What the Seattle Mariners Should Be Thinking: Offseason Acquisitions

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Over the last couple of days, I have read every rumor I can find about the Mariners: which free agents are they interested in, which players are they looking at in trades, etc...etc...etc...and about the only logical conclusion at this point is that the Mariners, especially GM Z, are seriously looking at every big-name free agent on the market. 

What that means is that the front office is in a position to spend, and if ownership agrees, the M's could have a very different look in 2010. 

Let's take a look at the players that the M's have been linked to so far.

Lyle Overbay: First Base, Toronto Blue Jays

Overbay has roots in the Pacific Northwest. This seems to me to be the only reason the M's are even considering a trade for a past-his-prime first baseman who is decent at defense, decent offensively, but excellent in neither area. 

Overbay would come with a price tag of around $8 million. He bats in mid-upper .200's, has moderate power (16 HR last year) and has never really been known for his bat or his glove. 

While it has been suggested that the Blue Jays may be willing to pay some of his salary (by other authors on this site). I find that hard to believe as the Jays are trying to cut payroll, and eating part of the salary of a player you're trading is essentially the opposite of that strategy. 

Acquiring Overbay would be fine by me if the M's weren't paying the majority of his salary, but as it seems that that Blue Jays would be unwilling to take on any of his salary, I tend to agree with Griffin Cooper on this one. I don't think it makes any sense to take on a player that would produce at the level that one of our minor leaguers could produce at roughly 16 times the cost. 

I don't think there's anyone who would say that Mike Carp couldn't put up a line of .260, 15-20 HR, 60-70 RBI in a full season. That would be what the M's would get out of Overbay, essentially, only at a lot steeper price tag. I'd pass on this one if I was Jack Z. 

Jason Bay: Left Field, Free Agent

In any other ballpark, Bay would be an intriguing possibility, but not in SafeCo. He is exactly the type of hitter the M's need to stay away from: a right handed power hitter with a poor glove. 

Bay has been consistent (five straight years of 30-plus HR, 100-plus RBI) but those numbers wouldn't translate to SafeCo. It's murder on right handed sluggers, as was shown by Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson. And with the current lineup, Bay would definitely not have as many opportunities to drive runs in, making it even less likely that the M's will sign him. 

Add to that Bay's asking price (reportedly $18 million, five years) and this is a definite pass for me. 

Remember, last year Jack Z. started using sabermetrics to scout potential additions to the team, so, using advanced statistics, if the player doesn't fit the park, then he's probably not going to be added to the team. 

John Lackey: Pitcher, Free Agent

John Lackey is an intriguing potential signing for a couple of reasons. First, he's a top-of-the-rotation starter who would be a great No. 2 behind Felix. And second, signing him would hurt the Angels, thus helping the M's even more. 

That's about where my support for that signing ends however, as he has failed to win 15 games or more in all but one of his big league seasons (2007 he won 19). Not exactly ace stuff, but because he's the best starter on the free agent market who doesn't have injury problems, he's going to make a killing, somewhere in the $17-20 million range. 

That's far too much to pay for a No. 2 starter, at least in my opinion. I expect the M's to make a serious offer, but they will probably not be the team to sign him as he will probably sign with a larger market team. 

Now lets look at my wish list for this offseason. The M's have several holes and a dire need for offense. 

First Base

The M's got decent production out of their first baseman last year, Russell Branyan, and while I like Russell the Muscle, I would prefer a player with a proven track record of consistency, and far fewer injury problems. His demand that the M's give him a multiyear deal in the $4 million per year range also makes me wary of signing him. 

The three names on the free agent list that stand out to me are Carlos Delgado, Adam LaRoche, and Nick Johnson.

Personally, I would like to see the M's sign two of these guys, preferably Adam LaRoche and Carlos Delgado. 

Delgado is coming off an injury plagued '09, and he's getting up there in years, but he would probably come cheap, and he's got a proven track record of power. He would be an ideal fit as the everyday designated hitter, while occasionally filling in at first base as necessary. 

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