Bleacher Report - Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners Need To Pull the Trigger on Trading for Edwin Jackson

Scott Mckee — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:08:28 -0500

As I am sure you all know, news broke recently about the Seattle Mariners potentially looking into trading for Edwin Jackson, most likely trading Brandon Morrow in the process. This is the first rumor of the offseason I want to see become a reality.

The most obvious reason for this is the fact that Seattle needs a solid starter behind Felix Hernandez. If they trade Morrow and get Jackson, it would really bolster the rotation.

The Mariners explored the option of picking up Jackson when he was still in Tampa Bay. Now could be the best time to pick him up.

It would take more than Morrow to snag Edwin Jackson, though. A small package of pitchers could be assembled to meet Detroit's needs. After all, the Mariners have a lot of potential starters and relievers. Maybe Morrow, Shawn Kelley, and Jason Vargas. Detroit may even want Luke French back.

All four of them can play at the major league level, and all four wouldn't cost more than the ML minimum since that is what they are looking for. The final deal shouldn't include more than two or three players, depending on the details.

It would be sad to see Brandon Morrow leave, but I believe the new management isn't sold on the idea that he has to be on the team. He has struggled to adjust with all the flip-flopping done to him over the last two years. He may be able to become a good, solid starter.

Maybe.

The money that Seattle would spend on Jackson's arbitration shouldn't break the bank, and they could still make a run at John Lackey, the team's main pitching target.

Imagine a rotation of Hernandez, Lackey, Jackson, Ryan Rowland-Smith, and Ian Snell.

Now a trade for Edwin Jackson and Curtis Granderson gets a little more costly and likely involves the loss of Michael Saunders. As I have stated before, getting a solid player in LF could hurt the Mariners when Dustin Ackley is ready. I believe Saunders could be a good stop-gap player for a year. The team could trade him later on in the year or in the next offseason.

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Ken Griffey Jr. Is Back for Another Season With the Seattle Mariners

Phil Shore — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:46:37 -0500

Every 1990’s little leaguers’ favorite player will be back for another year in 2010.

On Wednesday, Ken Griffey, Jr. signed a one-year deal worth $2 million plus performance incentives to stay with the Seattle Mariners for at least one more season.

Griffey turns 40 on November 21, but many still remember him as “The Kid.”

Escaping his father Ken Griffey Sr.'s shadow seemed to come natural to him. Junior possessed one of the sweetest swings anyone had witnessed.

The smoothness of his swing also generated quite a bit of power, sending majestic fly balls into the upper decks. He was also a fantastic fielder with a flair for some of the most exciting catches one could see.

Griffey could run, dive, and jump the wall, and the ball would almost always magically drop into his mitt.

What Michael Jordan was to basketball, Griffey was to baseball. He owned the sport on the field, and was a marketing icon off it.

He has belted 630 career home runs, the most for any active player and fifth all-time. He’s been selected to 13 All-Star games.

He has 10 Gold Gloves and seven Silver Slugger Awards. He won the Home Run Derby three times. He was named the AL MVP in 1997 and was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century team .

When not watching Griffey playing in a game, you were sure to see him on television in commercials for Nike , Pepsi , or Nintendo , or on television shows like The Simpsons , The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air , and the David Letterman Show .

Through all the years and all the success, Griffey did everything the right way. He was gracious to his fans and kind to the media. You never heard him speak poorly toward his teammates.

And a biggie, although we can never be 100 percent sure with players from this era, many are confident in saying Griffey was successful without the use of performing enhancing drugs. It was just a joy to watch his pure ability on display with a smile always gracing his face.

Still, one can’t help but think that the baseball world and the sporting world in general, were just a little bit cheated.

After a decent first season with the Reds in 2000 Griffey, went through an assortment of injuries. He was injured in 2001 and missed 51 games. He suffered season-ending injuries from ’02-’04, where he played in no more than 83 games in any of those seasons.

The injury in ’04 was the worst. While chasing down a ball hit to the outfield, he tore his hamstring and required a special experimental operation dubbed “The Junior Operation.”

In September of ’05, he strained a tendon in his foot and was shut down for the season. In ’06, he broke his wrist.

He came back with a vengeance in 2007, hitting 30 home runs, driving in 93 runs, and making the All-Star team for the first time since 2004.

However, the injuries have taken their toll. Junior’s production has significantly dropped, and he is not the player he once was. In that renaissance year of ’07, Griffey hit .277. In ’08, it dropped to .249, and in his latest season, he hit a measly .219.

Still, even at his worst single season batting average, pitchers walked Junior 63 times, the most for any Mariner that season, signifying that there was still a lot of respect remaining for Griffey.

Griffey missed significant time due to injury while in Cincinnati. It leaves one to wonder: he has 650 home runs now, how many would he have hit if he actually played close to full seasons during that hellacious six-year stretch?

How many more Gold Gloves could he have won? Would we be mentioning Griffey as the greatest baseball player to ever live?

Alas, all we can do now is wonder what could have been. Instead, we see steroid-scandal poster child and media villain Barry Bonds atop the home run record, and chasing him is admitted performance-enhancing drug user Alex Rodriguez.

Injuries are part of the game, though, and you won’t hear Griffey complain about them. He is just happy to still be playing the game of baseball.

"I don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity to have a player who enjoys playing the game as much as he does," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu told the press. "He's fun. He's infectious to his teammates. He's such a breath of fresh air."

The television show appearances and sponsorship deals are gone and what kind of playing time Griffey will receive remains uncertain, but the future Hall of Famer is ready to accept any role, whether it be an everyday player or he comes off the bench.

It speaks measures of his class and how much he enjoys just being part of the game.

"I look forward to contributing in any role that [manager] Don [Wakamatsu] sees fit on the field, and any manner I possibly can off the field," Griffey said in a statement.

Although it can be tough to watch him struggle to hit .220, seeing him come back another year can only bring child-like smiles and wonderment to baseball fans’ eyes.

Here’s to hoping there is still a little bit of “The Kid” left in Ken Griffey Jr., for old time’s sake.

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Seattle Mariners Get Defensive, Ink Jack Wilson to Two-Year Deal

Adam Bernacchio — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:53:59 -0500

I have never met Seattle Mariners’ general manager Jack Zduriencik. As a matter of fact, if he delivered the bacon cheeseburger I ordered from the diner last night to my apartment, I wouldn’t have recognized him.

But I will tell you this: I really like the guy. I like the guy because in a sport where so many of its general managers don’t have a plan of attack, Zduriencik clearly does.

Zduriencik is determined to build the Mariners around pitching and defense and on Friday he took another step towards executing his plan.

Yesterday, the Mariners signed shortstop Jack Wilson to a two-year deal worth $10 million. The deal cancels out the $8.4 million option Seattle had for Wilson.

The Mariners acquired Wilson from the Pittsburgh Pirates last year, along with Ian Snell and Ronny Cedeno for Jeff Clement and three minor leaguers.

Wilson is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game and, along with Franklin Gutierrez and Jose Lopez, gives the Mariners a more than solid up-the-middle defense.

The biggest reason the Mariners went from 61 wins in 2008 to 85 wins in 2009 was because of defense. Zduriencik replaced Raul Ibanez, Jeremy Reed, and Yuniesky Betancourt from the 2008 team with Endy Chavez, Gutierrez, and Wilson in 2009.

That is a massive upgrade defensively. I mean it’s really night and day.

Chavez is a free agent, but with Zdurienciks’ track record so far, you have to feel confident if you are a Mariners fan that he will find a replacement suitable both offensively and defensively.

I still contest the Mariners need a big bat in the middle of their lineup in order to take the next step, but they are clearly moving in the right direction.

Wilson was a good value sign by the Mariners.

Just another piece in the defensive puzzle for Zduriencik.

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg

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What the Seattle Mariners Should Be Thinking: Offseason Acquisitions

Cody Nielsen — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:07:42 -0500

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.

Laroche is the top first baseman in this free agent crop in my opinion. He is a decent defender, and he has pop in his bat. He can hit for a relatively high average for a slugger, and best of all, like Delgado, he's a lefty. He hit 25 home runs in Atlanta this past season.

I would expect that number to go upwards of 30-35 were he in SafeCo. The downside here, however, is that he wouldn't be cheap. He would want somewhere in the $8-12 million per year range and probably a long term deal of four or more years.

However, he's only 30, and he would be a great fit in SafeCo.

Second Base

Jose Lopez is currently the team's second baseman, and the teams second best power hitter behind Russell Branyan.

While he is a below average defensive second baseman, he is an above average offensive second baseman, which is why I think he should be playing at a different position in 2010, possibly even third base, barring the re-signing of Adrian Beltre (which is looking more and more unlikely with each passing day).

A lot of people will say that Lopez doesn't have the range to play third, and while I tend to agree with them, we do have the best defensive shortstop in all of baseball to pick up the slack, something that is a lot harder to do with Lopez playing second.

There are several internal options at second base. One is Matt Tuiasasopo, but the same problems that the M's have with Lopez at second would still be there with Tui. He just doesn't have the range to be a great defensive second baseman.

Then there is Dustin Ackley, who, if Michael Saunders is everything he's projected to be, will more than likely end up playing at second when he gets called up. But he's not quite ready, which means the M's need a stopgap.

The only guy that fits that bill is Orlando Hudson, in my opinion, and he will come relatively cheap, considering his skill set and the declining market.

Last season he signed a one year, $3.5 million offer from the Dodgers, but they are unlikely to offer him arbitration, which means that the M's could pick him up for around $3-4 million, and not risk losing draft picks in the process. Defensively Hudson has lost a step, but he's still average to above average. Offensively, he is well above average and would make an excellent No. 2 hitter behind Ichiro.

Catcher

Personally, I don't find that there's a major hole at catcher. Rob Johnson isn't anything spectacular on either side of the game, but he will do as a nice backup.

Adam Moore will more than likely start (and complete) the 2010 season as the starting catcher.

Starting Pitcher

Starting pitching is a big need for every team every year, and usually there isn't much, if anything, available.

There are a couple of intriguing possibilities for the M's to look at, none of them named John Lackey.

First, I love Rich Harden, despite the injury issues, and I think that he would make a fantastic No. 2 pitcher behind Felix Hernandez. He has ace-type stuff, and the only thing that makes this a high-risk, high-reward signing is his extensive injury history. I think the M's offer him an incentive loaded three-year deal.

In case Harden does get injured, how about another pitcher with an injury history longer than this article: Ben Sheets. Sheets is another one of those ace level starters who can't seem to stay healthy, but when he is, he's one of the best pitchers in the game.

A one year, incentive-laden deal would benefit both sides. Sheets would view it as a low pressure situation, pitching in Seattle, as he wouldn't be the staff ace, and the team (at this point) isn't expected to win a World Series title. The M's get a No. 3 pitcher who would be a No. 1 on most teams.

And finally, an oldie, but a goody: Erik Bedard. I know what you're thinking: I must be out of my mind. But think about this: When Bedard was healthy, he was one of the best pitchers in the league, and he knows that Seattle has the best park for his skill set.

He would come cheap, as his injury history will keep most teams from signing him, and he already knows what its like to pitch with that defense behind him. Another one year, incentive-laden deal benefits both sides once again.

In the end, this is what my 2010 Seattle Mariners would look like:

DH—Carlos Delgado

1B—Adam Laroche

2B—Orlando Hudson

3B- Jose Lopez

SS—Jack Wilson/Carlos Triunfel (should Wilson get hurt)

C—Adam Moore

LF—Michael Saunders/Dustin Ackley

CF—Franklin Gutierrez

RF—Ichiro

SP1—Felix Hernandez

SP2—Rich Harden

SP3—Ben Sheets

SP4—Erik Bedard

SP5—Ryan Rowland-Smith

Long Relievers—Ian Snell* Luke French* Brandon Morrow*

Short Relievers—Shawn Kelley, Phillipe Aumont, Josh Fields

Setup—Mark Lowe

Closer—David Aardsma

*All available as replacement starters should one of the starters get injured.

Bench Players would be Ken Griffey Jr. Jack Hanahan, and Josh Wilson or Tui.

Let me know what you guys think. I'm not saying this is going to happen, but I figured while everyone else is speculating, why don't I throw out some speculations of my own?

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Jack Wilson Staying in Seattle, Branyan Next?

Hayato Uwai — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:05:03 -0500

According to mlbtraderumors.com , the Seattle Mariners signed SS Jack Wilson to a two-year, $10 million contract. Wilson is known as best defensive shortstop in the MLB as he posted best UZR among all shortstops, but his 2010 option was bit expensive($8.4 million) so the Mariners were trying to rework his contract.

This deal gives the Mariners a decent everyday shortstop as they played Yuniesky Betancourt on the opening day last year. The Mariners' already impressive defence looks even better with this move.

Wilson is back, now the Mariners will try to bring back Russell Branyan . He recently rejected the Mariners one-year offer, as Branyan is looking for multi-year deal. Branyan was lone Mariner to hit 30+ homer last season, but he missed all September and October because of herniated back. He will turn 34 this December so offering him a multi-year deal might be a bit risky. Let's see how Zduriencik works this out as the Mariners need him.

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