Game Thread: Let The Games Begin.....

[NWinAZ]

But my feeling is by the time he is a free agent, there is either going to be a salary cap or a franchise tag in baseball.

I have been saying that since 1980...lol.

 

[NWinAZ]

And on a side note, players want to play on big markets for big sponsorships not because they like dealing with all the bs that goes with it. The Mariners reporters and media are very soft here and we got some white whales in advertising in obviously Amazon, Expedia, Microsoft etc. Russell Wilson got the Alaska Airlines. There is more than enough in the Puget Sound area in terms of available money than any big market. But we don’t have is the access to the same type of women LA, NY, TX or Florida has though.

It's the attention they seek. The money is there regardless, but stroking the ego on the daily suits a lot of those guys. Trout and Griffey are two of the few that it doesn't matter to. They are both introverts in many ways.

 

[wazzu31]

I have been saying that since 1980...lol.

Well ya, but this time the MLBPA is fractured worse than in my entire lifetime. It’s old generation union leaders vs modern union members who don’t give two cents about what the way the leadership tells them to vote because they want food on their table. The MLBPA got punked by their members during the Covid negotiations and I highly doubt that will be forgot, which means salary cap. Then it puts the Mariners into the box I predicted two years ago. The Mariners have a crap load of minor league talent who would be scheduled for arbitration (which salary cap would take away) at the same time. Kelenic and Julio are guys I want the Mariners to have extend yesterday. Then it is hard with the Gilbert/Hancock/Kirby situation on which one to go all in on. Raleigh is going to be a nice trade piece because I can’t see him being anything special in the bigs just because he is a switch hitter. His body type and gifts say 1B but we have White and have a crap load of outfielders to package with him to get a good 2B or dominant closer, RP or if the timing is right getting a starter. Dream scenario is the Padres struggle this season and we can get Snell next offseason or the 2022 offseason.

 

[NWinAZ]

 

[NWinAZ]

Okay I will offer you 50% less than other team, you 45% less, you 60% less...hey why aren't these guys taking our deals? Don't they know we finish our seasons after the 162nd game with no pesky playoffs to ruin our fall?

 

[NWinAZ]

 

[SeattleCoug]

From what i've kinda gathered reading and listening podcasts, Im less inclined to blame Dipoto at this point. It seems pretty clear he is working with one hand tied behind his back which is just par for how things go with this organization.

 

[wazzu31]

From what i've kinda gathered reading and listening podcasts, Im less inclined to blame Dipoto at this point. It seems pretty clear he is working with one hand tied behind his back which is just par for how things go with this organization.

I will preface this by saying I haven’t listened to any of his interviews but he wasn’t deflecting blame? It is just hard for me to say on one side the ownership won’t let him spend any money this off-season yet they sign Giles and a few bullpen arms who either won’t pitch for them this year or probably won’t be ready enough to be real contributors.

 

[SeattleCoug]

I will preface this by saying I haven’t listened to any of his interviews but he wasn’t deflecting blame? It is just hard for me to say on one side the ownership won’t let him spend any money this off-season yet they sign Giles and a few bullpen arms who either won’t pitch for them this year or probably won’t be ready enough to be real contributors.

I've read/heard a few different things saying that the budget for this offseason was incredibly strict. The contract just came out for Giles and sounds like its only $1.5 mill for this year and $5.5 mill for next year. The Paxton one is odd but i guess if you are gonna make an exception, it might as well be a guy that can butts in the seats with that Maple Grove thing.

 

[wazzu31]

I've read/heard a few different things saying that the budget for this offseason was incredibly strict. The contract just came out for Giles and sounds like its only $1.5 mill for this year and $5.5 mill for next year. The Paxton one is odd but i guess if you are gonna make an exception, it might as well be a guy that can butts in the seats with that Maple Grove thing.

I don’t know. I would never say Jerry was given an open checkbook. But just IMO, part of his job is to be a salesman to his bosses. Maybe part of it is Stanton and Co. aren’t confident in Jerry with an open checkbook. I guess I just don’t see how it would as bad as reported if the M’s are willing to eat, what $20 million (not counting Haniger) on project arms who most likely won’t make a dent in this year.

With Paxton, just IMO, Seattle is light years away from being able to make a move for fans at the moment. I fully admit I don’t like Jerry’s interviews because I feel every time he talks he comes of as a condescending jackass but it seems silly to me that he had multiple free agent contract offers out that were rejected but were the only team that reportedly was in on Paxton.

 

[Podunkparte]

The Giles deal is what I like to see. Buy low on a guy who has the potential to be an established closer in the window you're gonna need one.

The major holes I think we'll need to drop real money on for 2022+ is DH, SP, and 2B/3B. Getting Kolton Wong would have been nice to put a great glove at 2B, but he may have been one who didn't bite on a multi year deal. They'll probably go to Ty France after Seager has finally moved on at that point.

DH is such an important piece that we've had stretches of futility in outside of Edgar and Cruz. I can see Hanniger ending up there once Julio is ready, but that's probably 3 years away.

 

[seattlefan75]

I do not blame the ownership in not just handing money off to Jerry. If I was in their shoes I would be like until I see positive movement on the W/L at the professional, make playoff runs and see fans in the seats I am not going to just hand over the entire check book.

This is very similar to what I tell my wife.

 

[SeattleCoug]

I don’t know. I would never say Jerry was given an open checkbook. But just IMO, part of his job is to be a salesman to his bosses. Maybe part of it is Stanton and Co. aren’t confident in Jerry with an open checkbook. I guess I just don’t see how it would as bad as reported if the M’s are willing to eat, what $20 million (not counting Haniger) on project arms who most likely won’t make a dent in this year.

With Paxton, just IMO, Seattle is light years away from being able to make a move for fans at the moment. I fully admit I don’t like Jerry’s interviews because I feel every time he talks he comes of as a condescending jackass but it seems silly to me that he had multiple free agent contract offers out that were rejected but were the only team that reportedly was in on Paxton.

I dont love the way he comes off in interviews. Almost like an "I am smart and you are not at times" so I definitely agree there.

Regarding the open checkbook we just dont know. As of now unless I am missing something, the largest free agent contract handed out by Dipoto since he got here was Juan Nicasio at 2 years/$17 mill. Whether that's solely because of him or ownership I guess we will truly never know but I tend to lean towards the latter.

The Paxton one is odd to me although it could have been the one guy ownership was willing to spend on because of the familiarity. But idk, trying to guess how this organization thinks anymore then i already is probably useless. Giles again is only making $1.25 mil this year so it could be something where the budget is just tight this year then opens up next year when he is making more. I guess ill have to hold them to that because as a Mariners fan I really have nothing else to cling to.

 

[wazzu31]

I dont love the way he comes off in interviews. Almost like an "I am smart and you are not at times" so I definitely agree there.

Regarding the open checkbook we just dont know. As of now unless I am missing something, the largest free agent contract handed out by Dipoto since he got here was Juan Nicasio at 2 years/$17 mill. Whether that's solely because of him or ownership I guess we will truly never know but I tend to lean towards the latter.

The Paxton one is odd to me although it could have been the one guy ownership was willing to spend on because of the familiarity. But idk, trying to guess how this organization thinks anymore then i already is probably useless. Giles again is only making $1.25 mil this year so it could be something where the budget is just tight this year then opens up next year when he is making more. I guess ill have to hold them to that because as a Mariners fan I really have nothing else to cling to.

I know he is hamstrung, 2/3rds of baseball is hamstrung because owners didn’t generate the revenue and the way 2021 is looking overall they are going to lose the most revenue in sports history. I just can’t buy the he has no accountability in it when one side of his mouth is he can’t spend any money, then the other side he is allowed to spend money that won’t even be used for 2021. Walker just got the exact same contract as Paxton except it was 2 years instead of one.

Like I said I am bias in my (wouldn’t say hate) but dislike for Jerry so may be blinded. Ownership is responsible but so is Jerry IMO. His job is to win a WS. I guess I will put it this way, Jerry would not have a job right now if ownership wasn’t ok with the reports of Jerry being hamstrung. I just don’t think at the moment Stanton and Co. trust Jerry’s with an open checkbook because in order to get his extension Jerry sold them on a vision that isn’t at the moment remotely close to coming to fruition.

 

[Duders]

Ownership probably extended ole Jer's contract because they couldn't find any other GM that was the least bit interested in being any part of the M's organization.

 

[NWinAZ]

Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports that the Mets have come to terms on a contract with Taijuan Walker.​

It was Martino who reported earlier this week that Walker had emerged as a target for the Mets, and now it appears the two sides have a deal. Joel Sherman of the New York Post says it's a two-year, $20 million contract with a $6 million player option for a third year. Walker hasn't pitched a whole lot the last few years due to injuries, but he was excellent in 2020, holding a 2.70 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 50/19 K/BB ratio over 53 1/3 innings between the Mariners and Blue Jays. He's also still just 28, so perhaps there's still a little more there that the Mets can tap into.

 

[wazzu31]

Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports that the Mets have come to terms on a contract with Taijuan Walker.​

It was Martino who reported earlier this week that Walker had emerged as a target for the Mets, and now it appears the two sides have a deal. Joel Sherman of the New York Post says it's a two-year, $20 million contract with a $6 million player option for a third year. Walker hasn't pitched a whole lot the last few years due to injuries, but he was excellent in 2020, holding a 2.70 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 50/19 K/BB ratio over 53 1/3 innings between the Mariners and Blue Jays. He's also still just 28, so perhaps there's still a little more there that the Mets can tap into.

I am really confused on why Jerry chose Paxton over Walker (they are essentially the same contract) if Jerry is serious about a 6 man rotation then why not sign a Paxton or Walker to a Walker deal. Kikuchi hasn’t shown enough to earn his IIRC mutual option.

 

[NWinAZ]

I am really confused on why Jerry chose Paxton over Walker (they are essentially the same contract) if Jerry is serious about a 6 man rotation then why not sign a Paxton or Walker to a Walker deal. Kikuchi hasn’t shown enough to earn his IIRC mutual option.

I have no clue on this one. Plus a RH starter would have been more needed with our already abundant amount of LH starters.

My only guess is that DIPoto took a survey to see which of the two would create more buzz therefor more income. Sadly I mean this.

 

[wazzu31]

I have no clue on this one. Plus a RH starter would have been more needed with our already abundant amount of LH starters.

My only guess is that DIPoto took a survey to see which of the two would create more buzz therefor more income. Sadly I mean this.

Hadn’t even thought of LH vs RH thing. With the way the bullpen is lined up on paper now I guess in an analytics world I can why he would want a LH instead. But dang, for the same price and production it seems Walker is the guy you should want especially with an extra year.

I don’t know I just think it’s cheaper this off-season to get a guy for the rotation next season. IMO by the deadline, no way do they have Sheffield, Dunn, Gilbert, Hancock and Kirby all in the organization. Plus Then and that IMO second tier guys

 

[NWinAZ]

Hadn’t even thought of LH vs RH thing. With the way the bullpen is lined up on paper now I guess in an analytics world I can why he would want a LH instead. But dang, for the same price and production it seems Walker is the guy you should want especially with an extra year.

I don’t know I just think it’s cheaper this off-season to get a guy for the rotation next season. IMO by the deadline, no way do they have Sheffield, Dunn, Gilbert, Hancock and Kirby all in the organization. Plus Then and that IMO second tier guys

Probably true. But on the bright side, if all the pitchers work out that will be a nice problem to have.