The next 2 1/2 weeks will go a long way in determining the success of the 2010 Mariners. If the M's keep winning, they will probably forego making significant changes by the trading deadline. However, if the M's fall out of it, they will probably move Bedard and/or Washburn, which would hasten their rebuilding process and increase their chances of long term success. By the start of the season, the M's will have alot of options and many important organizational decisions to make. Undoubtedly, the question that fans will be asking during spring training 2010, is who are these guys?
As we look toward 2010, it is conceivable that the M's will have at least 9 new faces on the 25 man roster. Beltre, Washburn, Bedard, Batista, Chavez, Griffey, Sweeney, and Branyan are all free agents next year and Betancourt has already been shipped to Kansas City. In addition, the team will have to make a decision on what to do about its catching situation (will Johjima find his way back to Japan ala Kaz Sasaki?) and may shuffle other pieces around. Most intriguing is that $48.75 million will come off the books from the following players:
* Beltre (13.4m)
* Washburn (9.85)
* Batista (9.5)
* Bedard (7.75)
* Betancourt (2.3)
* Chavez (2)
* Griffey (2)
* Branyan (1.4)
* Sweeney (0.5)
The M's will gain payroll flexibility but will have weaknesses at 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, and 1-2 starting pitchers. Without any moves, the M's lineup next year could look like:
1. RF - Ichiro
2. 2B - Lopez
3. 1B - Carp
4. DH - Clement
5. CF - Guiterrez
6. 3B - Tuiasosopo
7. LF - Saunders
8. C - Johjima/Johnson
9. SS - Cedeno
With smart decisions, the M's lineup might look like:
1. RF Ichiro
2. SS Hardy (trade)
3. 1B Branyan (resign; 2 years $15m)
4. 3B [trade]
5. CF Guiterrez
6. DH Nick Johnson (free agent; 1 year $6m) or Carp
7. 2B Lopez
8. C Moore/Johnson
9. LF Saunders
No one can argue that Jack Z hasn't shown already the ability to make shrewd moves to improve the team. All of his decisions have been golden so far. The casual fans and uneducated faithful may ask, "who are these guys?" but the uzr-reading stat-hound sabermetricians know better: the M's are building a team that will soon crush the big boys in the AL West.
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Nick Johnson? Get out of here. We can do better than that.
ReplyDeleteWhy not resign Beltre? He's gotta take a pay cut in the offseason, it could be an affordable option. I like him more than 90 percent of the league's third baggers.