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Where is option (iv) - Perhaps the blogosphere owes Jack Zduriencik an apology?
There is an option for Anaheim goofed, but not one for Seattle was shrewd.
Morales + Saunders - Vargas seems to have improved the ballclub much more than any calculated differential between Jaso and Morse. Only Jack Z (and perhaps other GM's) can honestly say what the market for each of the Mariners' players is, and what realistic contribution each player can make to the team when all variables, internal and external to the clubhouse, are taken into account.
By the other blogs' own admission, in all likelihood Morse 2013 WAR = Jaso 2013 WAR, and that value is taken before any knowledge on injury, clubhouse issues et al., are taken into account. Who knows how much playing time Jaso will get in Oakland and whether he can sustain his success? Who knows whether or not Morse will return to 2011 levels? I don’t. There are dozens of variables that us outsiders are not even aware of.
It seems likely that Jack took a look at the market, his roster, his clubhouse, and the available players, and made a dispassionate assessment of a solid course of action. Look, we all wanted Josh Hamilton. For one reason or another, he didn’t want to sign here. You can’t old that against Jack Z.
Jack trades away a fan favorite and SABR darling and instantly loses credibility, inciting people to say that “perhaps he’s just an excellent developer of talent, but is overmatched as an overall GM”. How does this move not instantly put that notion to rest? By all means that are apparent to those not in the inner circle or GM’s, Jack Z has at best pulled a free cleanup hitter out of thin air, or at worst has solidly outmaneuvered the GM of a team that won 89 games last season. And that’s speaking strictly from the flawed WAR/$ paradigm.
Additionally, all this is before taking into account whether Vargas’ performance will drop away from Safeco and Saunders’ potential boost from moving away from AZ & Baltimore and into Seattle.
He may not be the best GM, but he is certainly not overmatched relative to other GM’s in the league. No way.