Mariners offseason rumor/discussion thread

[wazzu31]

i care

I know you do, little children are always looking for approval.

 

[NWinAZ]

Dreaming is free so as Aerosmith said:
'Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream until your dream comes true
Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream until your dream comes through'

 

[Banned 10x]

Mariners To Sign Randy Wolf, Zach Miner

By Steve Adams [February 11 at 1:05pm CST]
1:05pm: Miner will earn $750K if he makes the Major League team and has a June 15 opt-out date, [ame="[MEDIA=twitter]433315448135094272[/MEDIA]"]tweets[/ame] Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish.
10:54am: The Mariners have agreed to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training with veteran lefty Randy Wolf, [ame="[MEDIA=twitter]433279692456480768[/MEDIA]"]tweets[/ame] Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. Divish [ame="[MEDIA=twitter]433281598998319104[/MEDIA]"]also tweets[/ame] that the Mariners will sign right-hander Zach Miner to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Wolf is a client of the Wasserman Media Group, and Miner is represented by the Boras Corporation.
Seattle views Wolf as a potential bullpen option, [ame="[MEDIA=twitter]433281450855526400[/MEDIA]"]tweets[/ame] Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The 37-year-old missed the entire 2013 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery late in the 2012 campaign. In that 2012 season, Wolf struggled to a 5.65 ERA with 5.9 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 and a 42.9 percent ground-ball rate (the highest of his career). Despite those struggles, he was solid for the Brewers the prior year, posting a 3.69 ERA in 212 1/3 innings out of their rotation.
Wolf owns a 4.20 ERA in 2268 career innings at the big league level and is a veteran of 14 Major League seasons with the Phillies, Astros, Dodgers, Brewers, Padres and Orioles.
Miner, 32 in March, pitched 28 1/3 innings for the Phillies in 2013 -- his first Major League action since 2009. Miner turned in a 4.40 ERA with nearly as many walks (17) as strikeouts (20) in that time. However, there were a good deal of positives in Miner's game as well; his velocity was up more than a full mile per hour (91.8 mph average in 2013 compared to 90.7 in 2009), and he posted a strong 48.9 percent ground-ball rate.
Miner has a 4.25 career ERA in 385 1/3 innings between the Tigers and Phillies. Presumably, Seattle likes him as a potential swingman -- a role he's had throughout the entirety of his Major League career to this point. Miner has appeared in 173 big league games, including 38 starts.

 

[seahawksfan234]

Miner could be a good, cheap addition. Wolf I'm not sure makes it though.

 

[seahawksfan234]

Seems like the winds have shifted a bit.

At one point it seemed like Nelson Cruz was very likely headed to Seattle, but once the rumor mill with Cruz started to slow down the Mariners became connected with Ervin Santana.

My hypothesis: Cruz wants more than the Mariners are willing to give and the Mariners are shifting their interest over to Santana, either in a serious ploy to add another starting pitcher or to create a bit of leverage in negotiations with Cruz.

I have to guess Cruz wants 3 years and the Mariners will only offer 2, which I 100% agree with, under no circumstances would I give Cruz 3 years.

 

[seahawksfan234]

Word is the Rays are signing former Mariner Erik Bedard.

Would have liked to see the Mariners try to bring him in again, he is injury prone and getting a bit older but man he had one of the best breaking balls I've ever seen. I loved watching him pitch.

 

[NWinAZ]

Not a Bedard fan. He isn't a winner. Who pulls themselves out of no-hitter at 100 pitches? Bedard, that's who. I don't think he is the guy you want around your top prospects.

Agree on the Cruz comments. 2 years at most.

 

[SeattleCoug]

Not a Bedard fan. He isn't a winner. Who pulls themselves out of no-hitter at 100 pitches? Bedard, that's who. I don't think he is the guy you want around your top prospects.

Agree on the Cruz comments. 2 years at most.

Man that start your talking about summed up his Seattle career perfectly. Absolutley no way would I want Erik "5 inning" Bedard on this team.

 

[seahawksfan234]

I could understand that argument. I do think he would give us around 150 quality innings for a cheap price though. Plus as I said the guy had one of the best breaking balls I've ever seen. I don't know how he looks now, but back when he was with the Mariners/Orioles his stuff was just wicked. I loved watching him pitch.

 

[Podunkparte]

I liked watching Bedard pitch but I completely lost respect for him when it became clear that he was soft. How can you call yourself a competitor when you pull yourself out of a no-hitter?!

He's the last person I want around a young team. Talk about a shitty clubhouse presence.

 

[seahawksfan234]

I liked watching Bedard pitch but I completely lost respect for him when it became clear that he was soft. How can you call yourself a competitor when you pull yourself out of a no-hitter?!

He's the last person I want around a young team. Talk about a shitty clubhouse presence.

Fair enough, and a valid point.

 

[SeattleCoug]

Despite Bedard not being a good fit, it doesnt mean the rotation doesnt need to be seriously addressed. Even with a healthy Iwakuma I felt we needed a starter and that obviously becomes more apparant. They need to add a starter and get a hopefully resurgent surprise from a Baker, Wolf, Palmer, Miner or even a Maurer or Beaven. This rotation looks extremely dicey right now. I think its asking for trouble to pencil in Walker and Paxton as 2 of your 5 starters because they will for sure be on innings limits.

 

[NWinAZ]

Fair enough, and a valid point.

Wasn't that my point...lol.

 

[NWinAZ]

I did read a tweet from some sport writer that says M's are talking to Capuano as an insurance policy to M's other pitchers, but cost is still high M's think.

 

[mcnabb7542]

I did read a tweet from some sport writer that says M's are talking to Capuano as an insurance policy to M's other pitchers, but cost is still high M's think.

I understand the whole not wanting to over pay for someone, but with camps opening time is the essence here and the M's could be running out of, there isn't that much talent left unsigned, sure they could wait until teams start releasing guys but this is a big risk....

 

[NWinAZ]

Agreed, but it is the Mariner way so we have to sit back and agonize through another year.

 

[mcnabb7542]

Agreed, but it is the Mariner way so we have to sit back and agonize through another year.

I know was just hoping for a little more effort out of the front office this year, of course the new skipper will be entertaining......

 

[gowazzu02]

I know was just hoping for a little more effort out of the front office this year, of course the new skipper will be entertaining......

More effort? They did sign the best fa available to a ridiculously large deal.

 

[mcnabb7542]

More effort? They did sign the best fa available to a ridiculously large deal.

Last time I checked an over priced second baseman isn't the last missing piece of this organization...

 

[NWinAZ]

As spring opens, Mariners, Orioles still possible for Kendrys Morales

February 17, 2014 2:09 pm MT

Free agent first baseman/DH Kendrys Morales would appear to have at least two possibilities as spring training opens, but it isn't certain how likely a deal will happen. At least the Mariners and Orioles are believed to be in contact with Morales.
While Morales could fill needs for either team -- the Orioles could use a DH, the Mariners need someone to bat behind $240 million import Robinson Cano -- it remains uncertain how serious either team is because both have other needs as well. The Mariners have remained in contact, and they like Morales very much from his season there, so perhaps they'd be the better bet. Morales is especially seen as a strong clubhouse influence.
Seattle also has been in touch with another free-agent hitter, Nelson Cruz, for weeks, but the lack of deal with him at this point may suggest the team actually prefers Morales. Mariners people liked Morales' production at Safeco Field (23 homers, 80 RBI) and his influence in the clubhouse. The issue there could be room, as Justin Smoak was just brought back on a one-year deal, joining Corey Hart and Logan Morrison as hitters and first-base candidates; outfield would appear to be a greater need.
However, at last some Mariners people are reluctant to dive into a deal for Cruz, citing the switch from Texas' hitter-friendly park and a PED suspension. Cruz's lack of a market coming off a superb first two-thirds of a season (prior to the Biogenesis-related suspension) is nothing short of confounding. Is it possible Cruz could go back to his old team, as well?
The Mariners also have been interested in adding a No. 3 starter even before spring scrapes to star starter Hisashi Iwakuma(finger) and young pitching phenom Taijuan Walker cropped up. So a free agent starter such as Ervin Santana or Ubaldo Jimenez makes sense for them, as well.
As for the Orioles, they clearly are considering Morales while working on another priority -- enhancing their rotation. The draft choice attached to Morales could be the hold-up for Baltimore, though if it adds the pitcher, too, Morales would only cost a second-rounder. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe recently suggested it's possible team owner Peter Angelos isn't giving the go-ahead for funds for Morales.
The Pirates are believed to have at least considered Morales but they've spent much more effort surveying the trade market for a first baseman, talking to the Rangers about Mitch Moreland, the Mets about Ike Davis and the Blue Jays about Adam Lind. Like the Orioles, they have an unprotected first-round pick following their stellar season in 2013.
While a few have suggested they prefer Morales as a DH, some say he is actually more than decent at first. He may have mostly performed the DH role last year to accommodate the younger Smoak, who may have needed to play first base, though Morales did play 31 games at first base.