M's Need to Be Offensive

The Seattle Mariners aren't offensive enough. It's true. As the trade deadline looms in one week, the M's rank second to last in runs scored. The lowly Kansas City Royals are the only team with fewer runs scored this season. 

The Mariners have been outscored this year by a total of 13 runs. Many statistical analysts have even stated that the run differential is enough to call the M's win-loss record a fluke. It might be, but when you consider more than the stats, you start to paint a pretty realistic picture.

The Mariners do rank near the bottom of the AL in terms of offensive production, but the good news for fans and coaches alike is that they are unmatched in runs allowed. They have allowed fewer runs than any other team in the AL, as is demonstrated by their stellar 3.66 team ERA. 

So how big of a difference is thirteen runs? If the Mariners were a high scoring offensive team with mediocre to poor pitching, it would be a lot more worrisome than is actually the case. Seattle leads the league in one run wins. That means that they have won by a score of 5-4, 4-3, 3-2, 2-1, etc... more than any other team in the big leagues. So when they lose a game by three or 4 runs, it makes it appear as though they are being outscored by a lot more than they actually are. 

As the season continues, there is a good chance that Seattle's lack of offensive production could quickly put an end to their winning ways. The Mariners fans have looked at starting shortstop Ronny Cedeno (he of the .186 BA) and have to wonder, "Is that really the best we can do? A good defender with a mediocre (and that's being generous) bat?" 

Enter Freddy Sanchez, 3-time All-Star 2B of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sanchez is a career .301 hitter with minimal pop in his bat. Couple that with the fact that he's got some speed (5 SB in 6 attempts) and is a decent defender at 3B, SS, and 2B. If the Mariners were to swing a trade for him, they would use him almost exclusively as a SS, because Hannahan and Lopez have 3B and 2B locked up at present, barring any other trade for a 3B filler until Beltre returns.

A trade for Sanchez wouldn't cost the Mariners a lot, maybe a pitching prospect and a ML ready outfielder (Wladimir Balentien anyone?) since the Pirates have made no secret of the fact that they plan to trade him, even after they unsuccessfully "tried" to sign him to an extension. 

I say the M's go for it, trade Balentien, Woodward, and Cezar Jimenez for Freddy Sanchez. Pittsburgh is desperate to shed salary, they haven't had a winning season in 17 years, and that's not going to change anytime soon. 

The Mariners have an opportunity to add a contact hitter with a good glove and, with the current pitching staff, a couple of bats could put them in the postseason for the first time in a long while. 

Selling the farm for that opportunity is not a good idea, but Jack Z is a master at making the right little moves to put his team over the top. 

There has been continued speculation that the Rockies may be willing to trade Garrett Atkins to the Mariners for Miguel Batista in an attempt to shed some salary (at the end of the season) and upgrade their bullpen, as well as provide some insurance if one of their starters go down. 

I say go for it. Get a couple of little pieces, and the rest of it might fall into place.