Let's face it, Seattle fans: The Mariners are done this year. Accept it and move on.
With the trade deadline imminent, the Mariners need to take a seriously long look at the makeup of their team and decide whether or not they can reload and make a run at the Angels and A's next year. If not, they should blow up the squad for the second time in five years and try again.
My humble opinion: Blow the whole thing up.
This tactic is in line with the moves they've made over the last few weeks. They've jettisoned the hitting coach, manager, and general manager, and just today they released struggling slugger Richie Sexson outright. Word in the wings is that Jose Vidro will be the next one to go.
So, if the team is committed to losing the deadweight, even with nothing in return, I see no reason to attempt to hold onto the few older players that are performing. Some of these guys have value to contending teams.
Today's Must Reads
1. Raul Ibanez
There has been no batter more consistent and well liked than the hard-working, defensively-underestimated outfielder. He always hovers above .270 in BA, hits between 15 and 30 homers, and doesn't strand people on base too often.
Let's not forget: He's a lefty. He'd be a valuable asset to a contending team looking to add a consistent batter in their No. 5 or 6 spot in the order, protecting a free-swinging cleanup man.
2. Erik Bedard
OK, he's been disappointing, but I think his struggles are more due to injury and disinterest as the team has spiraled consistently downward. You put him on the Yankees, and he's probably a great pitcher again. Once again, he's a lefty, so that counts for something.
3. Jarrod Washburn
A victim of little-to-no run support for the last two years, he is still a consistent lefthanded innings-eater with some gas in the tank. Put him in the National League, and he's back to third or fourth-starter status. And notice the pattern: He's a lefty.
Those are the most valuable assets that seem tradable at this point, and each will get one or two prospects in return. I 've heard people asking for Kenji Johjima and Ichiro Suzuki to be traded, but both are long shots: Ichiro because of his contract and hero status in Seattle, and Johjima just for his contract.
I doubt the Mariners are going to eat the rest of either's contracts, and I think it's more likely they will keep Johjima as the good defensive catcher that he is and move hot prospect Jeff Clement to first base or the designated hitter slot.
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about 1 month ago
I am a M's fan and would have to agree to some point. The M's do need to do more house cleaning. But I also think that they should just get rid of a few and try to bring on others. Since we got rid of the previous managing staff we have improved by a bit. Not a lot but enough to notice. Before we would only win 2 out of ten or 3 out of ten games. Now we have moved up to 5 or better out of ten. Still way to late in the season for those improvements. But better late then never. Now the M's should focus on prospects for next season.
about 1 month ago
I wouldnt say Ibanez doesn't strand a lot of runners... All Mariners are guilty of stranding runners this year. Nobody on this team has been clutch this year except MAYBE Jose Lopez. I could see a team making a run at him this year and I'd like to see him go to a contender, but at best you'll get a bottom-level prospect in return and Ibanez is too much of a fan favorite to let go for nothing. If he was having the year he had two years ago, it would be worth it.
I keep telling people that its a horrible idea to trade Bedard. You gave up top prospect Adam Jones who is now heating up for the Orioles. George Sherrill who is an All-Star. Chris Tillman, who is now one of their top pitching prospect and was unhittable in his first two months in the minors. And two other prospects.
In return now you might get players at the level of Tillman and Sherrill and little else. Maybe you could settle for that if Bedard was a free agent at the end of the year, but he's not. So why settle now? Let him play out the year and if he has a great 2nd half, trade him in the offseason when you can get an Adam Jones level prospect in return. And if you wait til next year and sign a few free agents, make a few deals, possibly be in contention again with Erik Bedard back in your rotation.
He has gotten a bad rap this year because he hasn't thrown many innings, but I believe there is a health issue there and not a serious one. Other than that he has had very good numbers in the last two months and I expect him to have a great 2nd half. Don't trade him now when the value is crap. Wait it out.
Jarrod Washburn has never had greater value. He's on a tear in his last 8 starts. Left handed. And Sabathia/Harden are off the market. He could shore up the rotation of Philly or St Louis. He probably will get traded and bring in a prospect at the level of what the Rangers got for Gagne last year, which isn't that bad.
Kenji is NOT a good defensive catcher. He's mediocre hitter and mediocre catcher. Thats from the mouth of Jeff Nelson. He was signed because of Japanese management or Bill Bavasi was trying to screw us one last time. There is a better chance that Felix will get traded, why would ANYBODY want this guy? We are stuck.
Ichiro wont be dealt, brings in too much money and japanese ownership. The only way it could happen is if a team blew us away with prospects. The Yankees would have to offer up Phil Hughes AND Jose Tabata to get Ichiro.
I'd throw in Adrian Beltre. He's been our best power hitter of the year. Still a great defender. One more year on the contract is all. More than a few teams will inquire about him and he could bring in a decent prospect or two.
Maybe I should have just written my own article?
from about 1 month ago
I think the beef on Kenji Johjima is that pitchers find him difficult to work with, which translates into mixed signals and bad pitches. I agree they should never have re-signed him to a long-term deal, because now we are stuck with his .220 average and 3 home runs in over 80 games. He's blocking Jeff Clement from regular playing time.
Beltre I've noticed has become a better version of Richie Sexson, he's hitting the number of homers Richie was slotted for, at about a .250 average. My problem with him is that whenever he's up with people on he seems to strikeout more often than not. I think we should trade him, but his salary is, if anything, less desirable to take on than Johjima's or Sexson's.
I do believe they should trade Bedard, but only if they get what they paid for him back. A high-level hitting prospect and a good pitcher, with some pieces thrown in. If they wait until the end of the year to do it, that's fine.
I'm of the opinion that trading Ichiro is best for us and Ichiro, but the owners and the majority of fans believe differently. Ichiro wants to win, that's why when the Mariners did good last year, he decided to stay, believing we were on the cusp of the playoffs.
from about 1 month ago
Beltre only has one year left on his deal. Im sure if the Mariners were getting a good player in return, they'd pick up some salary, solving that problem. He's a very good player and could put up much better numbers in a better park and better lineup.
I look at what the A's got for Harden and the Indians got for Sabathia and I say "No. Thats not as good as the players the Orioles got for Bedard and I'd be pissed if the Mariners only got those players in return for Bedard." So based on the market, I say "No Deal."
I have no problem trading Ichiro. But when you are in dead last, and attendance is already low, you don't trade your most marketable player unless you get something VERY good in return. Without Ichiro, they lose Japanese fans.
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