Free Agent Writeups
Dave · November 16, 2004 at 9:22 am · Filed Under Mariners
Yes, I’m still going to write up mini-articles on the more notable possible free agent acquisitions. For those who may have missed them, here are the ones I’ve completed to date:
Matt Clement
Carl Pavano
Brad Radke
Richie Sexson
Troy Glaus
Corey Koskie
Carlos Delgado
Adrian Beltre
Hopefully, I’ll knock out Edgar Renteria, J.D. Drew, Nomar Garciaparra, Kris Benson, and Kevin Millwood before the end of the month. The M’s are pretty clearly not in the Beltran hunt, so I’m going to skip writing him up, as enough bandwidth has been spent on him already.
Comments
29 Responses to “Free Agent Writeups”
According to Pocket Lint and the Toronto Sun, we’re targeting the worst players on that list: Koskie, Pavano and Delgado.
Yay new management!
As much as I would love for the M’s to sign one of these guys, I just don’t see them in play. Koskie, Pavano, Beltre, Delgado, Radke, Drew or Glaus. Radke is going back to the Twins, or maybe the Yankees or a team in the east. Pavano will cost so much, that only the big spenders (Yanks, Red Sox, Cubs, LA) will be able to afford him. I think Delgado is on the down side of his career. For a year or two, he may produce some ok numbers, but, I just don’t think he is the answer at 1B, especially if they are going to sign Sexson (as rumored). Glaus would be a good pickup. He can DH, play 3B or 1B and provide needed thunder in the middle of the lineup. I just don’t see Beltre or Drew coming here. As much as we want it, I don’t think the M’s will be in the hunt in 05 or 06. They just need too much right now. Unless they do sign a few quality guys, I just don’t see it. A line up with Ichiro, Wynn, Boone, Glaus, Sexson, Raul, Olivo, would do ok, but not great. I think Boone is a ?? for this season. Of course, health is a question for Glaus (missing time both of the past two season to injuries), Sexson, Delgado and Drew (missing all kinds of time over the years). We can hope on good health I guess. As with any free agent signing, you have to be lucky most of the time.
I can imagine the Ms signing Delgado and Koskie to 3-year deals. Don’t like it, but it seems realistic. Despite Dave’s discussion of their intentions to go after big guns, like Beltre or even Pavano, it just doesn’t seem likely that they’ll pull something like that off.
What, no Dustin Hermanson?
Ignoring the potential veracity of Pocket Lint, the Toronto Sun is a terrible source for news.
I’m still worried Bavasi will decide to fill the hole at 3B with Tony Batista. “He’s instantly our best HR hitter.”
Pavano’s agent said they have had contact with 18 teams… So there is a lot of competition there. I think it is good for the M’s to keep their hand in, get the feel of the market, at least.
The agent was quoted in a Jayson Stark story on ESPN.com
Can I write one? Can I can I can I?
You can have one, if my opinion counts. I think you’ve earned it.
That quote was followed by:
The always invaluable Phineaus Q. Quizzenbottle of the Society for American Baseball Research reports that this would be the first time since the end of the reserve clause that a free agent whose name contains an equal number of constonants and vowels has been pursued by more than 15 teams.
You sure you don’t have a video game to beat?
Write away, my man.
We had a great SABR meeting last Saturday.
For those who don’t know much about us, join us for the next one.
The Angels and Rangers have made offers on Beltran. It looks like the Angels are serious. This puts added pressure on the M’s.
See http://www.all-baseball.com/willcarroll/archives/016371.html
Should the M’s sit on their hands and hope he stays with the Stros? Or pray that they don’t have to compete against him for the next 5 years?
Actually, Will Carroll reports that the Angels and Rangers have made offers on Beltran. Big, huge difference between that sentence and your opening line.
Of course.
Thanks for the reminder.
So, if what Mr. Carroll reports is true: What should the M’s do?
Here is Mr. Bavasi in March. Italicized are his unheard thoughts.
We made an offer for Mr. Beltran which we knew was not competitive. It was competitive but we don’t want to be locked in for 10 years because we don’t want to pay for 10 years when he will only be an All-Star for 7
We have a plan to compete with the Angels who now have Beltran and we feel it is a sound plan because it allows for a healthy profit.
I’m a SABR member. I was trying to make a joke about Stark’s columns more than SABR. Though I was surprised that to join SABR I had to tie an onion to my belt, as it was the fashion at the time.
It was a good joke. Simply thought it was a good spot (to mention SABR) so that I could increase interest and attendance in our meetings.
There were two chicks at the last meeting so either 1) they are onion lovers or 2) can tolerate the smell long enough to make it through the meeting.
That is hilarious Mocker, but the sad thing is I think a lot of us hear those italics every time Bavasi opens his mouth.
anyone else hoping that the Mariners sigh Kris Benson simply so we get to check out Anna Benson?
DMZ,
That is a classic Simpson’s reference. Great pull.
Went back and read the Koskie piece since his name has been fed out there. The relevant discussion seems to be how much more production would we get out of Koskie vs a Leone/Dobbs platoon especially if we used the Koskie money on long term outfield or pitching solutions.
Here’s my line-up for 2005, check it out!
1B – Sexson
2B – Boone
3B – Leone
SS – Valentin
LF – Ibanez
CF – Rowand
RF – Drew
DH – Jacobsen
C – Hammock
Rotation
1. Piniero
2. Contreras
3. Webb
4. Madritsch
5. Meche
Pen
Sherill
Guardado
Takatsu
Thornton
Hasegawa
Moyer
Bench
Olivo
Spezio
Strong
Snelling
Blanco
Free Agent Signings
Sexson – 3 years team option for 4th, 10 mil per
Drew – 3 years team option for 4th, 10 mil per
Valtentin – 1 year team option for second, 1.5 mil
Wilson – 1 year, 1 mil
Trades:
Ichiro to White Sox
for
A. Rowand
J. Contreras
S. Takatsu
Winn
Reed
Wilson
Neogeotte
$$$ to D-Backs
for
B. Webb
R. Hammock
Franklin
Mateo to Royals
for
Andres Blanco
This roster gives us power at pretty much every spot in the line-up. Snelling and Strong spell the outfielders, Blanco spells the middle in fielders and brings great defense, and Spezio spells the corner in fielders. Contreras brings another power arm to the rotation, and I think Brandon Webb has the makings to be an ace. Takatsu bolsters the pen as either closer or set-up man, and Olivo and Hammock are a nice tandem at catcher, both have lots of offensive potential. Rowand looks like a guy that we can expect a .900+ OPS from for years to come.
What do you guys think?(Dave and DMZ in particular) I feel like the trades are pretty realistic as far as the other teams getting value in return, although I know there are a number of reasons the M’s would never trade Ichiro or Dan Wilson. Also, yes ESPN listed Valentin and Sexson as the free agents the Mariners would get, but that has nothing to do with them being in my line-up.
First, for giant dream lineup posts like that, may I recommend the 2005 roster construction thread, handily available for exactly this purpose?
Second, given that Dan Wilson is a free agent, why would the Diamondbacks trade for him?
In general, I don’t think those trades would happen even if you remove real-life constraints like “Ichiro! may not be traded”
Don’t take this personally, Grant, but that team would win 70 games if everything went perfectly. The fans would hate you for trading Ichiro, especially for such mediocrity in return. And the team would burden itself with another bad contract in Richie Sexson.
Also, like Derek said, wrong thread.
Sorry about the size of the post, but I feel like no one will read it if I put it under roster construction. Anyhow, as for Wilson I don’t consider him to be the main attraction for the D-Backs in that trade – Reed, Neogeotte, and even Winn are supposed to be the parts that attract Arizona to the deal. I just threw Wilson in there because if they traded Hammock they would need another catcher. To Dave could you elaborate more on why you think this squad would win a max of 70 games. I feel like this roster would give the M’s a chance compete for the wild-card, what are the most glaring deficiencies.
And I thought my brother was the only one who thought of craptastic trade scenarios. (Like anything for Griffey).
Grant;
First off, you can’t re-sign and then trade Wilson. Its against the rules. Players who sign free agent contracts during the offseason can’t be traded until May 15th. This, of course, totally ignores the fact that I’m certain he’d veto any deal, especially to Arizona, as is his right as a 10-5 player.
As for your proposed team; the pitching staff would probably be one of the two or three worst in the league. Jose Contreras just isn’t good (he was just as lousy in Chicago as he was in New York, so don’t blame the pressure of the big apple), Brandon Webb’s command never reported to spring training last year, and Pineiro is still a gigantic question mark. The bullpen would be below average, at best, worse if Guardado’s rehab doesn’t prove successful.
To compensate for the awful pitching, you’d have to score 900-950 runs, which that offense just isn’t going to do, especially in Safeco Field. Aaron Rowand was great last year, but it was way out of line with his career performances, and at age 27, looks like a gigantic fluke. Sexson’s health is a huge question mark, and if the injury recurs, you’ve got Scott Spiezio playing first on an everyday basis. Boone, Ibanez, Valentin, and Jacobsen are, at best, going to provide average production. So its basically J.D. Drew and the eight dwarves, with absolutely no bench to speak of (Jamal Strong is a 5th outfielder in the majors, and Snelling wasn’t ready before spending two years rehabbing).
That offense is league average at best. The defense is mediocre. The rotation is awful, and the bullpen is below average. And you’ve angered the entire fanbase by dumping Ichiro. I’m sorry, but there just isn’t a lot to like here.
“Hopefully, I’ll knock out…Kris Benson,”
Hopefully, I’ll knock up Kris Bensons wife.
Actually I wouldn’t mind literally knocking Kristin (his real name) Benson out while I’m at it.
Re: # 16 – “There were two chicks at the last [SABR] meeting…”
Are you sure those weren’t goslings? There are lots of Canada geese across the street, and two youngsters may have strolled in to the Green Lake library.