with two spots for starting RF and reserve 3B/1B. And that’s why I wouldn’t be totally shocked if they ended up acquiring a guy that they haven’t yet been linked to – Mike Olt.
Olt is reportedly being dangled to the Mets as bait to get R.A. Dickey to Texas, and he’s been rumored to be part of the three or four team trade that involves the Rangers, Diamondbacks, and either the Rays, Mariners, or Royals, depending on the incarnation of the moment. When word broke at the meetings that the Mariners were part of those discussions, the report suggested that the Mariners would acquire Derek Holland, but it was left unexplained why the Mariners would help the Rangers land Justin Upton in a deal where they didn’t add any hitters themselves.
My guess — and it’s just a guess — is that the Mariners are involved in those multi-team discussions because Olt is the Rangers best piece of trade bait but there isn’t an obvious fit for where he should land. The Mets already have David Wright at third base, and after the Lucas Duda experiment, they probably aren’t too excited about another IF-to-OF conversion project. The Rays already have Evan Longoria, and they value defense more than any other team in baseball. The Diamondbacks just signed Eric Chavez to be their third baseman for 2013, a sign that they’re willing to go with a stopgap until prospect Matt Davidson is ready for the big leagues in a year or two.
Just like the Mariners prospects aren’t a great fit for a trade with the Royals, Olt’s not a great fit for the teams that Texas is apparently trying to strike a deal with. But he would be a pretty interesting fit for the Mariners.
We’ve talked about how the team is absurdly thin at third base behind Kyle Seager, so talks of moving him to second base are essentially a non-starter because it’d be creating a bigger hole than it would fill. Right now, if Seager got himself hurt, Robert Andino would be the team’s starting third baseman; Andino has a career wRC+ of 67. If Seager got himself hurt on a day when Andino was already subbing in for the brittle Brendan Ryan, the team’s third baseman would be… a random fan who brought his glove to the park, apparently. It’s safe to say that the Mariners need a guy who can play a little third base.
And, as we saw last year, Wedge is willing to use Seager as a second baseman on days when Dustin Ackley gets the day off, so a right-handed corner infielder could essentially serve as a back-up for Ackley as well. While the Mariners might not have a gaping hole at third base, they do have infield at-bats to give out, and they’re in need of another first base option behind Justin Smoak. If the team lands a pure outfielder rather than a 1B/OF type, Olt could provide the infield depth the team is looking for, while also giving Jack the kind of cost-controlled young hitter he’s willing to move a young arm for.
And that’s why I could see the Mariners getting involved in a three or four team trade with the Rangers. They make some sense as a third wheel in a Rangers-Mets trade that ships R.A. Dickey to Texas, as they could offer up a package of young player who could potentially have more value to the Mets than Olt would — Nick Franklin would probably interest them (or Tampa Bay, if the deal was for Shields instead of Dickey) as a second baseman, and they’ve been collecting upside arms like James Paxton for the last year — and might have enough extra guys on the roster to sweeten the deal for Texas if need be. As you can see above, Mike Carp and Shawn Kelley are likely on the outside looking in, and I don’t think Jack would hesitate to let the Rangers have Carp as an Olt replacement if they wanted a corner bench bat back in the deal, or give them Kelley if they wanted another relief arm for the bullpen.
All winter long, we’ve been hearing that the organization was looking to make a prospect-for-prospect swap, turning one of their young arms (and/or Nick Franklin) into a guy who can step in and fill a hole on the big league roster right away. Most of the focus has been on Wil Myers, but Olt might actually be an even better fit.
Texas has more reasons to trade him, and his positional flexibility makes him a better fit on the 2013 roster if the Mariners are also planning on signing a full-time outfielder. Where acquiring Hamilton would force Myers to beat out Saunders/Gutierrez for a job, Olt would be unaffected by the signing of another OF, as his playing time could come at 3B/1B/DH, and he’d give the team depth behind Smoak, Seager, Ackley, and Montero while only taking up one roster spot.
In-division trades aren’t that common, but we’ve already seen the Rangers ship Justin Smoak to Seattle, so they’re clearly not afraid to deal promising young hitters when they feel like the Mariners are enabling them to get the kind of ace starter they’re looking for. The Mariners don’t have that kind of starter available right now, but they might have the pieces to help Texas land a guy like Dickey or Shields.
If they can expand the deal to also bring Derek Holland to Seattle, well, awesome, because he’s a good fit here too. But I’d be willing to bet that the Mariners insertion into the talks with Texas weren’t primarily about bringing Holland to Seattle, but instead, would be Jack trying to land Mike Olt as another young offensive building block for the future.
Whether it happens or not, who knows. But given the state of the roster and the kinds of players we know that the Mariners are shopping for in free agency, Olt looks like a pretty good fit. If Texas ends up trading him, I wouldn’t be too shocked if he ultimately made his way to Seattle.
Liddi or Catricala would be the third string 3B. Possibly not even necessary unless somebody went to the DL.
I have to remind myself of this, but – remember what the manager’s role is. He’s supposed to be supportive/protective of his guys, not necessarily give his frank opinions to the media.
I worry a bit about this too, TherzAlwaysHope, but it probably makes sense to hold off judgement until we see what actually happens with Bay. When they first announced his signing, Wedge’s comments contained a lot of “if”s… so he might actually have a realistic view of what to expect from the guy.
I know Triunfel isn’t great or even good at this point. I don’t really care if he’s the next Willie Bloomquist or the next Troy Tulowitzki I just want to understand why a 23 year old who has been on the 40-man for one year and whose only MLB service came in the September call ups is out of options. It’s more about understanding the rule that makes this possible than caring about whether the team loses him or not. Can anyone explain it, or no?
Although I can’t give the specifics and won’t look them up for Triunfel, it has to do w/ a player’s service time and length w/ the team not their age. Since he was 16 when we got him, I believe that is around 7 years.
The Ms need to sign SOMEone who has power or the fan base –what’s left of it– is going to desert them, and they’ll be playing in front of a lot more empty seats. Michael Bourn would not, in my view, be a significant upgrade. I’m hoping it’s either Hamilton or Swisher, because I don’t trust Z to make the right trade with our young arms. In my book, the good will he earned from the JJ Putz trade is just about gone. The Fister for Wells trade, and the resulting refusal to let Wells play, is just one of several moves (another: Morse for Langerhans) that make me gunshy. So I guess I’m on the same page with V-Coach.
I’d like to see the Mariners give up on Guti; one good year hitting and then injury-ridden. Sure, he’s a great fielder, but let’s see if we can get Bourn for center and lead-off, and let Ackley bat 2nd.
I’m OK with giving Saunders and Smoak good last shots to be consistent, but both should be on short leashes.
Hamilton or Swisher for RF would be nice. This would upgrade hitting and the batting order chemistry. If Smoak falters, Swisher or Montero at 1b.
Wait… you’re lumping Saunders and Smoak together?
Did you not watch baseball in 2012?
Saunders, 2012: wRC+ 108
Smoak, 2012: wRC+ 85
That’s not looking at defense AT ALL – Saunders hit somewhat better than the average outfielder.
Guiti’s main addition and value is defense. All he needs is to get back to a replacement level value in offense he’ll more than justify his contract in CF. In 2010 he didn’t exactly knock the cover off the ball and he still had a 2.1 WAR season thanks to his defense. Don’t give up on him yet he is still cheap compared to his potential performance.
The Ms need to sign SOMEone who has power or the fan base –what’s left of it– is going to desert them, and they’ll be playing in front of a lot more empty seats.
Uh, you may not have noticed, apparently, but the M’s played in front of less fans per game since the early 90’s- and the Seattle metropolitan area has added a million people since the 1990’s.
At this point, I think it’s likely that we will be behind Oakland in attendance come 2013, given their playoff appearance. I doubt flashy FAs will change this: attendance is a LAGGING indicator of team quality (the 1995 M’s didn’t have a great attendance year, the M’s best attendance year was 2002).
As for “power”- if the team hits like the 1906 White Sox and wins a World Championship like the 1906 White Sox, the fans will show up. Worry about how the good the players are, then worry about DINGERS!11!!111 I would be fine if we got Bourn and an outstanding pitcher as our FA haul.
eponymous –
I have noticed; that’s why I said ” … the fan base -what’s left of it[.]”
Bourn is not the answer. He trailed off miserably in the second half of 2012. Take a look at his splits. If it’s between Bourn and Swisher, there’s no comparison. Plus Swisher can play first base if Smoak reverts to his past pre-September 2012 performance.
In any event. If the Ms wind up with nothing more than Bay and Bourn for offense help, they better get out of the gate fast because the city is fed up with management and won’t have any patience for yet another irrelevant year.
My point is that I don’t think the fan base can really implode much more than it already has. Attendance is not likely to go below 1.6 million no matter what.
I also don’t consider one three month period for a 29 year old player dispositive in establishing his future value. So he regressed to his career mean in the second half. This is some kind of massive shock, or proves he’s a bad player going forward?
And you’re kind of forgetting that the rest of the league gets a vote on whether or not the contract we sign Swisher to is reasonable and prudent, by bidding against us, possibly. If Bourn came to us on a clearly better FA deal than we’d get for Swisher, it would be silly to overvalue power over player value. Swisher’s maybe a better fit for the roster, but not at any price, and the team is not so overladen with talent on the roster that they should be tailoring signings- Bourn and a good FA pitcher on good contracts instead of Swisher on an overpay? Yes please.
Nope. I’m not forgetting. The team has the money and needs to spend it, if only to give the fans a crumb. If Swisher is willing to come here on a four year deal, the Ms should make it happen.
“If Bourn came to us on a clearly better FA deal than we’d get for Swisher, it would be silly to overvalue power over player value.”
Hard to imagine Boras allowing that to happen.
“I’d like to see the Mariners give up on Guti”
What do you propose doing with him? With the combination of the injuries and the contract his trade value is going to be pretty negligible, with most offers being people hoping to buy low. He actually looked like some semblance of himself when he played last year (105 wRC+ with GG defense). The team shouldn’t be banking on a full season without a Guti-brand Freak Injury©, but it’s got to be what they hope for. I’d like to see the team add two starting corner OFs and platoon Saunders/Guti in CF, but that’s looking increasingly unlikely with the Bay signing.
The team has the money and needs to spend it, if only to give the fans a crumb.
How about giving the fans the most wins possible with the best players possible?
If Swisher is willing to come here on a four year deal, the Ms should make it happen.
No, the M’s should make the best team possible. Swisher + Blake Beavan < Bourn + a better pitcher, if it comes down to that. Swisher is not the better player at any and all prices and contracts, especially on a team that doesn't really have an outstanding rotation going into spring training- Felix is good, they have a couple of midlevel guys in Vargas and Iwakuma, a promising sophomore in Ramirez, but a very solid #2-#3 guy makes this team better- it would give them 5 solid rotation guys and insurance.
I've seen M's teams in the 1980s hit jacks and nobody came, because they were bad. Team quality should always trump a specific need like power. Plenty of teams have done OK without a lot of homers- the Angels under Scioscia regularly finished in the bottom half of the AL in homers hit during their good years, just as one example.
Power is one way to score runs, but it is only one way to score runs- and keeping the other team from scoring runs works too.
Hard to imagine Boras allowing that to happen.
On a one year deal if he thinks the market would improve? Sure he would.
I just don’t believe in getting dogmatically attached to an approach. Get better players, however you can.
The Ms need to sign SOMEone who has power or the fan base –what’s left of it– is going to desert them, and they’ll be playing in front of a lot more empty seats.
Bremerton Guy,
The notion that the fan base will respond positively to signing a particular kind of player, rather than, you know, winning, is absurd. If Bourn were to contribute more wins than a hypothetical alternative power hitter, he’d do more to (eventually) bring back attendence. If the team were to start winning, there’s no evidence to suggest that fans will not care how great of a role home runs are playing in bringing about those wins.
If your argument is that Bourn isn’t as good as his record suggests-that his 6.4 WAR season last year and 20+ WAR over the last 4 years are unlikely to predict his future performance-go ahead and make the argument. Why is Bourn unusually likely to fall off a cliff for a 29 year old? Or why do you think WAR gets his value wrong? Be specific.
I have a couple of questions…
1. Could and should the Mariners have traded Felix to KC for what Tampa Bay got plus a little more sense I get the feeling that Felix does not want to sign if the team is not going to be relevent in the next year or two?
2. Should Jack Z’s job ride on what he does or does not do this off season? The fans need something to feel good about… I am sick and tired of being prudent… Just because they were better than the year before, if the other teams improve more than you did, what is the point?
3. With what I read about the lack of major league potential currently at Tacoma, why has Jack not taken chances with more players that once were prospects? Adam Lind? There have been others…
I realize that hitting isn’t everything, but it is the Mariner’s big problem, so my question is simple:
Which Mariners (if any) would be regulars for Texas or the Angels?
“On a one year deal if he thinks the market would improve? Sure he would.”
In Seattle?
I don’t see a regular from the Mariners starting on either the Angels, Texas or maybe the A’s… Not now anyway. The Astros could give this team problems.
Which Mariners (if any) would be regulars for Texas or the Angels?
I find this an irrelevant question to ask, given the extreme nature of Safeco last year. Makes it hard for pros to evaluate players let alone amateurs like us.
Which Mariners (if any) would be regulars for Texas or the Angels?
I don’t see a regular from the Mariners starting on either the Angels, Texas or maybe the A’s…
Y’know, we’re discussing a team that won exactly one more game in the regular season last year than Oakland A’s did in 2011.
Or perhaps I should say “the 2012 AL West champion Oakland A’s”.
Mind you, this roster as it exists today isn’t going to win anything, but all the doom ‘n gloom is getting rather old. The organization has made progress the last few years. It’s not enough and the curve gets steeper, but it is progress.
I would be satisfied if the M’s went 82-80 in 2013. It’s boring but realistic and it offers hope for 2014 when we could actually have a core group of young but experienced players who have all the grit and veteran leadership that Wedge requires.
I just hope that whoever Jack Z. signs this winter is still contributing at a high level in 2014 and that they haven’t killed our financial flexibility. All 3 of the outfielders available scare me in different ways but I am coming around on Bourn due to his age and defense (and shrinking market). Yes, he’s eerily similar to Figgins but they aren’t the same guy. He’s averaged over 5 WAR over the last 4 years, and while he’s not Rickey Henderson, he provides a reliable top of the order guy who provides stellar defense and should be able to keep it up at this level for at least 2 more years.
Which Mariners (if any) would be regulars for Texas or the Angels?
Rather than make excuses for the team by citing Safeco park effects, or dodging the question by comparing to earlier teams, one actual answer might be gained simply from looking at Fangraphs WAR values for last season.
If 0 WAR is a replacement-level player, and 2 WAR is a league average player, then depending on what you consider the bar for a regular on another team…
Players of 3 WAR or more: Felix, Seager.
Players of 2 – 3 WAR: Millwood, Jaso, Saunders.
Ichiro was a 1.9. Brendan “The Real AL Gold Glove Winner” was a 1.7 and that was all defense.
That’s it. The Rangers had 11 players with 2 WAR or more, 7 with 3 or more.The Angels, 9 with 2 WAR or more, 5 with 3 or more.
WAR is not the end-all-be-all stat, but it gets a lot closer to objectively measuring how many players on last year’s M’s would have been good regular players on other teams than the non-answers you got previously.
In Seattle?
You’re right, a Boras client would never sign a deal with Seattle.
I think the point is not that a Boras client wouldn’t sign in Seattle. For the right multi-year deal and big money (like Beltre) then sure.
The point was that if Boras was going to have his client sign a one year deal to show that they’re really good and make lots more money the next year in a multi-year deal….then Boras wouldn’t do it in Seattle. He would advise them to go somewhere that gets a lot more publicity…like say Boston….like Beltre did.
I think the Figgins comps are pointless. Yes, Figgins collapsed completely – but no one saw it coming. Players of his type generally don’t fall off a cliff when they hit 30/31!
Even someone who is similar to Figgins is almost certainly not going to collapse like Figgins.
I was just writing the same thing Westy… EVERY TEAM in their most careful considerations would have been happy to sign Figgins the year we did. A renowned leadoff hitter coming off his best year. Nobody saw his cliff dive of a fall-off coming.
I’d say a guy who has the same stats Chone did when we signed him is closer to a “must sign” than someone to avoid.
It makes no sense to let one nightmare of an anomaly be the basis for future decisions.
Am I excited about signing him? Not really. But I don’t see the reality of him being “another Figgins” even if I squint and look real hard.
So, making a HUGE huge assumption, but assuming Bay somehow miraculously becomes an everyday player again… And starts the season in LF…
Is our RF Wells, or Saunders?
And if we sign Swisher, does that make either Wells or Saunders our 4th OF?
Is Saunders the forgotten guy here? Or perhaps we assume he’ll play at least half-time in CF, and another 1/3 or so in LF/RF?
(Or if we sign Bourn, and Guty moves to LF… is Bay in RF? And Saunders or Wells the 4th OF…)
While I completely agree that Bourn plus a starter is a better option than overpaying for a so-called “power” guy, I think there’s a compelling argument to be made that Bourn will get overpaid.
Saying that Bourn has a similar skillset to Figgins is really just looking at speed. Bourn strikes out a lot. While this might not seem like a big deal, find 5 players that have built their games on speed, walks, and a high strikeout rate, with little power that aged gracefully. If we sign Bourn I hope I’m wrong but I think there’s a very strong argument that he ages poorly. Actually, to me at least, a Bourn signing would seem more likely to flop than the Figgins signing did.
As far as the argument that a Boras client wouldn’t sign here on a one year deal, I don’t buy it. Especially Bourn because his game isn’t built on power. If Safeco has some magical power that turns flyballs into outs, you know who benefits from that? A rangey centerfielder that will get more opportunities and also hits a lot of balls on the ground. A RH power hitter probably doesn’t want to go to Safeco to recoup value, but a left-handed speedster who plays a great centerfield, I don’t see why Seattle is any worse than anywhere else. In terms of publicity, this isn’t the 60s, every GM can know what every player did. If a player has a great year in Seattle they’ll get more money than the same guy having a pretty good year in Boston. There is not some great inequity in visibility of players based on their markets for GMs and to pretend there is is just being dishonest.
BTW Curto noted that Power Sphere has left for Toronto’s AAA affiliate.
MrZ – Dave’s supposition is if Bay stays, Wells will go. I suspect that’s what Wedge would lobby for.
But Marcus, regarding the question of Boras sending a guy here for a year, the difference would be in the cumulative stats. Obviously those don’t determine the whole deal that next year but they do get looked at and they do factor into negotiating.
If a guy came here and hit well and ended with a .315 AVG, 74 runs, 6 HR’s, and 43 RBI, and some SB’s….or could go hit well for a powerhouse offense and end with the same AVG, 116 runs, same HR’s, and 71 RBI while getting in the news more often, being on SportsCenter more often, having a larger market see him and buy his jersey, etc etc etc…
Where would you send the guy if you were Boras and were looking for negotiating leaverage that quite literally could mean millions of dollars the next year?
Not that I don’t love Seattle but if I’m Boras, I make a sweetheart deal to a large market, large TV coverage, team before I make a one year deal with a team that doesn’t make national TV as much and won’t pad my player’s stats.
@eponymous
I’m well aware Beltre is a Boras client. Bloomquist was another and Ackley is as well.
The point, was that Seattle isn’t likely his ideal place for a one-year deal to boost Bourn’s stock, or to even try to maintain his current value. I’m not saying it wont or can’t happen, I just don’t think it’s likely.
While this might not seem like a big deal, find 5 players that have built their games on speed, walks, and a high strikeout rate, with little power that aged gracefully.
Isn’t that most of them?
Perhaps I’m reading this study wrong, but speedy players age decently well. Figgins would be an anomaly.
In the information age is how many run Michael Bourn scores in one year going to play a big enough role in his next contract enough to take a major discount this year? I just don’t think that many GMs are still that infatuated with counting stats that they would care about the 20 runs or so that it would effect. Dustin Ackley scored 84 runs last year, Bourn scored 96 in Atlanta’s high powered offense. Will the drop batting leadoff here be that big that it will torch his contract?
Gwangung
The difference between Bourn and most of the guys that that study relates to is his K rate. Look at Kenny Lofton’s K rate, Juan Pierre’s, Tim Raines’ etc etc. They’re all much closer to 10% than Bourn’s 20%. I like Bourn, I do, but I think the graceful age curve has more to do with guys that have offensive games that are contact driven. Zimmerman even lists “a strikeout rate over 20%” as one of the indicators that a player won’t age very well.
D’Backs GM Towers says it’s now highly unlikely he trades Justin Upton after the trade they made with Cincy and the Tribe tonight. The Indians now could use another OF, and it sounds like they were our principal competition for Swisher, and the Rangers may now decide to make what deal they can with Hamilton: if we want either one, we’re now probably going to overpay…
I’m trying to remain optimistic, but I have a sinking feeling that our big off-season splash is going to be (*ahem*) Jason Bay. Why does the “loser music” from The Price is Right keep playing in my head?
I will not be happy with Bay and Bourn as the big winter acquisitions, but probably free agents won´t come to one of the worst teams in the league. The worst part is that we have the best pitcher in baseball and he won´t win anytime soon.
While I think it’s far from a guarantee that Swisher signs with us the different reasons for the pessimism are funny to me.
On one hand, people argue that his wife wants a major market so it won’t be Seattle, it’ll be a glamorous city like L.A. or New York, or even San Fran.
Then there’s the other argument that he’ll want to play for a winner, so we’re out.
Finally, there’s the argument that Cleveland will get him… Wait what? Cleveland is further from competing than we are and are an even less glamorous market.
I hope that he decides to come to Seattle and while I understand your pessimism Gar, I don’t think Bay will be our big move. I see us getting at least one large free agent and picking up at least one outfielder. I wouldn’t be surprised if we sign Bourn, Swisher or Hamilton and failing that I think we’ll trade for someone like Dexter Fowler and sign a starting pitcher. I think that Jack knows that the fan base is itching for money to be spent and for some sort of addition and while I don’t think he’ll make a move just for the sake of making one, I think that he’ll improve somewhere.
This is still my favorite quote of the offseason. And, perhaps the most accurate one, too:
“Miscreant” on November 8th, 2012 12:47 pm
it’s all a bunch of propaganda. these cheap bastards ain’t gonna sign shit.