Mariners Update

I wanted to take a break from football - NFL Playoff predictions and Seahawks talk alike, and highlight some notes on the Mariners off-season transactions.

As far as the projected lineup for next season, here is what we are looking at if the season were to start today:


Projected Batting Order & Positions
[Stats are from the 2009 season]

Name	Pos	AVG	OBP	Runs	Hits	HR	RBI	SB
1. Ichiro	RF	.352	.386	88	225	11	46	26
2. C. Figgins	3B	.298	.395	114	183	5	54	42
3. J. Lopez	2B	.272	.303	69	167	25	96	3
4. C. Kotchman	1B	.268	.339	37	103	7	48	1
5. M. Bradley	LF	.257	.378	61	101	12	40	2
6. Griffey Jr.	DH	.214	.324	44	83	19	57	0
7. J. Wilson	SS	.292	.255	37	95	5	39	0
8. F.Gutierrez	CF	.283	.339	85	160	18	70	16
9. R. Johnson*	CF	.213	.289	21	55	2	27	1

While some of these statistics are misleading due to the fact that Kotchman, Bradley, Griffey, Wilson and Johnson averaged only 110 out of 162 games last season, there are still some glaring holes offensively.

First, the power potential for this squad is atrocious. The Mariners, based on last years numbers, have no slugger that hit either the 30 HR plateau, or the 100 RBI mark. The logical choice to fulfill at least the deficiency in the M's HR total would have been to resign Russell Branyan, who finished the year with 31 HR and 76 RBI, but the M's chose to go another route. They opted instead to trade for first-baseman Casey Kotchman, traditional a gap hitter with minus power, thereby letting the slugging Branyan sign elsewhere. Let's hope the M's have some insider information that we don't know about regarding Branyan's health, otherwise this swap looks like a poor choice based on our lack of power at the plate.

The M's clearly need to make a move for a left-handed power hitter, whether that is a blockbuster trade for a guy like Adrian Gonzalez, or sign a veteral DH like Hank Blalock. At the bare minimum, I would much prefer a Blalock-Kotchman platoon at first base to just giving Kotchman the reins in 2010.

One thing that does stand out offensively is the Mariner's ability to get on base, score runs and steal bases. With an Ichiro-Figgins top of the order, there will be plenty of opportunities for the M's starting pitchers to begin home games with an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Also, look for Jack Wilson and Franklin Gutierrez to have better offensive numbers in 2010. Wilson is coming off a year in which he switched leagues (from the NL to the AL) and struggled with injuries, while Gutierrez should continue to improve at the plate as a part of his natural progression as a play, much like he did from the beginning to the end of last season.

One controversial move that the M's made this off-season was acquiring the troubled outfielder Milton Bradley. As far as Bradley goes, there is always more to him than just the numbers, and his success as a Mariner will rely heavily on how he handles himself in the clubhouse. If Bradley can contain his temper and get comfortable here in Seattle, I am willing to bet he will greatly improve the M's in 2010. Bradley is said to be a big admirer of Ken Griffey Jr, and if he can take him under his wing with regard to his behavior, I see Seattle working out for Bradley.

*Rob Johnson is rehabbing - (right hip surgery in October 2009, left hip surgery in November 2009, right wrist surgery in November 2009) and might not be ready for opening day.


Starting Rotation

Name	R/L	IP	W	L	ERA	WHIP	CG	S
1. Félix Hernandez	R	238	19	5	2.49	1.14	2	1
2. Cliff Lee	L	231	14	13	3.22	1.24	6	2
3. Rowland-Smith	L	96	5	4	3.74	1.18
4. Ian Snell	R	64	5	2	4.20	1.55
5a. Doug Fister	R	61	3	4	4.13	1.28
5b. Luke French	L	38	3	3	6.63	1.87

With the addition of Cliff Lee, the M's starting rotation looks to be the strength of the organization. With two legitimate #1 starters, this will be a tough team to beat, especially in a long series. The depth of the rotation somewhat relies on the M's third starter, Ryan Rowland-Smith, who has showed flashes of brilliance, but has been inconsistent due to injuries. If he can solidify the #3 spot, and stay away from injuries, the M's should have a very strong starting pitching staff.


Closer

Name	R/L	IP	SV	W	L	ERA	WHIP
David Aardsma	R	71	38	3	6	2.52	1.16

Aardsma, after taking the closer duties from Brandon Morrow within the first month of last season, did well in converting 38 saves to just 4 blow save opportunities. With the addition of Cliff Lee, an improved M's team and a year of experience under his belt, look for Aardsma to have a better 2010.


Relief Staff

Name	R/L	W	L	ERA	K	BB	WHIP	Age
Brandon League	R	3	6	4.58	76	21	1.25	26
Gaby Hernandez	R	No Stats Available						23
Garrett Olson	L	3	5	5.60	47	34	1.41	26
Jason Vargas	L	3	6	4.91	54	24	1.33	26
Mark Lowe	R	2	7	3.26	69	29	1.25	26
Shawn Kelley	R	5	4	4.50	41	9	1.17	25
Yusmeiro Petit	R	3	10	5.82	74	34	1.52	25

Here is what I love about the M's relief pitchers, the average age is 25 years old. Zduriencik is clearly going young and building for the future. The M's are bringing back their three best relief pitchers Aardsma, Lowe and Kelley, and have added some youth with Petit and Hernandez. One improvement over last season is that the M's will be starting out the year with two lefties, which is two more than at the start of the 2009 season.


Major Off-Season Moves

Here is an overall overview of the off-season moves.

Acquired:

• Casey Kotchman - (traded from Boston Red Sox for Bill Hall)
  
• Chone Figgins (signed)
• Cliff Lee (traded from Phillies in a 3-way trade with Toronto)
  
• Milton Bradley (traded from Chicago Cubs for Carlos Silva)
  
• Brandon League (traded from Toronto Blue Jays for Brandon Morrow)
• Yusmeiro Petit (claimed off waivers from Arizona Diamondbacks)

Dropped:

• Adriane Beltre - (signed with Boston)
  
• Bill Hall - (traded to Boston Red Sox for Casey Kotchman)
  
• Brandon Morrow - (traded to Toronto Blue Jays for Brandon League)
• Carlos Silva - (traded to the Chicago Cubs for Milton Bradley)
  
• Chris Jakubauskas - (claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates)
  
• Endy Chavez - (has yet to sign)
• Kenji Johjima - (retired/moved back to Japan)
  
• Russell Branyan - (has yet to sign)

Other Moves

• Signed free-agent outfielder Corey Patterson
  
• Re-signed free-agent shortstop Josh Wilson
  
• Claimed pitcher Kanekoa Texeira from the Yankees' Trenton farm team in the Rule 5 Draft
• Acquired Minor League outfielder Johermyn Chavez from Toronto (in Morrow deal).
• Signed free-agent catcher Josh Bard and right-handed reliever Chad Cordero to Minor League contract.

Zduriencik
I love the work that Jack Zduriencik has done so far, especially with the addition of Cliff Lee and the speedy Chone Figgins, but let's hope he's not done with regard to adding some power at the plate. I have a suspicion that the current roster will basically be the same one that we see during spring training and the start of the season, but I still think that a mid-season move is not out of the question. Look for the M's to make some moves before the trade deadline if it becomes apparent a power hitter is needed.


Here are a few more news links on the M's moves:

Report: Mariners talking to Tatis

Gutierrez agrees to four-year contract extension

Zduriencik: 'We'll take our chances and see where we go'

DH denied: Martinez falls short in first Hall vote

Griffey excited for 22nd and possibly final season

A Hypothetical Felix Hernandez Extension

Addressing The Kotchman/LaRoche Situation