FanPost

Money well spent

First things first. This is not meant to be a place to rosterbate. I will not be naming any specific names that are not currently on the M's roster and neither should you. This is meant as a discussion as to what course we would like to see the team take in the offseason.

Using Cot's baseball contracts and some rough guess work on Jason Vargas and Brandon League's arbitration numbers the current roster will cost approximately $75 million next season, assuming a similar budget that probably gives Z $20 million give or take to play with this offseason. As previously stated in a few fanposts it looks like the biggest holes in the lineup right now are at 3B and C.

However I'm assuming the team will give Adam Moore another shot next year as the backup and with a good lineup a player like Miguel Olivo can be stuck down in the 7-8 spot and still be an asset. So I'm not sure the team looks to change anything there. The team also seems really high on Kyle Seager and with his recent success I see the team giving him a legit shot at the job next season, meaning they probably don't want to sink more money on a free agent or trade, unless it's a cheap veteran to use as a push for Seager and a emergency starter if he fails to impress.

So where does the team spend this cash?

Personally, unless some amazing, too good to pass up position player comes across Z's desk I'd like to see the money go into the pitching. I know, this season we've been leaning on our pitching and it seems weird that this is where the team needs help this offseason, but with Erik Bedard and Doug Fister going away I don't see the rotation as an asset next season. Jason Vargas, Blake Beavan, and Charlie Furbush don't inspire a lot of confidence in me. It's been stated that the team sees Danny Hultzen as a quick mover, so maybe we see him at some point next season, but maybe we don't. $20 million is a lot to spend on a decent front end/middle starter, so if the team goes this route there should still be some cash left over and as unpredictable as relief pitching is I would also like to see the bullpen strengthened up a bit.

I'm assuming as of now that the team will cut ties with David Aardsma this offseason, but maybe it would be in their interest to bring him back or find another talented reliever. We have lots of talented young guys, but they all seem to be incredibly inconsistent when it comes to throwing strikes and I'm sick of the soft throwing, league minimum veterans, so I'd like to see an established power pitcher to come in at the back end of the pen.

It's weird to think that I have confidence in the current Mariners' offense, but I do.... and I'd like to see what they can do over a full season.

What are your two cents?