What to do at 3B and C?

by Isaac Levin on Aug 18, 2011 10:40 AM PDT

We all know that the Mariners have the largest weakness at 3B and C(with a OF surplus problem and 1B/DH issue as well, but those are minor). My question is what do we actually do at these POS in the offseason. According to MLBTR, this is what we are looking at (I took out the no F%^ing way players)

Catchers

Ryan Doumit (31) - $7.25MM club option for 2012, $8.25MM club option for '13 with a $500K buyout
Ramon Hernandez (36)
Gerald Laird (32)
Yadier Molina (29) - $7MM club option with a $750K buyout
Dioner Navarro (28)
Kelly Shoppach (29) - $3.2MM club option with a $300K buyout
Chris Snyder (31) - $6.75MM club option with a $750K buyout

Third basemen
Wilson Betemit (30)
Jorge Cantu (30)
Greg Dobbs (33)
Edwin Encarnacion (29) - $3.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Omar Infante (30)
Felipe Lopez (32)
Jose Lopez (28) WOW he is only 28
Aramis Ramirez (34)
Omar Vizquel (45) HEHEHE

And there is noone of interest that is going to make the Mariners a whole heck of a lot better from an OF standpoint (I know that any upgrade over Figgins and Olivio is an upgrade, but this list doesn't make you smile)

Jack Z and everyone knows we need to get new faces in these 2 spots, but the options are so thin it might not be worth the money to sign say an Aramis Ramirez to turn into a worse version of Beltre 2008.

That is why I think we need to trade. Here is a list of the 2013 Free Agents for those 2 spots (I show this because with one year left, they have the greatest chance of moving). Once again, I tok out the crumby names

Catchers
Chris Iannetta (30) - $5MM club option with a $250K buyout
Russell Martin (30)
Jeff Mathis (30)
Brian McCann (29) - $12MM club option with a $500K buyout
Miguel Montero (29)
Mike Napoli (31)
Miguel Olivo (34) - $3MM club option with a $750K buyout
Ronny Paulino (31)
Humberto Quintero (33)
Carlos Ruiz (34) - $5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Yorvit Torrealba (34)

This has some very interesting names that I like very much (Montero!!!!!!) But I imagine the good names get signed, but there are some names that wont get resigned that have interest as well (Martin,Napoli)

Third basemenGeoff Blum (39)

Maicer Izturis (32)
Kevin Kouzmanoff (31)
Mark Reynolds (29) - $11MM club option with a $500K buyout
Mark Teahen (31)
Ty Wigginton (35) - $4MM club option with a $500K buyout
David Wright (30) - $16MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Kevin Youkilis (34) - $13MM club option with a $1MM buyout

Thats an odd list, with 2 names that will most definently get resigned, and a few names of interest

So let the rosterbation begin. What do the Ms do at these 2 spots over the Winter?

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Comments

This reminds me of when MLBTR runs polls of what team X should do with player Y

pretty useless exercise really. With baseball games still being played and the roster full of young players who show varying degrees of promise, let’s not let the rosterbation begin just yet.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Aug 18, 2011 10:54 AM PDT reply actions 3 recs

"So let the rosterbation begin." That kind of talk is often frowned up here.

Though I think it’s worth considering what it’d take to pry Jeff Mathis from the Angels.

by yuniform on Aug 18, 2011 10:56 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

No more Angels please.

by LeftArrow2 on Aug 18, 2011 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Especially Angels who are really secret agents, sent to sabotage us.

by the tourist on Aug 18, 2011 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions

OPS of .794 in Safeco!

Highest stadium OPS of any stadium where he’s had at least 10 Plate Appearances!

by joof on Aug 18, 2011 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

That settles it

by Bearskin Rugburn on Aug 18, 2011 7:57 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm a bit confused.

So Greg Dobbs and Jose Lopez are on the list AFTER you took out the crappy players?

by ThundaPC on Aug 18, 2011 11:15 AM PDT reply actions 6 recs

I was wondering about this, too.

by the tourist on Aug 18, 2011 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm confused that Jose Lopez was on any list as an option for next year.

No matter where you go, there you are.

by KC Mariner on Aug 18, 2011 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions

The second list is the one where he takes out the crappy players

by MilesC on Aug 18, 2011 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes, Miguel Montero is a very good, young player on a division-leading team...

The recipe for trading him next year is all there!

follow @casetines

by Kenneth Arthur on Aug 18, 2011 11:52 AM PDT reply actions

Well we have to now that we can't package him with Bedard anymore.

follow @casetines

by Kenneth Arthur on Aug 18, 2011 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Now we'll just have to package him with League!

by the tourist on Aug 18, 2011 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Damn it!

I did the “we” thing again!

by the tourist on Aug 18, 2011 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Do you mean the thing where fans of a team use "we" as if they were a member of the team or its front office?

Because if so, I will share my opinion that it’s okay and you shouldn’t worry about correcting yourself.

by Joe Metro on Aug 18, 2011 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

That's exactly what it is.

I try to avoid it wherever possible, but today simply seems to be not my day.

by the tourist on Aug 18, 2011 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm with you

When you go to a school, you call the team “we”, but when you watch the pros, it’s “they”.

I feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football. Ugh

by HitKing69 on Aug 18, 2011 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Than why do they announce them as "your Seattle Mariners" at the games?

Or at least they used to. Haven’t been to a game in a while. Seems to me with marketing and what not teams encourage the fans to feel like we’re all in this together. I really find it more annoying when fans don’t use “we” when talking about their team of choice. It’s how fans differentiate talking about other teams versus their favorite team. Makes perfect sense.

Doug Fister. :(

by Mothy on Aug 19, 2011 2:25 AM PDT up reply actions

It's all semantics, really

Professional teams would like us to believe that the team is ours, but when we don’t build our team a new arena, they take our team and run.

I feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football. Ugh

by HitKing69 on Aug 19, 2011 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions

I never use "we" because my relationship with sports teams is entirely a one-way street

The teams I like don’t know that I exist except that I am in the class labeled “consumer”. I have no ownership stake in the team, they don’t solicit my specific opinion about anything, and if I stopped following the Mariners tomorrow they wouldn’t even know I was there in the first place and would never reach out to me personally to mend the relationship.

I don’t begrudge people that use “we”, but for myself I can’t ever do it because “we” implies a collective relationship that isn’t there.

by pdb on Aug 19, 2011 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

We should design the next iPhone to have Flash player.

by ThomasG on Aug 19, 2011 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions

That would require apple killing quicktime

Probably not gonna happen imho.

by Seahawks4life on Aug 22, 2011 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh, now you own days too?

by sandalfan on Aug 18, 2011 8:51 PM PDT up reply actions 7 recs

I think we should try Olivo at third and Figgins at catcher

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by Corco on Aug 18, 2011 1:20 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

No, they've already decided to move Marcus Littlewood to catcher.

The yearly allotted infielder-to-catcher transition has already been used up

by nathaniel dawson on Aug 18, 2011 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions

We can do it next spring training.

by Kirk on Aug 18, 2011 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions

But that would mean moving Dustin Ackley's transition to catcher up to 2013.

by nathaniel dawson on Aug 18, 2011 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions

You all missed the obviousness of Pineda to catcher.

by Patrick Stites on Aug 18, 2011 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions

He only pitches once a week.

Might as well get some use out of him the rest of the week. Lazy rookie.

by Craptastic-J on Aug 19, 2011 3:36 AM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn't assume they come from FA or dealing for a vet

The best success Z has had at filling holes is dealing for blocked or undervalued guys in the high minors or early in their big league careers. Gutierrez, Wells, Robinson, Beavan, etc.

Considering he has League and Vargas as trade chips, not to mention the bevy of minor league arms, I expect an offseason deal of pitching for offense to address at least one if not both of those areas. My guess is that third is the higher priority at this time, but I’m sure Z would take a solution to either position.

I doubt we’ll be trading for a guy a year shy of FA, unless it’s a steal.

by dnc on Aug 18, 2011 1:34 PM PDT reply actions

If David Wright's option isn't exercised (he hasn't had a great year) then I'd like to go after him.

I have always liked Edwin Encarnacion. He has good power, doesn’t strikeout much, and walks at a decent rate. Though there isn’t much place for him on this roster, unless you think he can play thirdbase, which he cannot.

by MilesC on Aug 18, 2011 1:44 PM PDT reply actions

DO NOT LET THE ROSTERBATION BEGIN JESUS FUCKING CHRIST

by seattlebruin on Aug 18, 2011 3:33 PM PDT reply actions 17 recs

Let's talk about basketball

who is excited for basketball season (the one that’s actually going to happen, not the NBA)?

by seattlebruin on Aug 18, 2011 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions

As a UW fan I'm excited

no clue how good they’ll be this year. But Terrence Ross makes me swoon

by dnc on Aug 18, 2011 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I could get more excited for the Huskies if they had a decent big man.

Love the backcourt and wings, though.

by fiftyone on Aug 19, 2011 1:56 AM PDT up reply actions

We graduated like 1200 seniors, but I'm cautiously optomisitic.

If Eric Reveno leaves UP, I will probably cry, since he’s made us more relevant in 4 years then we’ve been in…. ever? Probably the most relevant since we had Eric Spoelstra secretly murder Hank Gathers in the WCC tournament.

by joof on Aug 18, 2011 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions