With the exits of Jason Vargas and Kevin Millwood, the
Seattle Mariners are left in need of a “dependable starting pitcher,” according
to Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times.
The Mariners now need a No. 3 guy capable of logging close to 200 innings and doing so without embarrassing himself. In other words, doing it without an ERA up near 5.00.
Millwood left via free agency, while the Mariners shipped
Vargas to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for slugger Kendrys Morales. At
this point, Seattle has Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma atop their
rotation, while other candidates include Blake Beavan, Erasmo Ramirez and
Hector Noesi.
Baker sees no guarantees in any of the latter three
mentioned, and he implores the Mariners to go out and acquire another
dependable veteran arm.
He offers a pair of potential acquisitions; Joe Saunders and
Chris Capuano. Saunders can be signed, while the Los Angeles Dodgers currently
hold Capuano’s contract.
Saunders is said to be seeking a three-year commitment, but
he might be able to be had for two guaranteed years. The New York Mets,
Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles have also been tied to Saunders this
offseason.
Still, Baker would prefer Capuano. He believes Seattle could
pry him from the Dodgers in exchange for outfielder Franklin Gutierrez. The Mariners
could then use their remaining payroll to sign free agent center fielder
Michael Bourn.
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Move Felix's best friend on the team (Gutierrez) while attempting to work towards an extension in the next year and spend all our remaining payroll on a strikeout machine that depends on his legs to be valuable while giving up the #2 unprotected pick in the 2013 draft? Enough with the Bourn talk, at what it'd take to get him, he's not worth it at all. Next year's free agent class will have much better alternatives coinciding with all of our one year contracts coming off the books.
ReplyDeleteOver the past few weeks, I've seen how passionate and knowledgeable M's fans are. It's great to see!
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