USSM's Off-Season Plan

[NWinAZ]

Sign C Brian McCann to a six year, $90 million contract.
Trade James Paxton, Nick Franklin, and Yoervis Medina to Colorado for OF Dexter Fowler, MI Josh Rutledge, and RP Matt Belisle.
Sign OF Chris Young to a two year, $14 million contract.
Sign DH Corey Hart to a one year, $6 million contract with a bunch of incentives.
Sign SP Chris Capuano to a two year, $8 million contract.
Sign SP Roberto Hernandez to a one year, $3.5 million contract.
Sign RP Jose Veras to a one year, $3 million contract.
Sign MI Ryan Roberts to a one year, $1.7 million contract.


Funny stuff in my opinion. What is yours?

 

[seahawksfan234]

They lost me at Brian McCann 6 years $90m.

Not a knock against McCann. I just feel like if we are going to spend that much money on a player I would like to see it allocated at a different position.

Quite honestly signing McCann makes very little sense to me whatsoever. One of Mike Zunino's strengths is supposed to be his ability behind the plate, does that mean we sign McCann as a DH? It makes little sense from a short term or long term perspective.

 

[wazzu31]

Sign C Brian McCann to a six year, $90 million contract.
Trade James Paxton, Nick Franklin, and Yoervis Medina to Colorado for OF Dexter Fowler, MI Josh Rutledge, and RP Matt Belisle.
Sign OF Chris Young to a two year, $14 million contract.
Sign DH Corey Hart to a one year, $6 million contract with a bunch of incentives.
Sign SP Chris Capuano to a two year, $8 million contract.
Sign SP Roberto Hernandez to a one year, $3.5 million contract.
Sign RP Jose Veras to a one year, $3 million contract.
Sign MI Ryan Roberts to a one year, $1.7 million contract.


Funny stuff in my opinion. What is yours?

All of those outside of Hart are rather silly.

-A McCann mega signing it counterproductive and means they should deal Zunino. I truly think Zunino is another Dan Wilson with higher offensive potential.
-Any deal involving Paxton and Franklin better garner more than that is order to justify it. Maybe Maurer but not Paxton.
-Chris Young, eh maybe but how does that really help the ball club beside a minor upgrade.
-Capuano/Hernandez/Veras/Roberts are a big fat no with those prices. How do any of those moves really upgrade the ballclub to anything but a couple of wins? If they are going to spend money then I'd rather then toss more money into Ellsbury that slightly upgrade over in free agency or trade than what they have.

Hart completely makes sense for the team because he is an upgrade on basically anywhere they decide to play him as he can fill legitimate holes.

 

[unlvmariners]

I don't agree with a majority of Dave's ideas. This one is no different and possibly the one I like the least. Usually I can pick a few moves from the given ideas that I think are good ones.

As far as this offseason outlook goes I think the only move I truly like is the Corey Hart deal, but everyone thinks its a good idea to sign Hart.

- Brian McCann- 6 Years $90 Million, I don't even know what to say except WTF!!!
-Dexter Fowler- I actually like Dexter Fowler but I think the trade itself is crazy.
-Chris Young- This is a guy that I just don't see what he is upgrading. I don't think he improves the team at all. You can get similar numbers from the turds we already have.

In my opinion it seems like the USSM offseason plan is exactly what the Mariners shouldn't do. In fact I believe it would be a step back for this team and potentially hurt the future of the team.

 

[NWinAZ]

Okay, I thought it was just me but you all are saying the same things I thought.

I did read today from Ken Rosenthal that M's are looking at either Ellsbury or Choo and and a SP and a lesser RH bat. It was also reported by Jack that they have more money to spend. Not sure if that means they raised their payroll or it is just the fact they have a lower payroll right now giving them more to spend to reach last years payroll number.

 

[seahawksfan234]

I did read today from Ken Rosenthal that M's are looking at either Ellsbury or Choo and and a SP and a lesser RH bat. It was also reported by Jack that they have more money to spend. Not sure if that means they raised their payroll or it is just the fact they have a lower payroll right now giving them more to spend to reach last years payroll number.

Where have we heard this story before?

 

[NWinAZ]

Where have we heard this story before?

Every off-season for the last 10 years.

 

[seafan]

Wouldnt mind mccan if we can get something good for a package centered around zunino.

That paxton/franklin deal is garbage.

 

[blstoker]

1st, not only do I think that $15 million a year is too much for McCann, but 6 years is definitely too long for a 30 year old catcher. Catchers tend to fall off dramatically after 31 and are usually just shells of their former selves by 36 (if they even last that long) and McCann has been declining the last few seasons.

With Zunino being the catcher of the future, I would just slide him in that starting role and let him take his lumps. With that being the case, I would bring in a guy like Taylor Teagarden to platoon with him, give him something like a 3 year, $2.5 million contract.

With the team letting Raul Ibanez, Franklin Gutierrez and Endy Chavez go, the team is short on quality outfielders. I have never liked the Ackley to CF move, though I admit was better than the Mike Carp to LF experiment from a few years ago. I have been less than impressed with Saunders' performance the last few years, so IMO bringing in 3 OF to take over the entire field and trading one or both Ackley and Saunders.

Personally, I like trying to bring Ellsbury in.I like Ellsbury for his speed and lead off ability, not because he hit 32 home runs a couple years ago.

This isn't saying that I don't like Choo, because I think he could be a huge asset as well, just that I feel that we have fewer guys who can score runs than guys who can hit them in. Even without the report that the M's were targeting one or the other, but I just don't think we could afford both Choo and Ellsbury.

The other two positions I would like to look at Brennan Boesch and Tyler Colvin. Both players have had success in the past, but for differing reasons were demoted and released by their respective teams last year. I think both are upgrades to anything that are in the organizations right now. Only issue I have with signing all three, is that they're all left handed hitters (and signing Choo has the same issue).

I like bringing in Hart, especially if Morales rejects his qualifying offer and signs elsewhere. He's that right handed power bat that the teams needs, especially if I sign 3 left handed OFs.

 

[unlvmariners]

Every off-season for the last 10 years.

It will go something like this...

"Mariners willing to spend big time money in free agency. Mariners will offer Ellsbury a big contract. Mariners are interested in Choo. etc"

Then when the smoke clears...
"Mariners did not offer Ellsbury, Choo or other top free agents contracts."

 

[SeattleCoug]

This team will need to acquire two outfielders. Outside of Saunders there are literally no outfielders on the roster unless you count almonte. I think Ackley moves back to 2B and Franklin is traded. I dont know what the deal with Franklin will be and who will be involved but I just see him being traded. We already tried to do it once.

 

[NWinAZ]

I have the same feeling on Franklin. I have mixed feelings on his game, but the one thing I do like is that he has an edge about him. I like players with an edge, but M's seems to like the choir boy type instead.

When I read M's are interested in either Choo or Ellsbury I am like why not both? We need more than one player and like you said we need 2 outfielders. Spend some money for gosh sakes. Bump the salary up to $125M and put a real team on the field for once in the last decade plus. There I go dreaming again.

 

[seahawksfan234]

I have the same feeling on Franklin. I have mixed feelings on his game, but the one thing I do like is that he has an edge about him. I like players with an edge, but M's seems to like the choir boy type instead.

When I read M's are interested in either Choo or Ellsbury I am like why not both? We need more than one player and like you said we need 2 outfielders. Spend some money for gosh sakes. Bump the salary up to $125M and put a real team on the field for once in the last decade plus. There I go dreaming again.

My Mariners cynicism is at an all time high.

I have a strong feeling we don't land Choo or Ellsbury. Then the Mariners management will leak some story about how the Mariners made a respectable offer to both but they wanted too much money, then we will settle on Raul Ibanez and another Jason Bay type player.

Same story every year. I actually bought into the bullshit the past few years thinking we would be in the run for the big name free agents, boy was I delusional.

 

[cezero]

My Mariners cynicism is at an all time high.

I have a strong feeling we don't land Choo or Ellsbury. Then the Mariners management will leak some story about how the Mariners made a respectable offer to both but they wanted too much money, then we will settle on Raul Ibanez and another Jason Bay type player.

Same story every year. I actually bought into the bullshit the past few years thinking we would be in the run for the big name free agents, boy was I delusional.

All real sports fans in the Pac NW feel the same. I thought there were fewer of us than there actually are, but we're actually the majority, despite what we see from the minority of idiots on message boards like this who really think the M's are "close" to becoming a real MLB team or that the front office gives any type of a shit about building a decent team.

You nailed it.

Quality free agents have no incentive to come here. HowChuck knows that, of course, and they play the media pretending like they go after quality free agents to supplement the garbage talent they "develop" on the farm. It placates idiots. Nobody else.

They might even sign a decent FA this year, but it won't be enough to fix this shambles of a team masquerading as "major league."

 

[Baseballnut77]

Sell seeing as the "official site holder of the quality kneepads" says otherwise now I know that the team must be close

 

[johnfree63]

All real sports fans in the Pac NW feel the same. I thought there were fewer of us than there actually are, but we're actually the majority, despite what we see from the minority of idiots on message boards like this who really think the M's are "close" to becoming a real MLB team or that the front office gives any type of a shit about building a decent team.

You nailed it.

Quality free agents have no incentive to come here. HowChuck knows that, of course, and they play the media pretending like they go after quality free agents to supplement the garbage talent they "develop" on the farm. It placates idiots. Nobody else.

They might even sign a decent FA this year, but it won't be enough to fix this shambles of a team masquerading as "major league."

I wish an agent would come out and call bullshit on all the M's "respectable offers". Like right after Jack Z says "we made a respectable offer to Jacoby and he decided blah blah blah" Boras comes out with "I don't know when 3yr 5M became respectable, I guess that's just how they do business in Seattle"

I know that would never happen but it'd be awesome.

 

[wazzu31]

I wish an agent would come out and call bullshit on all the M's "respectable offers". Like right after Jack Z says "we made a respectable offer to Jacoby and he decided blah blah blah" Boras comes out with "I don't know when 3yr 5M became respectable, I guess that's just how they do business in Seattle"

I know that would never happen but it'd be awesome.

But no agent would ever do that in that way. Howard and Chuck are vindictive and if Boras had a top 5 pick as a client there is zero chance he would go to Seattle as a pick and lose money on a signing bonus let alone how he should be able to extort money from Seattle when the M's don't draw a million fans

 

[NWinAZ]

My revised off-season plan with guesstimates of value:

C- Zunino (500K)
1B- Napoli (14M)
2B- Ackley (500K)
3B- Seager (600K)
SS- Miller (500K)
LF- Choo (18M)
CF- Ellsbury (20M)
RF- Saunders (2M)
DH- Hart (6M)
---------------------
$62,100,000

SP- Felix (23M)
SP- Kuma (6.5M)
SP - Tanaka (15M)
SP- Walker (500K)
SP- Paxton (500K)
----------------------
$45,500,000

BN- Sucre (500K)
BN- Almonte (500K)
BN- Franklin (500K)
BN- Vet (2M)
--------------------
$3,500,000

RP- Furbush (600K)
RP- Welhelmsen (500K)
RP- Ramirez (500K)
RP- Medina (500K)
RP- Pryor (500K)
RP- Vet LH (1M)
CL- Farquhar (500K)
------------------------
$4,100,000

Hultzen
Guti
Saunders (2.7M)
----------------------
$2,700,000

62,100,000
45,500,000
3,500,000
4,100,000
2,700,000
-------------
117,900,000

That is a reasonable payroll considering their TV deal and the fact they haven't been spending top dollar the last several years.

I know there would have to be some tweaking since all OF's are LH including the bench ones. I wold look to deal for a RH OF bat and pass on either Choo or Ellsbury. Franklin is on the bench, but he or Ackley could start at 2B and the other dealt for that OF. Ramirez is pen because he could spot start with Paxton and/or Walker to keep innings down. Don't have a clue what Tanaka would sign for so you could go Josh Johnson or Garza and save some money there. Granderson could also be a cheaper version than Choo though he is also a lefty.

If not Napoli, then Morales on 2 year, $28M deal is predicted. If teams are reluctant to give up pick for him, I would look at sign and trade. Not common, but possible. This may not win it all, but at least it should create competitive baseball though at least August.

 

[NWinAZ]

The $117M payroll would put us around 10th or 11th in team payroll based on 2013 team numbers.

 

[Baseballnut77]

I love the thought AZ but now the reality lol. we are not getting tanaka as there are too many other big spenders who want him. Probably not getting Napoli as he wants to stay in Beantown and will take less to do so. Most projections say we will get choo and not jacoby . And from all accounts it looks like we will pickup 2 bullpen arms. I do believe however that we will get hart.