1
Counts as an impact bat?
M's "Wide Open" to "Monster Deal" -- transcript
................
Zduriencik on SIRIUSXM radio, Nov. 10:
.
Casey Stern (2:33): And Jack, I know you want to do it from the ground up. But certainly, and you'll recognize, that if you were able to get an impact bat -- to put in the middle of these kids -- of Ackley and Smoak, that certainly you'd probably get to where you want to get to, quicker.
I guess my question is, if the right opportunity came ... do you have support from ownership to do a monster deal, with either a big free agent or a big player that you were to get in a trade?
.
Zduriencik (with emphasis): If the right situation worked itself out ... we are Wide. Open. to entertaining that possibility. And we would not close our doors to that. At All.
............
No, SSI isn't about to go on a 39-day pole sit until the Mariners are linked with Prince Albert. Although a second Court wouldn't do Safeco any harm... just keep the guy off third base. You could blow two months of a season that way.
Dr. D has an inkling that Zduriencik will save a few bucks, get a $$-friendly version of his impact bat, by packaging five players for the guy he wants. Hey, Josh Hamilton's coming up on free agency. Bet you the Rangers would like to see him in Safeco.
Other guys with one year left on their deals: Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, James Loney, David Wright, Kevin Youkilis, Curtis Granderson, Carlos Quentin, Howie Kenrick, BJ Upton ... hey, what happened to those Justin Upton rumors, anyway?
Comments
2
Is there a reason you're bringing up that piece of cowpie? Thanks, but no thanks. We tried that guy...his name was Casey Kotchman.
3
Shows you how much I follow the NL. :- )
I just riffed through the 2013 FA's and typed in some big names. Don't hold me to any of 'em.
Actually, maybe you should, 'cause it would be a relevant discussion, which 2013 FA's would mean anything to the M's....
..........
Matty has been making the point that, considering our Scrubs, we need an import bat of as many WAR as possible. This year especially, that point is critical.
4
I didn't even notice your name list at the end of the article...I was wondering where Loney came from in malcontent's question...had me worried there was a legit rumor! :) Do. Not. Want. :)
5
Matt Kemp is putting together an 8 year, 160 million dollar deal with the Dodgers. So that's out.
Carlos Quentin is a good player, not a great one IMO. I like him, but he's the working version of Wells, even including the HBP-inflated OBP.
Ethier has the knee issue that makes me cautious about going long-term with him.
Of all of em, I like David Wright. But David has a spinal concern that'd I'd want to be REALLY sure on, plus the Mets reportedly want the world for him. If I could get him signed to an extension, would I be interested? Sure. He can hit 30 HRs with Shea Stadium as his home park (and is basically even on home vs. road homers) - the Safe wouldn't be an issue for him like it was for Beltre.
He plays a glove position too, so his decline there wouldn't hurt as much as it would at a bat position. You're still paying a lot of money, but Wright is 28 - still a good age for many productive years.
The FA market is thin, though, and I expect most teams to hoard whatever impact players they might have. Jack has his work cut out for him if he wants to make a trade for one.
I'd expect lesser lights for a lower cost.
~G
6
Hearing Jack Zduriencik say that he is open to that kind of mega-deal is absolute music to my ears. Sing it Jack, Sing it. With what we've seen the past few years out of this team, I say unleash the monster baby! [Envision Godzilla Stomping up and down on Tokyo.]
I completely agree with Gordon (G_Money) on his assessment of the FA Market. I did a series back in July back over at Mariner Central in which I took at the projected FA Market this winter (I came to the same conclusion). Outside of Fielder, the overall market is fairly weak. Blast the lesser lights though G -- let's be thinking and hoping more Friday Night Lights here ...
Hey, just for giggles, let me propose the beginnings of a framework for such a mega-deal. In taking a look at that list, one name jumped off the page at me -- Curtis Granderson. Now, we know that Jack pursued him like a rabid dog chasing down the mailman before he was UPS'd off to the Yankees. We also know that the biggest thing that the Yankees were lacking this last year ... was starting pitching. They were absolutely weeping for it. Might there be an opportunity to deal with the devil here and do a bit of a de-pantsing of the red suit here? How about something that starts like this?
The Mariners ship Michael Pineda (plus another high end SP prospect [say perhaps an Erasmo Ramirez, James Paxton, or someone like that] )to the Yankees for Curtis Granderson and Jesus Montero. Now that has look of something that could actually reinvigorate the Mariner Offense. Does such a deal make me pucker a bit? Of course it does ... but then again, any actual reasonable deal will do that to you. Should be fun to see if Jack actually does unleash the beast.
MA
7
You won't get the bang for you buck with Curtis that you will for Pineda and Hultzen/Paxton. I think if you do a deal like that, yiou can't give up two big arms. It should be more like Pineda/two good but not dominante position player prospects/reliever or something like that.
But I do like the idea of going for the immediate bat help, especially their catching stud.
8
Hearing Jack Zduriencik say that he is open to that kind of mega-deal is absolute music to my ears. Sing it Jack, Sing it. With what we've seen the past few years out of this team, I say unleash the monster baby! [Envision Godzilla Stomping up and down on Tokyo.]
I completely agree with Gordon (G_Money) on his assessment of the FA Market. I did a series back in July back over at Mariner Central in which I took at the projected FA Market this winter (I came to the same conclusion). Outside of Fielder, the overall market is fairly weak. Blast the lesser lights though G -- let's be thinking and hoping more Friday Night Lights here ...
Hey, just for giggles, let me propose the beginnings of a framework for such a mega-deal. In taking a look at that list, one name jumped off the page at me -- Curtis Granderson. Now, we know that Jack pursued him like a rabid dog chasing down the mailman before he was UPS'd off to the Yankees. We also know that the biggest thing that the Yankees were lacking this last year ... was starting pitching. They were absolutely weeping for it. Might there be an opportunity to deal with the devil here and do a bit of a de-pantsing of the red suit here? How about something that starts like this?
The Mariners ship Michael Pineda (plus another high end SP prospect [say perhaps an Erasmo Ramirez, James Paxton, or someone like that] )to the Yankees for Curtis Granderson and Jesus Montero. Now that has look of something that could actually reinvigorate the Mariner Offense. Does such a deal make me pucker a bit? Of course it does ... but then again, any actual reasonable deal will do that to you. Should be fun to see if Jack actually does unleash the beast.
MA
9
Denard Span should be the #1 target this offseason. Perfect fit for either LF or CF in Safeco. Signed for multiple years at cheap prices. Stock as low as it'll get.
There is slight risk with the late year concussion, but this is an underrated player coming off a down year due to BABIP in 2010 and injuries that he'll likely recover from in 2011.
Min is looking for pitching and RP. Something like League for Span (perhaps Beavan in the mix).
Spans contract for ages 28-30 averages $4.75mil per year (3 years). It includes a cheap $9mil club option for his age 31 season.
This is a player thats averaged 4 WAR per 150 games including 2010+2011, and a perfect stylistic fit for Safeco. Impact player (if not quite a star), great fit, dirt cheap, shouldn't cost too much talent to acquire, and locked up for seasons that don't touch his decline years.
10
I'm not against Denard Span, but...
There is slight risk with the late year concussion, but this is an underrated player coming off a down year due to BABIP in 2010 and injuries that he'll likely recover from in 2011.
BABIP and WAR by year (per B-R.com):
2008: .339 (!) and 3.9
2009: .353 (!!) and 3.3
2010: .294 and 1.3
2011: .297 and 2.6
Now, unless we're saying he's gonna BABIP like Ichiro, 2010 and 2011 are not especially down years. 2008 and 2009 were just high.
I like Denard, and if we could get him on the relative cheap, he'd certainly interest me. I just don't think he's as available and cheap as we'd like, but Jack has definitely surprised me before in the trade department.
~G
11
PT makes the raw WAR totals a little misleading, but I do think hes a true talent high BABIP player. Speedy LH batter with high GBs are a formula for high BABIP.
Span's MLB career BABIP is at .327.
His minor league BABIP is at .340.
The thing is even THIS year (including injuries, poor offense, and low BABIP) he was still on pace for over 3.5 WAR over a full season. That is serious bang for your buck. $4.75mil per year for the next 3 years.
I think we can pry him for non-crucial pieces. He was getting dangled mid-season for some elite RPs and that was before the wrist and concussion injuries. Would give up something like League+Beavan in a heartbeat.