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Trade deadline/Playoff push

Podunkparte

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I'm as hesitant as anyone to look too far forward, but it's June 13th and the M's are 19 games above .500 in first place. It's time to start talking trade deadline additions with eyes toward the post season.

There is 1 big, obvious, glaring hole on this team, and it's difficult to admit: Felix Hernandez. The King has been an absolute horse. He's been an ace, a perfectionist, an ambassador, and most of all a hard-luck loser for this franchise for over a decade.

The cold truth right now though is that Felix is just not good enough to be in the rotation for an AL West champion. So what do we do? You can't trade him. The money is too high and the production isn't there. Someone has to have that difficult talk with him and convince Felix that the best way he can help this team reach the playoffs, and succeed there, is by taking a role in the bullpen.

That occurs because we go hard in the paint and acquire a big time starting pitcher at the deadline. Cole Hamels is my guy. What we don't have is player assets to trade. We do however have cash money. Hamels will be owed about $8M at the deadline and is expected to want his $20M option for next year to be picked up. Fine with me! It's not my money.

Go big and let's make a real push at 2018.

Who do you realistically want to improve this team going forward?
 

SeattleCoug

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Who do you realistically want to improve this team going forward?

The obvious answer is a starter. However I don't think acquiring another 4-5 starter makes a ton of sense. It's gotta be a 2-3 starter. However those will probably be expensive and do we have the goods to trade for one?
Some names I guess to consider are Danny Duffy, JA Happ, Tyson Ross, etc.

I say if the market for starting pitching market doesn't work out then just go ahead and acquire another reliever or two and build a super bullpen. Assuming Vincent and Nicasio get back soonish, adding another arm to go along with them Diaz, Colome and Pazos would be great.
 

Cloud

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The obvious choice to me is another starter. Unless Felix turns it around he’s the weakest link right now.

Few guys to look at.

1) Jacob deGrom - Mets could potentially move him. He’s signed thru this year and is owed roughly 7.5M. Maybe too expensive to get him.

2) JA Happ - This move would make sense. He’s a FA after this season and the Jays are out of it.

3) Cole Hamels

4) Francisco Liriano - High upside and cheap. A contender would want him.

To me Cole Hamels and JA Happ probably make the most sense.
 

SeattleCoug

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I think Dipoto has to gauge whether or not the division is within reach. That should decide if a big acquisition is necessary. If the Astros are 5+ games up in a month or so it may not make sense to make a big move if WC2 is the ceiling. Unless some team like the Angels or Twins gets red hot but seems unlikely at this point
 

WizardHawk

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Of course you go get a starter if a true stud is available. That's really a complete no brainer.

Doesn't matter what anyone thinks of Felix. History shows you need at least 6-7 serviceable starters to make it through the dog days of summer and absorb injuries. This club has been skull dragged in recent years by injuries to their starters.

Get more quality starting pitching. You WILL need it, and still need Felix as well. All hands on deck.

Outside of that? Any upgrade. All upgrades. You gave your 3rd basemen the night off for personal reasons and put an automatic out in the lineup. You gave Heredia the night off and showed why Haniger has no business roaming center field. Diaz wasn't available and that's super scary. Although they do have injured guys in the pen due back at some point, but any real upgrade more to that pen for sure is useful. And don't even get me started on the topic of Z and all of those wasted AB's between his knocks and not really having a backup for him you want to see. They have no sticks they can bring in for pinch hits most nights. If a guy is struggling you have no options.

There are few positions I would say that aren't on the table for adding depth. Starter and utility infielder are probably the ones I'd circle, but it depends on what names become available. Go get something to improve the team and add to their depth to cover for injuries down the stretch.
 

wazzu31

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They have to acquire a legitimate starter before the deadline. Who or what they have to give up is the big question. Paxton obviously is going to start the WC game. So if they want any shot at winning a round they need another starter to back up Paxton. It's tough to be confident going into a series that Leake is the number 2 guy. Marco hasn't ever pitched enough innings to be confident, Leblanc is what he is and Felix is a playoff bullpen arm.
 

unlvmariners

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At the very very least I would like to see adding a legit utility guy.. When Romine needs to fill in for someone it creates a pretty big hole in the lineup. Not sure what the market looks like for something like that but the guy has to be able to play SS and be a little more of a presence at the plate.
 

NWinAZ

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I prefer a RH to slot in the #2 spot

 

NWinAZ

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NWinAZ

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Seems like both teams are mirroring each other with news of both having interest in J.A. Happ earlier on.

I was trying to figure out who they might be watching in the Pirates/Brewers game. Brewers are in first so I doubt they are looking to unload. My two best guesses for the Pirates are the starting pitcher Trevor Williams or super utility man Josh Harrison who I would love to have.
 

jerseyhawksfan79

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I was trying to figure out who they might be watching in the Pirates/Brewers game. Brewers are in first so I doubt they are looking to unload. My two best guesses for the Pirates are the starting pitcher Trevor Williams or super utility man Josh Harrison who I would love to have.

They have Harrison rated at 2B so would he go there and Dee back to the OF? Williams would be ok but rather have Happ but that probably would cost more in which the M's don't really have.
 

NWinAZ

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They have Harrison rated at 2B so would he go there and Dee back to the OF? Williams would be ok but rather have Happ but that probably would cost more in which the M's don't really have.

Harrison is a 3B, 2B, LF which fills many needs. If he can play SS in a pinch, he would be a huge upgrade. Ya Williams is nothing but another low end arm. Would love their closer as a lock down LH specialist to go with Pazos. Time will tell.
 

jerseyhawksfan79

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Harrison is a 3B, 2B, LF which fills many needs. If he can play SS in a pinch, he would be a huge upgrade. Ya Williams is nothing but another low end arm. Would love their closer as a lock down LH specialist to go with Pazos. Time will tell.

Nice. He would be a nice addition given he can play many positions.
 

Mariners_44

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Harrison is a 3B, 2B, LF which fills many needs. If he can play SS in a pinch, he would be a huge upgrade. Ya Williams is nothing but another low end arm. Would love their closer as a lock down LH specialist to go with Pazos. Time will tell.

Im not familiar with Harrison, but could this be a move that sends Seager to Pitt with Harrison becoming the new 3rd baseman? I mean, it would be hard to move on from the best rally killing bat in the big leagues, but sometimes it takes something to get something.
 

PolarVortex

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Im not familiar with Harrison, but could this be a move that sends Seager to Pitt with Harrison becoming the new 3rd baseman? I mean, it would be hard to move on from the best rally killing bat in the big leagues, but sometimes it takes something to get something.
'The shift' is killing Seager. He may keep getting his 25+ HR and 80+ RBI every year but I doubt if we ever see another batting average over .250. But if he continues to match his run production from previous years, does his BA really matter that much?
 

Mariners_44

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'The shift' is killing Seager. He may keep getting his 25+ HR and 80+ RBI every year but I doubt if we ever see another batting average over .250. But if he continues to match his run production from previous years, does his BA really matter that much?

Im not totally concerned with his BA if Seattle's brass would put him in a spot in the lineup that suits his current production. Mike Zunino isn't exactly tearing the face off of the ball, but he also isn't sitting in the 5-hole either. If the only spot in the lineup Scotty sees Seager living is in the 5 spot he needs to either be more productive or we need to ship him out for whatever we can get at this point. He's played a great third base, but he's equally played as shitty at the plate killing rally after rally. This can't continue if we want to truly compete with the top three teams in the league because it will eventually catch up with us.
 

CaptainStubing

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felix is certainly a shell of what he used to be ... the stuff he is throwing now is junk.

i'm not even sure he could be very effective coming out of the bullpen but what do you do with a guy that is still making that much money?
 

wazzu31

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Im not familiar with Harrison, but could this be a move that sends Seager to Pitt with Harrison becoming the new 3rd baseman? I mean, it would be hard to move on from the best rally killing bat in the big leagues, but sometimes it takes something to get something.

Something is going to have to be done with Seager soon. If they are smart and actually planning on moving Cano to 1B, Healy can play 3B and makes Seager expendable. Doesn't really make sense to platoon Healy and Seager.

I think Harrison would be a massive upgrade to Romine just like how Span was an upgrade to Ichiro.
 

PolarVortex

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I was trying to figure out who they might be watching in the Pirates/Brewers game. Brewers are in first so I doubt they are looking to unload. My two best guesses for the Pirates are the starting pitcher Trevor Williams or super utility man Josh Harrison who I would love to have.
Harrison is solid. But I think they are set at middle infield. The upgrade would need to be at first base, RF, CF, or catcher.
Im not totally concerned with his BA if Seattle's brass would put him in a spot in the lineup that suits his current production. Mike Zunino isn't exactly tearing the face off of the ball, but he also isn't sitting in the 5-hole either. If the only spot in the lineup Scotty sees Seager living is in the 5 spot he needs to either be more productive or we need to ship him out for whatever we can get at this point. He's played a great third base, but he's equally played as shitty at the plate killing rally after rally. This can't continue if we want to truly compete with the top three teams in the league because it will eventually catch up with us.

My lineup would be:
2B Gordon
CF Starlin Marte
SS Segura
DH Cruz
RF Haniger
LF Span/Gamel
3B Seager
1B Healy
C Zunino

Marte will be available. Hard to say what the competition will be like to acquire him.

When Cano returns I'd put him at first base and hit him between Haniger and Span/Gamel.

Zunino is also a guy they need to think about moving but trading the starting catcher in the midst of a playoff push is probably a bad idea. Trade him in the off season. He'll be going through round two of arbitration this winter and will probably command at least $6 million. Do we really want to pay him that much?
 
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