We’ve been tossing ideas back and forth for weeks. So have the Mariners with several clubs, mostly about starting pitching, but also about a few relievers and a bat or two.
While I don’t expect anything of impact to go down, here’s what’s out there and what it might take for Seattle to land some help.
Starting Pitchers
Dontrelle Willis, LHP - Florida
The Marlins keep saying he’s not available, which is either a lie, stupidity or both. Willis is an average pitcher, at best, and is in the midst of a serious decline that should raise the highest of red flags, since he’s on the wrong side of 30 for such regression.
Florida is certain to demand Adam Jones from Seattle, or a combination of Wlad Balentien, Jeff Clement and Chris Tillman. That’s a lot to pay for any arm on the market and just far too much for Dontrelle.
Jason Jennings, RHP - Houston
Jennings is an interesting arm but the questions surrounding the right-hander are all about health. He was bombed Sunday morning and didn’t even get out of the first inning against a mediocre Padres lineup. His shoulder is clearly not sound, and after today’s disaster is probably off the radar of most teams, including Seattle.
A healthy, signed Jennings is worth dealing Balentien for, but there’s so little evidence that he can stay off the disabled list, that he’s not even worth talking about anymore.
Livan Hernandez, RHP - Arizona
Hernandez wouldn’t be a terrible pickup for any club, and there isn’t a ton of money attached to him any longer, but he’s a marginal upgrade to what Seattle is riding with at the moment. Livan has a history of being a workhorse and four years ago he’d have made some sense, but there are some concerns about all those innings finally taking its toll on his right arm.
If the M’s can get him without giving up Jones, Wlad or Clement, it may be a decent idea.
Kyle Lohse, RHP - Cincinnati
Not much to say about Loshe; he’s a little bit like Gil Meche. Good stuff, throws hard, but can’t get it together. I smell a trade to KC.
For Seattle, Lohse isn’t much better than Ramirez, and that’s the guy they want to supplant in the rotation.
Matt Morris, RHP - San Francisco
Is he better than Ramirez? Probably not, and he’s been awful since June 11 with an ERA well over seven. I would be surprised if the Mariners made any sort of deal for a starter that wasn’t easily a better option than at least Horacio Ramirez.
Now if the Giants want to take Richie Sexson, the two clubs could probably figure something out.
Jose Contreras, RHP - Chicago
The money attached to his contract makes Contreras tough to deal and a difficult one to swallow for any team looking for pitching. It does appear that Ken Williams is pulling a bait and switch, however, dangling two other starters and a bat and when he gets other clubs to call, he pitches Contreras at them.
Bronson Arroyo, RHP - Cincinnati
I think his arm is going to fall off in a year or so, but he’s a decent pitcher. He also has a hefty contract, so if the M’s were to get involved, some cash would probably have to change hands.
Jon Garland, RHP - Chicago
One of the better starters that could be moved is also one of the more expensive arms available. He’d certainly cost the Mariners a premium package, if not Adam Jones.
Kei Igawa, LHP - New York
Just. Say. No.
Rodrigo Lopez, RHP - Colorado
Is he better than Ramirez? Yeah, he is. More consistent, still cheap, a veteran… he’s an upgrade, but not an impact arm.
Ian Snell, RHP - Pittsburgh
Snell would cost any team a blue-chip young talent, and the M’s would certainly have to send Adam Jones to the steel city to get Snell in return.
Kevin Millwood, RHP - Texas
If Texas was smart, they’d unload Millwood while they can. Just not to Seattle for anything of value.
Carlos Silva, RHP - Minnesota
Silva is an interesting case. A severe ground ball pitcher who can’t miss bats. He has some value to a team with a good infield defense, but isn’t going to change the outcome of any pennant races. He could fit into the M’s rotation, but again, not much of an upgrade over Ramirez.
Relief Pitchers
Octavio Dotel, RHP - Kansas City
Dotel has been a closer in the past and most of his stuff is back after elbow surgery. As a setup man he has a lot of value, but the Mariners have no business wasting anything of value to add another relief arm.
Let the Yankees, Red Sox or Indians give up one of their best three prospects for 20 innings from Dotel.
Al Reyes, RHP - Seattle
Tampa is selling off and Reyes is certainly available as the Rays are looking to sell high with he and Carlos Pena. I think the Yankees and Mets are battling for his services and will end up overpaying, but he’s the player most likely to end up in Seattle.
Eric Gagne, RHP - Texas
Gagne might be the best reliever available and if the Dodgers want to win their division, they should be knocking down the Rangers’ door for him. With Chad Billingsley back in the rotation and the kids performing everyday, their only weakness is in the bullpen.
But could you imagine Gagne in the Mariners pen for two months? WOW.
Akinori Otsuka, RHP - Texas
Otsuka is as good as gone, opined Texas skipper Ron Washington last week. He’ll fetch a decent return, but nothing earth shattering.
Jon Rauch, RHP - Washington
Note to Seattle: Go get Rauch this offseason, send him to winter ball and turn him back into a starter.
Chad Cordero, RHP - Washington
Will probably get the Nats a return he shouldn’t. He’s solid, but he’s better suited in a setup role on a contending team.
Chad Qualls, RHP - Houston
With Wheeler gone to Tampa, Qualls could be next.
Brad Lidge, RHP - Houston
Lidge still has great stuff, but his command is gone and his slider needs refinement.
Chad Bradford, RHP - Baltimore
Someone may get him for cheap and be happier with that deal than others may be with the moves they made for Dotel, Reyes and Otsuka.
Danys Baez, RHP - Baltimore
Blech.
Bats
Jermaine Dye, OF - Chicago
One AL GM thinks Dye is the key to the AL East race. I guess that’s because he thinks the Red Sox are on him and that Dye makes the difference. I think he’s way off. Dye is ok, but Boston’s bullpen and the Yankees rotation will decide that race.
Brad Wilkerson, OF - Texas
Could be a nice lefty bat for someone to plop into the six or seven spot and mash righties. Not sure he fits in Seattle very well, and may not be a regular, but he can hit the right-handers.
Adam Dunn, OF - Cincinnati
I’m hearing Baltimore is considering a Daniel Cabrera-Nolan Reimold for Dunn-Arroyo-Weathers deal. Hmmm. Not sure Wayne Krivsky will be allowed to make such a deal. Rumor is that both Krivsky and their interim manager Pete Mackanin will be gone at season’s end so Tony LaRussa and Walt Jocketty can move from St. Louis to Cincinnati.
Carlos Pena, 1B - Tampa Bay
It’s my mini dream to shed Sexson, add Pena and call up Adam Jones before Tuesday’s deadline.
Mark Teixeira, 1B - Texas
I wouldn’t trade James Loney or Matt Kemp plus Scott Elbert and a third prospect for Teixeira is I were LA, but the Braves deal seems fair. Jarrod Salatalmacchia is a good player if he plays first, but a great value if he can catch.
If the Halos get involved, it’s probably going to cost them Casey Kotchman and their top pitching prospect Nick Adenhart. I think they should make that move, but that’s because If I was them, I wouldn’t.
Clearly, I’m not a huge fan of Mark Teixeira.
Jay Gibbons, OF - Baltimore
See: Brad Wilkerson.
Jacque Jones, OF - Chicago
Still think he ends up back in Minnesota somehow.
Mike Piazza, DH - Oakland
Piazza to the Angels? How about the Twins? Both make sense.
When the deadline hits, the M’s probaby won’t have made a significant move, but the most likely name players to be traded are Jeremy Reed, Julio Mateo, Wladimir Balentien, Eric O’Flaherty and anyone below AAA.
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You might want to update this a little. Teixeira was dealt to Atlanta, Loshe was dealt to Philly and Dotel is almost finalized as dealt to Atlanta as well.
Just curious, but does anyone have a guess at what it would cost to get Al Reyes?
Re: #2
I hope Bavasi just doesn’t start throwing Balentien’s name everywhere to try and snag a unnecessary reliever.
3 - According to a report Wlad was offered to KC for Dotel, they passed for Atlanta’s offer. I actually hope no trades are made like Mclaren said today.
i hope something is done because it would help the team
Goose… everyone knows the deals that have gone down… why is an update necessary?
jason have u heard anything the M’S might do before tomorrow afternoon?
I was at the Giants-Marlins game on saturday and I sat in front front of Dontrelle’s Mom.
She is quite the fan of him of course and not a fan of Dan Uggla. I did not have the heart to tell her the truth because in even pitching 7ip with 3er, he did not look good.
Carlos Silva is the pitcher the Mariners should be looking at if they make a minor move.
It’s too bad he didn’t get discussed at the PI get together because I would have advocated the move.
Silva is a high risk/ high reward pick up. Everything hinges on his sinker. If that is working he’s an average pitcher (if not better with a little luck). Considering that he’d be replacing Horacio in the rotation I think it’s something that should be investigated.
What would Silva cost? I can’t imagine it would be very high.
If we could somehow get Pena and JP Howell from Tampa, I’d be ecstatic.
I’m still baffled as to why Reyes is necessary.
We all would like to keep Balantien, but the M’s are going to bring back Guillen so he is going to be traded sooner, or later. I think the M’s will stand pat.
Guillen isn’t going to brought back until the club is convinced they can’t do better getting a bat this winter.
But ya don’t GIVE away Wlad either way.
I have heard the M’s being involved in something pretty exciting, but that a lot would have to get done in the next 16 hours for it to happen.
Hint : It’s a hitter.
A hitter…interesting…that would require some juggling.
Ah, well I thought that you weren’t aware yet.
Ignore me then. And damn you for teasing us! Heh.
I wrote this Saturday night, Goose, hence the non-updated deals.
My laptop went out, so it went up late.
Anyway we hear what the deal would have been of it does not happen?
I understand if you can not say.
I’ll take a wild guess and say its not Dmitri Young.
According to my sources, its Ken Griffey Jr..
…Ok I lied. I don’t have any sources. :(
Jason - is it one of the hitters listed above?
That is all I will ask.
something exciting? Griffey is only thing that comes to mind…but geez..hes gonna cost a lot to get.
CRAP.
Dotel is still on the block. The trade with Atlanta has not happened, nor does it appear that it will.
Griffey wouldn’t be exciting - it would be annoying.
At some point, everyone in Seattle would realize: “Hey, it’s not 1997 anymore…”
I don’t see why you trade Wlad for some mediocre pitcher. I like him better than Guillen (better hitter, less injury prone with strong arm) and he is much much cheaper. The guy gets better every year as well. …..He strikes out less than Sexson now. :)
“I like him better than Guillen (better hitter, less injury prone, strong arm)”
Okay.. only problem is that Guillen has been hitting MLB pitching and Wlad AAA pitching.. So i dont know how u can say he’s a better hitter…
As a hitter, I think Wlad has better potential than Guillen. Guillen hasn’t had two consecutive strong years since he was in the minors. Guillen gets hot here for a little while and suddenly he is looking for big money. I would look for some more consistency given his track record.
Adam Jones is hitting in AAA and Willie Bloomquist is with the Mariners. Does that make Willie a more valuable commodity?
Jason,
Can we get another hint? I just want to know if it is a left handed hitter.
Hit and Run
Patience guys, we’ll know soon enough in 12.5 hours.
Its most likely going to be a moot point anyways. We all know how rumors are, and also the mention that “a lot would have to get done in the next 16 hours for it to happen”. Id be willing to bet a good chunk of cash that nothing goes down. Jason didn’t seem to be optimistic about it happening, I am not gonna get that way either.
Is it griffey??? ;) haha.
Jason, why is it that the team is looking for relief help? I mean they already have one of the best pens in all of MLB and it is made up completly of farm-grown arms to boot. They also have good relief arms in the minors in Mickalo, Bibbins-Dirx,heck even Mateo has done well down there. The only reason I can think of them looking for relief help is that they are worried about the lack of expieriance that they currently have.
i guess i just don’t get it, why bring r.r. smith up when mateo is pitching lites out for the rainers, he is already on the roster and paid for. i watched him last monday at cheney and he was great.
Mateo isn’t being kept down due for baseball reasons. The Mariners have the largest % of female fans in the game, bringing up someone who allegedly beats their wife would harm that number.
The team, and likely Mateo, are trying to get him counseling and to find ways that he can be significantly apologetic for his behavior.
Mateo needs a new chance, but I doubt he gets it here.
Not to mention the M’s are doing their annual stop domestic violence campaign right now.
They are teaming up with Verizon to provide a Hopeline for victims of DV.
MATEO needs to go back to his homeland because u dont beat ur wife and get away with that if he wants to beat his wife then go back home. dont do it here in america
So, Steven, what do you suggest we do with all the US-born wifebeaters?
we are talking about MATEO not anyone else
So you’d deport just ONE guy for wifebeating? Methinks some constitutional concerns would arise…
You don’t just throw people with problems away. The guy needs counseling, simply deporting him just moves the problem somewhere else. It fixes nothing. We are doing the right thing right now. The message is being sent that we don’t stand for it, but we do want to help you become a better person.
Jason, any movement on the deal for the mystery hitter?
Adam - steven just made a point on what he’d do. It was a harsh decision, but don’t someone berate someone for posting their thought(s) or else you turn into another poster who was asked to leave ;)
As for trading, I think the odds the M’s make a move are pretty slim. And if they do, be afraid, because they’re probably going to overpay for a useless RH reliever.
I’m not really sure why my reaction to Steven’s comments is any worse than his comment itself, but ok. And I really don’t think my comments rose to the level of “berating” steven.
I’m not saying that you couldn’t comment on it, (it was over the top) but at the same time, there’s been much worse said on here, lol. And Mateo should be deported because he’s a god awful pitcher. The DV thing is just icing.
Deport Bobby Ayala
BREAKING NEWS the mariners Traded MATEO to the phillies
That one is confirmed by USS Mariner, no idea of what we got back in return. Probably a bag of chips, and a half empty Heineken.
As long the 1/2 empty Heineken is one of those sexy slim light cans that is cool with me.
I heard we got Jesus, which is pretty cool. He has been tearing up the burning bush league all year. :)
I am sure Bill will definitely enjoy that half full beer. Was a steal for us.
In exchange, they received minor-league shortstop Jesus Merchan, who has spent most of the season at Class AA Reading. He posted a .330 average for Reading with 16 doubles, seven homers and 44 runs batted in in 81 games. Merchan, 26, was recently elevated to Class AAA Ottawa, where he was hitting .385 (5-for-13) in three games.
they just got someone that will never see the majors then i take it right john
Jason would be a better judge of that, but the guy is 26 and at AA, so you have to think his opportunity passed quite some time ago. I guess it get rids of some salary, eliminates a PR problem, and bolsters a minor league roster.
Here is the Phillies perspective from a Phillie chat board on Mateo: “Guy has great stuff, a fastball that tops out at 97, a solid change, and wicked splitter.”
They do know that they got JULIO MATEO, right?
Jesus is so good that at 26, they already know he isn’t better than Navarro and have assigned him to AA West Tenn.
Jason, do they have plans for the 40-man roster opening with Mateo gone?
I’m sure they do, but I don’t know who it’s going to be. It won’t matter much anyways, since rosters expand in 30 days.
Jason, tell us your sources are reporting that Adam Jones will be in left field tonight. Please????
The Hitter the M’s were looking at will have to remain a mystery. If i reveal it, it’ll give away, to some, who it was that told me, and I can’t do that, obviously.
I will say that it would have been a nice addition, but costly as far as payroll goes. Maybe too costly.
And, no, jase, I was told this afternoon that AJ was down in the clubhouse in Oklahoma City getting ready for the series finale against the Redhawks.
lol everyone here including me thinks the “mystery hitter” is Griffey.
will we ever find out? probley doesnt matter, but oh well
Jason, a little while back, there was a Will Carrol report indicating the FO squashed a trade that involved some payroll issues. Was this the same one you referred to?
Jason is this man of mystery a deal that still has potential in August, the offseason or is stick a fork in it?
Too much money or too many moving parts?
I assume if it is a big money bat that mystery man would likely clear waivers unless he learns to pitch all of sudden.
Geoff Baker is predicting that AJ will be up by the end of the week after listening to Bavasi’s press conference today.
john can we hear the press conference?
Odd, KOMO didn’t put it up on their site. Also not up at seattlemariners.com
my three guesses on the mystery hitter:
1. Adam Dunn
2. Jermaine Dye
3. Morgan Ensberg
Just check out Geoff Bakers blog, he has a link where you can hear it.
this doesn’t excite me ..
from the seattle pi ..
[General manager Bill Bavasi said the club was close on landing a position player just before time expired. He wouldn't be more specific, but it was learned later that Loretta was the player the Mariners were trying to pry loose.]
So you say that there is an exciting move that could happen and after it doesn’t go down, you don’t say who it would have involved? That is very anti-climactic of you. Its like reading a book with no ending.
“..and the killer is!
Sorry, can’t tell ya… THE END.”
33 is disclosing 100% worth losing a source?
Sucks from our standpoint but you have to respect it from his.
I know, I know. Just having a mini-fit.
I want some info damnit! ;)
The nice thing about “could have beens” is they still have a chance of happening.
Im so happy Johny Mac rather has Ibanez and his .695 OPS and .250 BA playing instead of Jones who wont be called up according to the M’s website. Team chemestry matters that much to him?
Why is it McLaren’s fault that Jones isn’t up?
Yeah - that Mac quote in the Times really soured a lot of people. Basically saying he will play the vets no matter how they hit because its important to that invisible stat called “team chemistry”.
That really outed him with the blogging community it seems. Really dumb thing to say IMO.
Oh no i didnt mean for it to sound like McLaren’s fault. He just made it sound like he was really against a Jones callup.
He’s just backing the non-move of his GM…
So is the man of mystery simmering on the back burner or is it a dead deal?
let the campaigning for carlos pena to seattle begin. let us pray that bill bavasi’s shopping list this off season has carlos pena’s name at the top of it!!! Jason are there going to be any interesting names in the SP ranks of free agency this off season, or are the home town nine going to have to resort to bringing back weaver, and continuing to trot out ho ram? I know its very early to be thinking about this
Jones should have been brought up at the break, the fact that he wasn’t contributed to the latest slide.
76- We won’t see Ramirez, or Weaver brought back in 2008.
77-i am assuming that feierabend will take one of those spots (ho ram/weaver)but if weaver isn’t brought back, then who will be the number 5 starter next season? The logical choice would be baek or possibly justin thomas. I’m just trying to think ahead and see what the m’s starters may look like next season. The thought of Felix, Wash, Batista, Feierabend, and an in house choice at #5 kind of concerns me. I am happy with Batista’s contributions, and i hope that felix will return to the felix we saw before the dl stint. Wash is streaky, and Feierabend i am convinced will be a solid starter. The question with feierabend however is, will he be ready to be the starter we all think he can be…just some food for thought
Jason, why is it that EVERYONE covers up for Bavasi? So, do your sources, of which some who work for Bavasi, constantly cover up for him? Sorry, but it sounds far more like excuse making by those who don’t believe in him, than by those who work for him. I listened to McLaren’s interview last night prior to the game, and he said that unlike the huge disappointment of not getting things done in prior years (obviously during the Piniella years), this clubhouse was very different. He stated that they are believing in themselves as a “unit”, and that trade or no trade, they still do. JJ Putz mirrored that in a separate interview.
And really…..Jones not being in Seattle was a contributing factor to the current slide? I don’t think it’s nearly as painful as Kenji, Lopez, Ibanez and some bad luck. Unless Jones is Merlin in disguise, he single handedly wouldn’t have lead a triumphant charge. You’re just placing way too much on the kid’s shoulders.
Why is most fail to mentioned Lopez and Kenji’s struggles? Yet Sexson, who while not carrying the team, certainly hasn’t hurt the club any during that stretch?
You wanna play Jr. GM…..be fair.
Oh, BTW….the rumor, which I believe was a good one, was Loretta from Houston, which makes since. He could replace Ellison, since Willie can play OF.
78- Okay, assuming Feierabend gets penciled into the rotation you have to figure that they can come up with another guy via trade, or free agency that will be better, and more cost effective than Weaver.
79- We are talking a bunch of one run losses. A fresh set of legs in the outfield coupled with a healthy bat could have made a difference. Jones should have been called up after the break.
i agree with john
Key words “could have”. You chose those words because of uncertainty. Why? Because neither side can be PROVEN…..thus, nobody really knows if Jones would have made one bit of difference in wins or losses in ANY of those games. You can ALWAYS micro-manage projections to say that Adam’s ability to strike out nearly as much as Richie, in a crutial situation, could have made a game or two more than one run losses. There are multiple directions you can take the “what if” hypothesis, not just the positive side.
Point is, too many attempt to use their beliefs, as facts. Just as happened with Snelling, Leone, whoever is the hot prospect of the year.
I know some many will disagree with me, but personally, I hope Bavasi finds your inside source and fires him/her. I know everyone likes to play the “scoop” game, but to release that kind of information so prematurely, doesn’t do the Mariner franchise (or any baseball franchise) any good. It only starts a boatload of false rumors. And even if remotely, may cause a GM to back out, if speculation start getting to him via questions from the media over something read here. Example, the reading of the statement about Jones “potentially” being called up. It moved from website to website….until even the local reporters started mentioning it.
I know you’re careful to state that it’s only a rumor. But, too often, it snowballs into something that was never to be.
I love the rumors, but I fully understand that they are only that, and more times than not, they fizzle. Unfortunately, some don’t understand it, and take it as a failure, not even knowing 5% of what’s being discussed. Then, they get pissed off because they expected something to happen that may have been vastly remote.
We’re all fans, but that about it. Granted, we know more than they guy who doesn’t know Richie Sexton, from Richie Rich. But, we’re still just fans. And, it’s just a game, not the end of the world if we don’t get our Jones for Jones filled.
I wouldn’t mind Jones being here, but I don’t play around with the idea that he’s just like every other rookie to play the game….uncertain. Prospects are prospects…..or they’d call them certains.
“Sexson hasn’t hurt the club.” come on Ed, any everyday player that bats .200 is hurting the team they play for no matter how you look at it. His power numbers are even slightly down. I admit he has hit a couple of key hr’s this year, but he has killed so many rallies so far it’s inexcusable.
Edtrak,
A player like Jones, singlehandedly, obviously has limits on potential impact. However, a player like Jones, replacing a player like Ibanez, might be the single biggest upgrade possible among the teams we care about (LAA/Cleveland/NYY).
An idea pandered about the blogosphere is that the defensive value in runs prevented that would get from Jones vs. Ibanez is worth more than adding a Cy Young pitcher for the stretch run. If you believe that a Cy Young pitcher wouldn’t have an impact on a 7-game slide, then by all means, discount the impact of Jones on this team.
And we haven’t even started on the value of Jone’s offense.
Bavasi not understanding player value is represented in stark black and white with his handling of Adam Jones.
wasnt Edtrack banned from this website like a week ago?
“Key words “could have”. You chose those words because of uncertainty. Why? Because neither side can be PROVEN”
Well DUHH, since Jones wasn’t called up you can’t say with 100% certainty he would have a difference. Who do you think I am Kreskin?
What you can say is that Ibanez is a defensive liabilty. You can also say that because of his injuries he is no longer able to make up for that with his offensive contributions.
Sexson hasn’t hurt the club? Does that really deserve rebuttal? The guy is an anchor on offense, and defense. He isn’t going to snap out of it and go on a tear this year, he is toast.
“I know some many will disagree with me, but personally, I hope Bavasi finds your inside source and fires him/her.”
Baseball is all about inside sources, cheating, spitting, scratching, leaking…etc… think about it, they leak what they want to leak to give you the impression that they are doing something…figure it out. Look behind the curtain and realize the wizard is alive and at work.
In conclusion I like Edtrack because he is totally insane, and makes little sense. He is the Don Quixote of this site and you have to respect that. Just like the aforementioned paragraph, it is all part of baseball.
85- Ed gets taken to the principals office from time to time.
84- Jones is the upgrade we need on defense, just having him out there without factoring in hitting gives us a lift. You think a healthy Jones can’t outhit a banged up Ibanez? Jones should have been brought up immediately after the break, it would have saved us a couple of losses.