No talk about Cruz heading to Seattle?

[bksballer89]

 

[Fountain City Blues]

I honestly don't like the idea of giving Cruz multiple years.

 

[Podunkparte]

Love it. Perfect fit. It's not my money and there's no cap so who cares about 4 years and $$$?

 

[bksballer89]

Love it. Perfect fit. It's not my money and there's no cap so who cares about 4 years and $$$?

You sound like a Yankees fan....The team everyone used to hate on for throwing money at free agents

 

[navamind]

He's a one skill player, though it's a very valuable skill. But given his age, body type, and injury history, it's hard not to envision his power numbers going down.

Steamer projects him to bat .256/.317/.471 (119 wRC+) in 2015 with 1.5 WAR. Would be an overpay, but it would also be a pretty big improvement over what the Mariners got from the DH position last season (75 wRC+, the only team that was less productive at DH was the Indians (61 wRC+ (!!!)).

 

[unlvmariners]

I understand the concern with his age and a 4 year contract. He should be DHing most of the time for the Mariners so that takes a little bit of the concern away for me. He was a much needed addition to the Mariners pathetic offense and just his presence in the lineup should help the other hitters around him.

 

[Podunkparte]

You sound like a Yankees fan....The team everyone used to hate on for throwing money at free agents

No, the Yankees would pretty much buy up every guy they wanted. The M's so far have been selective, plus players have said no.

2 players (Cano and Cruz) is building. When you create a trend like the Yankees did, that's when fans throughout the sport start to notice.

And the M's payroll sits at about 90 million. When's the last time the Yankees payroll was anywhere close to 90 million dollars? There's your difference.

 

[Podunkparte]

He's a one skill player, though it's a very valuable skill. But given his age, body type, and injury history, it's hard not to envision his power numbers going down.

Re-read that statement and then think about who Boston has had at DH for years.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Still thinking they're 1 bat away from being a playoff team, but they are on the right track for sure. They got about a 2-3 year window with the contracts they gave out so they should go all in and sign another solid bat OR arm and trade a different pitcher for a bat. Something along those lines.

 

[Podunkparte]

Still thinking they're 1 bat away from being a playoff team, but they are on the right track for sure. They got about a 2-3 year window with the contracts they gave out so they should go all in and sign another solid bat OR arm and trade a different pitcher for a bat. Something along those lines.

And the reports are they're still looking for a RF bat, with Rios and Hunter being rumored.

In my opinion, if they keep Saunders for RF and he can stay healthy, the M's are actually a pitcher or two away from the playoffs, not another bat. A big problem with last year's team was the #4 and 5 starting rotation spots. For a while Roenis Elias, who came out of nowhere to have a nice year though had never pitched above AA was our #2 pitcher! Erasmo Ramirez got long looks, Brandon Maurer got a long look. If the backside of the rotation can be solidified with some reliable though not exceptional arms, I think the M's are in great shape.

1 Felix
2 Iwakuma
3 Paxton
4 Walker - If he's not traded - Possibly one of the P the Mets are trying to offload if he is, otherwise a cheap option like Chris Young was.
5 Elias

1 Jackson - CF
2 Ackley - LF
3 Cano - 2B
4 Cruz - DH
5 Seager - 3B
6 Saunders/Rios/Hunter - RF
7 Morrison - 1B
8 Zunino - C
9 Miller/Taylor - SS

That team can get to the playoffs

 

[StanMarsh51]

Re-read that statement and then think about who Boston has had at DH for years.

Well look how Ortiz aged...

He was excellent from ages 27-31 (.302 AVG, 156 OPS+)
He declined significantly from ages 32-34 (.257 AVG, 120 OPS+)
He found the fountain of youth at age 35+ (.298 AVG, 156 OPS+)

It's moreso that Ortiz is an anomaly than anything else..he was going through the trend that nava mentioned (where everyone was coming to terms that the end was near for him), but then somehow found a way to have a second prime starting at age 35

 

[navamind]

Well look how Ortiz aged...

He was excellent from ages 27-31 (.302 AVG, 156 OPS+)
He declined significantly from ages 32-34 (.257 AVG, 120 OPS+)
He found the fountain of youth at age 35+ (.298 AVG, 156 OPS+)

It's moreso that Ortiz is an anomaly than anything else..he was going through the trend that nava mentioned (where everyone was coming to terms that the end was near for him), but then somehow found a way to have a second prime starting at age 35

Ortiz's age 32-34 performance can (at least partially) be attributed to his wrist injury in 2008. Can take a while to fully recover from those.

 

[anotheridiot]

you would think the 58 million dollar player should have an outfield position to play.

 

[molsaniceman]

Goodbye AL east hello AL west Cruz will go back to hitting around 25/90 but still a boost to the Ms line up

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Haven't heard anything but would the M's have any interest in bringing back Ichiro?

 

[gohusk]

Goodbye AL east hello AL west Cruz will go back to hitting around 25/90 but still a boost to the Ms line up

That's really all we need. I would have preferred a 3 year deal but in today's MLB veteran free agents are going to be paid more than they're worth. The team looks like it's really close to contending with the pitching staff we have and it's time to roll the dice with some risky moves. At this point they have to because the fan base had enough with the cheap skates in the FO years ago.

 

[StanMarsh51]

Haven't heard anything but would the M's have any interest in bringing back Ichiro?

He's basically a novelty act at this point in his quest for 3,000 hits...I'm not sure why any contending team would want him.

 

[navamind]

He's basically a novelty act at this point in his quest for 3,000...I'm not sure why any contending team would want him.

Yup. A corner OF that's batted .275/.308/.353 (86 OPS+) over the last four years isn't an everyday player.

 

[tducey]

Good pick up for the Mariners. This might make them a playoff team in 2015.

 

[jeffro151]

2 years is the most anyone should have went with Cruz.