Strategy
With Felix Hernandez, Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, and Kyle Seager already on the roster, there’s not much to do other than try to make a run at the playoffs. A 76-win team in 2014, the Mariners have some money to play with but a handful of important roster spots to fill. Realistically, this is not a team that is going to make a few moves and be a lock to take the division, or even a Wild Card berth; but, with some smart management, Seattle could in the race all season long and give themselves a chance should things go their way.
Transactions
- Non-tendered 1B Logan Morrison and RHP Logan Kensing
- Traded RHP Tom Wilhelmsen to the Pittsburgh Pirates for LHP Stephen Tarpley and RHP Clay Holmes
- Signed CF Dexter Fowler for $12.5 million
- Signed RHP Tom Koehler for $4.5 million
- Signed RHP Ryan Webb for $4 million
- Signed RHP Bud Norris for $4 million
- Signed Catcher Chris Iannetta for $3 million
- Signed OF Craig Gentry for $1.6 million
- Signed IF/OF Mike Aviles for $0.55 million
- Extended Spring Training invitations to Catcher Michael McKenry, SP Hector Noesi, and RP Blake Parker
I had three main goals heading into the offseason: acquire a center fielder, a catcher, and a starting pitcher. Dexter Fowler will fill the hole in center, and his ability to punish left-handed pitchers fits in perfectly with a lefty-heavy lineup. Chris Iannetta, while significantly underwhelming last year, is familiar with the coaching staff and can hopefully provide some stability while mentoring Mike Zunino in the spring. Tom Koehler and Bud Norris aren’t going to be difference makers, but their solid arms that provide the rotation with great depth, as Roenis Elias and Mike Montgomery are both pushed out for the time being, though I would imagine Elias could win the job from Norris in camp.
Craig Gentry will fit in as a platoon outfielder who can also serve as a defensive replacement for Brad Miller or Seth Smith. Michael McKenry is penciled in as the backup catcher, a huge improvement over Jesus Sucre, and Mike Aviles will simply be asked to be a veteran mentor while playing maybe once a week against lefties.
In the bullpen, Wilhelmsen was sent packing to help the organization’s prospect depth. Both Tarpley and Holmes have the potential to impact the rotation in 2017. Ryan Webb takes Wilhelmsen’s spot, and will have the task of getting grounders late in games. Blake Parker will have the upper hand on locking down the last spot in the bullpen, and could be a nice addition if Safeco field and keep balls in the yard.
One move I wish I made was to pay a bit more and sign Kelly Johnson, who would be an easy improvement over Aviles as a utility player. However, I had hoped to sign a bigger starter than Bud Norris, and needed to ration accordingly. Ending up a few dollars short of my budget, I also could have kept Wilhelmsen to strengthen the bullpen, or thrown a few million more at another free agent reliever to take his place.
The Outlook
As previously mentioned, the Mariners won 76 games in 2015. After an offseason’s worth of transactions, my back of the envelope calculations put the team at between a 81 and 84 win projection. There’s some downside with having a few aging players on the roster, but if Cruz, Cano, and King Felix can mostly hold off father time for a year, there’s some upside with Brad Miller, Ketel Marte, and Taijuan Walker. A playoff berth isn’t a lock, but there’s a chance, and sometimes that’s all you can hope for.
| Player | Position | Salary (mil) |
| STARTERS | ||
| Chris Iannetta | C | $3.00 |
| Mark Trumbo | 1B/LF | $9.10 |
| Robinson Cano | 2B | $24.00 |
| Kyle Seager | 3B | $8.00 |
| Ketel Marte | SS | $0.55 |
| Seth Smith | LF/RF | $6.75 |
| Dexter Fowler | OF | $12.50 |
| Brad Miller | OF/SS | $0.55 |
| Nelson Cruz | DH/LF/RF | $14.25 |
| BENCH | ||
| Michael McKenry | C | $0.52 |
| Chris Taylor | MIF | $0.55 |
| James Jones | OF | $0.55 |
| Craig Gentry | OF | $1.60 |
| Mike Aviles | UTIL | $0.55 |
| ROTATION | ||
| Felix Hernandez | RHSP | $25.86 |
| Taijuan Walker | RHSP | $0.55 |
| James Paxton | LHSP | $0.55 |
| Tom Koehler | RHSP | $4.50 |
| Bud Norris | RHSP | $4.00 |
| BULLPEN | ||
| Carson Smith | RHRP | $0.55 |
| Charlie Furbush | LHRP | $1.70 |
| Danny Farquhar | RHRP | $0.60 |
| Ryan Webb | RHRP | $4.00 |
| Blake Parker | RHRP | $0.52 |
| Vidal Nuno | LHP | $0.55 |
| Budget | $131.85 | |
| Actual | $125.85 |
Not bad. The Pitching is still not great but this team improved.
Yeah, I was hoping to get Shark to add some potential to the rotation, but when that didn’t happen I decided to focus on depth — especially since Paxton can’t stay healthy for more than a month at a time.
Would have loved to bring Iwakuma back (as they 95% will in real life), but decided it was harder to get a CF and had to allocate the money there.
I feel like this is one of the harder teams out there. You almost have to go for it and you’ve got almost no chance of making the playoffs.
Where’s Zunino?