2025 Spring Training Thread

[cezero]

I'll be pissed if they try using Ford as some sort of utility guy. That's a bad idea whether you want to keep him or trade him, imo.

 

[wazzu31]

Not sure if you would have to deal Ford. From what I hear, he can play other positions. There is nothing better than having a backup catcher that can hit and play other positions.

Yeah he is athletic. I’ve comped his potential career to Craig Biggio. But problem with Ford switching positions is if he did I don’t think he’d be the top Mariners prospect at any position. Maybe LF and that’s why they tried him there last year, I’m not sure.

But you know my feelings on if utility or a different position is in their plans then quit having him catch. I just hate the way they (maybe other teams do it too) seem to think it’s easy to switch positions. Last year the better Rojas got at 3B, the worse he hit. Polanco and Young are both going to learning new positions, for the most part Bliss and Raley are too. I get it if they got Devers or a legit bat and move him but it seems dumb IMO to take average players and ask them to overproduce at their plate and in the field.

 

[NWinAZ]

 

[NWinAZ]

I'll be pissed if they try using Ford as some sort of utility guy. That's a bad idea whether you want to keep him or trade him, imo.

They already have in the minors I believe.

 

[NWinAZ]

He hit another homer earlier in the game

 

[cezero]

I should clarify, and of course, this is all IMO.

Ford isn't the kind of player you use as a part time catcher/utility guy as you try to figure out if you're going to invest in a current star heading into free agency like Cal. The situation with Cal is full of variables 100% out of our control, like whether he wants to stay with the org or if he is willing to take whatever pay the team is willing to offer.

Ford is under team control for a loooooong time and the variables concerning what to do with him are 100% in our control. IMO, he needs to focus everything into becoming a big league catcher at this point in his career, and there's a lot of specialized training for that that on the field, in the gym, and between the ears.

This happens all the time in the bigs at catcher and other positions where you have log jams with talent, and good lord I hope that's exactly what it becomes with Ford/Raleigh. If you want to maximize your top prospect's ability to produce for your own org or to yield something good in a trade situation, you train them at a specific position where you feel they can maximize their value either way. Using a top prospect as some sort of stop gap or hybrid util guy while the subject of Cal or any other position player heading into FA is TBD ain't it. Not unless the prospect shows they're not good enough to cut it in the bigs at the position you've cultivated them at. That's how util guys become util guys.

If anything, Ford developing as a stud player gives us more leverage and options as Cal as he heads into free agency. You don't squander that, imo.

 

[NWinAZ]

First Garver now Rizzs

 

[NWinAZ]

 

[NWinAZ]

First Garver now Rizzs

 

[NWinAZ]

Note: Not sure what position he was playing at the time.