Mariners Offseason Thread 2014-2015

[SmokinHawk]

This team looks set to make some noise this year. Cool.

 

[SeatownJay]

Maybe, just maybe, Jesus Montero is finally getting serious about his career.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/ ... -his-life/

 

[bigtrain21]

Maybe, just maybe, Jesus Montero is finally getting serious about his career.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/ ... -his-life/

Thanks for the link. That would be fantastic if he could get serious. He has always had talent.

 

[Uncle Si]

Maybe, just maybe, Jesus Montero is finally getting serious about his career.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/ ... -his-life/

He needs to. LoMo is the first baseman, and for whatever reason Montero looks to be his backup. With the latest activity that seems to be the biggest area of weakness remaining.

Would love for the M's to move the platoon to left field and bring in Zobrist in right. Add a quality pitcher and it may be the best lineup in the AL.

 

[hawkfan68]

Maybe, just maybe, Jesus Montero is finally getting serious about his career.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/ ... -his-life/

He needs to. LoMo is the first baseman, and for whatever reason Montero looks to be his backup. With the latest activity that seems to be the biggest area of weakness remaining.

Would love for the M's to move the platoon to left field and bring in Zobrist in right. Add a quality pitcher and it may be the best lineup in the AL.

Where would you put Ackley then? Ackley is the every day left fielder with Austin Jackson playing in CF.

 

[jkitsune]

Picking up Zobrist would be an obvious upgrade for 2015, but would also presumably block the Mariners from participating in next year's OF FA crop. I'd be fine with where they are right now.

 

[Uncle Si]

Picking up Zobrist would be an obvious upgrade for 2015, but would also presumably block the Mariners from participating in next year's OF FA crop. I'd be fine with where they are right now.

true enough, is he part of that FA crop? or how does he fare in contrast to those available? I really dont know who is free next season, just that its supposedly a good class

 

[hawkfan68]

Not too excited about acquiring Seth Smith. Seems like a "meh" player. But they didn't need to do anything major there anyway. It wasn't a big gain and they didn't incur a big loss (trading Maurer) so it's ok. However, they have had a good offseason so far hopefully this bodes well for the upcoming season.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

Maybe, just maybe, Jesus Montero is finally getting serious about his career.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/ ... -his-life/

He needs to. LoMo is the first baseman, and for whatever reason Montero looks to be his backup. With the latest activity that seems to be the biggest area of weakness remaining.

Would love for the M's to move the platoon to left field and bring in Zobrist in right. Add a quality pitcher and it may be the best lineup in the AL.

Where would you put Ackley then? Ackley is the every day left fielder with Austin Jackson playing in CF.

Probably at first base, which he can play and which would help give depth if Morrison gets hurt and Montero doesn't pan out.

 

[dumbrabbit]

Zobrist won't happen, especially now that we got Smith/Ruggiano. I would like to think it would require a Walker or a Paxton to do so.

Then again, is the 25 man roster full yet? Could happen, you never know. But I don't think so because Zobrist is a second baseman, right? And we already have Miller/Taylor, so why do we need another SS?

 

[HawkFan72]

Picking up Zobrist would be an obvious upgrade for 2015, but would also presumably block the Mariners from participating in next year's OF FA crop. I'd be fine with where they are right now.

true enough, is he part of that FA crop? or how does he fare in contrast to those available? I really dont know who is free next season, just that its supposedly a good class

Zobrist is a free agent next year, so he would not hinder anything.

 

[Sports Hernia]

Zobrist won't happen, especially now that we got Smith/Ruggiano. I would like to think it would require a Walker or a Paxton to do so.

Then again, is the 25 man roster full yet? Could happen, you never know. But I don't think so because Zobrist is a second baseman, right? And we already have Miller/Taylor, so why do we need another SS?

I think Zobrist is a multiple position guy that even plays some OF.

 

[jkitsune]

Picking up Zobrist would be an obvious upgrade for 2015, but would also presumably block the Mariners from participating in next year's OF FA crop. I'd be fine with where they are right now.

true enough, is he part of that FA crop? or how does he fare in contrast to those available? I really dont know who is free next season, just that its supposedly a good class

Zobrist is a free agent next year, so he would not hinder anything.

I stand corrected. Thought he had two years. Given his recent decline, he's not as strong of an option as some of the other FAs. There are also the usual caveats about one-year rentals, but I could get behind it. He'd definitely shore up nearly every position on the field.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

I don't think Zobrist is a possibility either, but this team basically has no clear holes. Places for upgrade? Yeah. Every team has those. We could do better than LoMo at first in particular. But this team is currently running out Roenis Elias as a spot-starter/sixth starter and just traded Brandon Maurer because their bullpen is so deep, they'll just pull up Carson Smith to take his place. They have considerable depth - excellent depth in most places. They are legitimately a very good team.

They'll win 90+ games barring injury, more than likely. I'm satisfied with everything. Even that Saunders trade ended up netting us another left-handed starter whose game plays to our park, and we effectively replaced Saunders with a platoon that makes up his numbers for two bullpen arms that we could afford.

The Cruz contract is what it is. For RH power to come here, 4/58 seems like the going rate. Now with the complete platoon in RH, Cruz can stay at DH and not have to wander the field for most of the year, and our DH position is likely going to be worth positive wins for once in our freaking lives.

This has been a really good off-season for the M's so far. They have a very nice shot at the division. I do wish we could get a Mark McLemore type that can fill in at four or five positions, but Zobrist and Gattis would cost too much.

 

[m0ng0]

All things considered this has been a pretty nice offseason for the M's

 

[Uncle Si]

I don't think Zobrist is a possibility either, but this team basically has no clear holes. Places for upgrade? Yeah. Every team has those. We could do better than LoMo at first in particular. But this team is currently running out Roenis Elias as a spot-starter/sixth starter and just traded Brandon Maurer because their bullpen is so deep, they'll just pull up Carson Smith to take his place. They have considerable depth - excellent depth in most places. They are legitimately a very good team.

They'll win 90+ games barring injury, more than likely. I'm satisfied with everything. Even that Saunders trade ended up netting us another left-handed starter whose game plays to our park, and we effectively replaced Saunders with a platoon that makes up his numbers for two bullpen arms that we could afford.

The Cruz contract is what it is. For RH power to come here, 4/58 seems like the going rate. Now with the complete platoon in RH, Cruz can stay at DH and not have to wander the field for most of the year, and our DH position is likely going to be worth positive wins for once in our freaking lives.

This has been a really good off-season for the M's so far. They have a very nice shot at the division. I do wish we could get a Mark McLemore type that can fill in at four or five positions, but Zobrist and Gattis would cost too much.

Im not sold on the "considerable depth" and to be honest its the"barring injury" that has me worried (or "barring collapse of one player").. also, i'm an a--hole for using so many "finger quotes" in a sentence. sue me.

Zobrist fills so many needs for this team while protecting certain positions, and i still would love the team to bring in a capable 3rd starter (or 4th if we believe Happ is 3rd).

Most of the depth is suspect and is either a. alarmingly inconsistent (Ackley, LoMo), or b. coming off injury (Hultzen, Walker). If the team really wants the playoffs, they cant be done. If they are, it could go either way. the team is good enough, but still seems thin.

 

[jkitsune]

I don't think Zobrist is a possibility either, but this team basically has no clear holes. Places for upgrade? Yeah. Every team has those. We could do better than LoMo at first in particular. But this team is currently running out Roenis Elias as a spot-starter/sixth starter and just traded Brandon Maurer because their bullpen is so deep, they'll just pull up Carson Smith to take his place. They have considerable depth - excellent depth in most places. They are legitimately a very good team.

They'll win 90+ games barring injury, more than likely. I'm satisfied with everything. Even that Saunders trade ended up netting us another left-handed starter whose game plays to our park, and we effectively replaced Saunders with a platoon that makes up his numbers for two bullpen arms that we could afford.

The Cruz contract is what it is. For RH power to come here, 4/58 seems like the going rate. Now with the complete platoon in RH, Cruz can stay at DH and not have to wander the field for most of the year, and our DH position is likely going to be worth positive wins for once in our freaking lives.

This has been a really good off-season for the M's so far. They have a very nice shot at the division. I do wish we could get a Mark McLemore type that can fill in at four or five positions, but Zobrist and Gattis would cost too much.

Im not sold on the "considerable depth" and to be honest its the"barring injury" that has me worried (or "barring collapse of one player").. also, i'm an a--hole for using so many "finger quotes" in a sentence. sue me.

Zobrist fills so many needs for this team while protecting certain positions, and i still would love the team to bring in a capable 3rd starter (or 4th if we believe Happ is 3rd).

Most of the depth is suspect and is either a. alarmingly inconsistent (Ackley, LoMo), or b. coming off injury (Hultzen, Walker). If the team really wants the playoffs, they cant be done. If they are, it could go either way. the team is good enough, but still seems thin.

I agree on all counts, Si, but it may be one of those things that can't be reasonably solved in one offseason. If Zobrist requires parting with a player that creates a hole at other positions, it may well not be worth it for a one-year rental. One of the strengths of this offseason has been their ability to hold onto essentially all of their young talent, minus Maurer, while picking up useful pieces. I wouldn't trade a Miller or Taylor for one year of Zobrist, with no guarantee we can extend him.

But yes, 'depth' is not a strength of this team right now, at the majority of positions.

 

[Atradees]

I think what people overlook with Seth and Justin is that they could both start and still upgrade this team

 

[Uncle Si]

I think what people overlook with Seth and Justin is that they could both start and still upgrade this team

no, i think we realize they both fill a glaring need. but its akin to getting a B on a test you recently failed if you see where Im coming from. Last year we were literally negative WAR from that position. These two on their own or together are a significant upgrade.

I think the concern here is that while upgrading from an F to a B is great, the team's expectations are straight A's (christ thats enough of the report card metaphors, i promise).

While the team may not "need" it, i'd still really like to see them go after one more top line player

 

[Hawkfan77]

They've had a ridiculously good off season.

It's impossible to fill every need in one off season but the Ms got pretty dang close to doing it. I'm excited for the upcoming season and I believe this will be the year the playoff drought ends