Mariners: Aggressive or not?
If the Mariners plan to make an aggressive move at the July 31 non-waiver deadline, they’ve got an interesting way of showing it.
While one Mariners official says the team is “wide open” on potential deals, rival clubs report that the M’s have made a long list of players untouchable in trades.
The list includes right-hander Felix Hernandez, second baseman Dustin Ackley and third baseman Kyle Seager, plus the Mariners’ four top prospects, according to Baseball America - right-hander Taijuan Walker, left-handers Danny Hultzen and James Paxton and shortstop Nick Franklin.
The Mariners’ reluctance to include such players in most trades is understandable, rival executives say. But to make a bigger move – say, for Diamondbacks right fielder Justin Upton – the team would need to part with upper-level talent.
Some executives also question whether Ackley and Seager should be off-limits when neither is established as a productive major leaguer, much less a star.
The Mariners entered the All-Star break with a 36-51 record, the worst in the American League.
-Ken Rosenthal
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Mariners won't and shouldn't go after Justin Upton. Upton has a ridiculously bad home/road split for his career (as in can't hit on the road), and as a right-handed hitter in Safeco, he'd die a slow death in Seattle.
If they go for an impact bat, they'll do it this winter. Right now, they need to focus on converting the veteran players into farm depth: Vargas, Millwood, League, Olivo, and possibly Ryan. Figgins should simply be chucked. Sunk cost... let it go.
Over the winter, they'll either bring Ichiro back at a severely reduced salary or let him walk, as he's no longer the player he once was. Misplaced loyalty to poorly-aging players has been a hallmark of past Mariners' teams; they can't afford to make the same mistake again here.
Eventually, the M's will have to trade one of the big 4 young pitchers (Hultzen, Walker, Paxton, Ramirez) to get that bat they desperately need. What position that bat come at will depend on the performances of Ackley, Smoak, Seager and Montero for the rest of the season. It appears that Saunders figured things out this winter (outside of the M's hitting instruction... a fact that is not insignificant), so he will probably stick around. -
I agree with most of your thinking, however why do i consistently heat the talk of one bigbat. This team cannot hit for average and sticking a slugger in the line up where he's the only one feared to me does nothing. The youth on this team need to become big league hitters, until then, its pointless. Plus, if I'm making a wish, move in the damn fences
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finally a focused, well written, informed comment ! dont you think dodgers,oakland,soxes, or some soon to be unemployed g.m. will take a chance on chone ?
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maybe a 4 team trade where we can get adam jones,azrubial,dicky and a varitek rookie card for the rights to figgins next xb hit ? ok, and heathcliff slocum deigo segui 4th.
