Seattle Mariners: Prospects to Watch in 2011
The Mariners were bad in 2010. There's no getting around that. The real worry here is, how do we get better?
We get better with trades. What do you need for trades? Prospects.
We get better with new talent. What is another word for new talent? Prospects.
It's all simple math, really. Here, I'll try to lay out some of those prospects that could serve a purpose in the Mariners getting over that 61-win mark.
Note: I'm only listing players that will A) start the year in the minors and B) most likely play Double-A or higher this year. So, no Pineda, Lueke, Taijuan Walker, James Jones or Marcus Littlewood on this list.
Dustin Ackley, 2B
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How He Got Here:
You may have heard of him—he was the second overall pick of the 2009 draft out of North Carolina behind some guy named Strasburg.
Where He'll Spend the Season:
A lot of people want him to be the Mariners' Opening Day second baseman, but that's not happening. He'll likely start the season in Tacoma, and if he stays above the Menoza Line, he'll probably be brought up in June to take over starting duties.
Why He's Important:
Well, he's the Mariners' top prospect, he's their only current hope to have a legitimate offensive threat from either of the middle infield spots, and we've invested a whole lot into him. I think he also has many leather-bound books because he's kind of a big deal.
Ackley is a possible future batting champ with plus speed and decent power. I'll take an Ichiro-lite any day.
Nick Franklin, SS
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How He Got Here:
He was the 27th pick in that same 2009 draft out of Lake Brantley High School in Florida.
Where He'll Spend the Season:
He spent most of last year with the Clinton LumberKings (Single-A) and played one game with the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, who are now known as the Jackson Generals. It's looking like he could start the season with Jackson, and if he continues his minor league success, he could be up to Tacoma before the year is done.
Why He's Important:
Franklin is young, and hasn't disappointed us yet. He's still only 19, and hit .281 with 23 HRs, 65 RBI, and 25 SBs in Single-A. He's rated as the third Mariner (behind Ackley and Pineda) in the top 100 prospects by Baseball America.
If Ackley is starting second baseman of the future, Franklin is his middle infield partner. He should crack the Mariners lineup by 2013, if not 2012.
Mauricio Robles, LH SP
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How He Got Here:
He came here from the Tigers along with Luke French in the Jarrod Washburn trade.
Where He'll Spend the Season:
Besides the operating table and rehab center? He'll be making his starts at Tacoma for the Rainiers.
Why He's Important:
It's still possible that Robles is a future fixture in the M's rotation, but you'll be paying attention to him this year for the wrong reasons. It was recently announced that Robles will have surgery on his pitching elbow to remove "loose bodies."
I'm no expert, but having bodies inside your own body can't be a good thing. Still though, once he gets those bodies out, he can resume throwing in four to six weeks.
A possible blessing in disguise, this could lead Robles to use his changeup more. He has been known to at times get away from what has been described as his best pitch.
It will be interesting to see how Robles, who was good in limited time in Tacoma last year, can recover from surgery.
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Carlos Triunfel, INF
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How He Got Here:
He was signed by the Mariners out of the Dominican Republic in 2006.
Where He'll Spend the Season:
He spent all of last year in Double-A and didn't really impress. The Mariners are taking it slow with him, but my guess is that he is moved up to Tacoma sometime soon.
Why He's Important:
The Mariners signed him when he was just 16 years old, so there is obviously a belief there that he has talent. That belief has to be dwindling, however, as he hasn't lived up to the high expectations.
We shouldn't be forgetting about Triunfel, however. First of all, he's still only 21 years old. Second of all, he missed all of 2009 with a leg/ankle injury, so we can give him a little bit of a pass for last year as he was coming back from that. Third of all, this kid is good.
Before his injury, he was rated at the No. 30 prospect overall. He was described as someone who could hit for power and average, and had one of the best infield arms in the league, major or minors.
Call me crazy, but I don't think his ceiling was at 18 years old. Keep your eye on Triunfel this year.
Greg Halman, OF
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How He Got Here:
Signed by the Mariners out of Netherlands in 2004. The Dutch play baseball?
Where He'll Spend the Year:
He'll be in the Tacoma for most of the year. The Mariners outfield is a little crowded with Ichiro, Gutierrez, Bradley, Saunders and possibly Langerhans, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him at Safeco by the end of the year. Especially if (when) the Mariners struggle.
Why He's Important:
The Mariners lack offense, and despite what that picture says, this kid doesn't.
Halman is frustrating at times to say the least. He has special athleticism and a powerful arm. He was second in the PCL last year in homers with 33. But he was also first in strikeouts, as he possesses poor discipline.
He was the Mariners' top prospect last year. He's not even top 10 this year. So which Halman do we see this year?
He's essentially a young Jack Cust who can play the outfield, so I wouldn't mind seeing him up at the end of the year, especially if he can learn a little bit of patience and get those walks up.
Blake Beavan, RH SP
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How He Got Here:
He came here from the Rangers in that Cliff Lee trade. Yeah, I don't remember that, either.
Where He'll Spend the Season:
He made it to Tacoma quickly after being traded last year, and he'll start this year there. Could make it to Seattle by the end of the year.
Why He's Important:
So that we can say we won that trade, obviously. Well, the Rangers obviously didn't win it, as Lee is in Philly now, so I'm okay with that I guess.
But actually, Beavan could be a part of the rotation by next year if he has success in Tacoma this year. He doesn't do anything spectacular—he's basically Doug Fister plus 60 pounds.
He knows how to keep the ball down, though, and we know how successful that can be with Seattle's defense and ballpark.
Alex Liddi, 3B/1B
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How He Got Here:
Signed by the Mariners out of Italy in 2005.
Where He'll Spend the Season:
He impressed last year in Double-A, and should spend most of the year in Tacoma this year.
Why He's Important:
Simple. He's got power. He's averaged about 20 home runs with almost 100 RBI over the last two years while hitting for a good average. Oh yeah, and he was the guy who hit grand slams in back-to-back games this spring training for the Mariners.
If that doesn't get you excited to watch this kid in Triple-A, I don't know what will. If he can improve his shoddy defense and stay at third base instead of first, he's in line to start after the Chone Years.
Dan Cortes, RHP
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How He Got Here:
We got him from the Royals in the Yuniesky Betancourt trade. Silly Royals.
Where He'll Spend the Season:
He'll be at Tacoma to at least start the year, but he's got the potential to make it into the Mariners bullpen at some point this year.
Why He's Important:
Rated as the Mariners' 10th-best prospect, he's someone who struggled a little bit in Tacoma last year. He has a terrific fastball but has trouble locating it at times. If he can fix these problems in Triple-A, there's no doubt that he can carve out a role in Seattle's bullpen.
He's 24, but relievers tend to come out of nowhere.
Other Sleepers
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Here are some other guys you might not want to forget about, with the team they'll most likely be playing for in parenthesis.
Mike Carp, 1B (Tacoma, Seattle)
Johermyn Chavez, OF (Jackson)
Kyle Seager, 2B (Jackson)
Stephen Pryor, RHP (Jackson)
Josh Lueke (if he doesn't make the team), RHP (Tacoma, Seattle)
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