The 2013-2014 offseason, as it played out in OOTP 14

Some of you probably know that I'm an Out of the Park Baseball nut. If you haven't played it before, it's a simulation game where you control every single aspect of a major league team - from free agents to trades, to lineups, to promotions, to the Rule 5 draft, to international signings. It's hopelessly addicting, and OOTP 15's release date is is coming soon.

With the real offseason almost over, I thought it would be fun to simulate how things would have gone in OOTP's engine. I didn't make any decisions for the Mariners or the rest of the league - I simply let the game evolve naturally based on fairly accurate team needs and budgets.

The 2013 Mariners went 82-80. Felix won the ERA crown, Kendrys Morales was the team's best offensive player (.809 OPS), Nick Franklin had a promising rookie campaign (.798 OPS) and Jesus Montero (.752 OPS) didn't totally suck.

Here's how things subsequentially transpired in the OOTP world. Mariners moves in bold.  Remember that because 2014 was simulated, some players received massively different contracts - the most notable being Shaun Marcum. If you have questions about performance in relation to the contract, I'll be happy to answer. I hope you find it as entertaining as I did.

Following the regular season, Raul Ibanez retired.

Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas, Tom Glavine, Mike Mussina, and Moises Alou were elected to the Hall of Fame.

The Mariners were awarded a budget of $128 million for the upcoming season.

The Mariners and Joe Saunders agree to exercise their mutual option.

Jacoby Ellsbury agrees to stay with Boston for 5 years, $80 million.

Brian McCann signs an extension with Atlanta for 4 years, $52 million.

Tim Lincecum returns to San Francisco for one year, $17 million.

Franklin Gutierrez is awarded a gold glove for his 142 games played in center field.

Chase Utley signs a 3 year, $37.5 million extension with Philadelphia.

Carlos Beltran fires his agent.

Paul Konerko signs with the Yankees for 2 years, $35 million.

Roy Halladay signs a 3 year, $46 million deal with his hometown club, the Colorado Rockies. He's excited about coming home in his press conference.

Mike Napoli signs a 4 year, $62 million deal with the Chicago White Sox.

Shaun Marcum, who stayed healthy all year with a 2.97 ERA, goes to Cleveland for 6 years, $81.5 million.

On December 7th, the Mariners have 8 offers on the table. The offers are to Grant Balfour, Fernando Rodney, Joel Hanrahan, Mike Gonzalez, Carlos Beltran, Justin Morneau, and Lance Berkman.

Carlos Beltran and his new agent sign with the Seattle Mariners for 1 year, $14 million, with an $18 million vesting option for 550 PA.

Shin-Soo Choo signs with the Chicago Cubs for 4 years, $58 million.

Robinson Cano signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers for 6 years, $140 million.

Phil Hughes signs with Philadephia for 6 years, $86.4 million.

Carlos Ruiz signs with the New York Yankees for 3 years, $30.3 million.

Yunel Escobar signs with the Cardinals for 2 years, $8 million.

The Tigers offer the Seattle Mariners Prince Fielder for Felix Hernandez. The Mariners decline.

Carlos Marmol goes to the Tigers for 1 year, $3.8 million.

Kevin Youkilis signs with the Yankees for 2 years, $8.6 million.

Dan Haren, after being courted by the Mariners, signs with the Chicago Cubs for $31 million over 2 years.

The Mariners make an offer to Josh Johnson.

Joel Hanrahan signs a 3 year, $40 million deal with the Yankees.

Curtis Granderson signs a 2 year, $32 million deal with the Dodgers.

Josh Johnson accepts a better offer from Kansas City, for 4 years, $63 million.

Justin Morneau signs with Philly for 4 years, $30.5 million.

The Mariners sign Mark Reynolds to a 1 year, $2.2 million deal.

Omar Infante gets a 1 year, $1.4 million deal with Detroit.

Hunter Pence signs with the Chicago Cubs for 3 years, $22 million.

The Mariners sign Matt Garza to a 4 year, $46 million deal.

The Giants sign Mike Morse to a 4 year, $46 million deal.

Derek Jeter signs a 2 year, $25 million extension with the Yankees.

Grant Balfour signs a 2 year, $16 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Alex Rios, recently traded to the Mets, has a disastrous training regiment mishap.

Lance Berkman signs a 1 year, $7 million deal with the Diamondbacks.

Emilio Bonafacio is DFA'd and signed to a 1 year, $850k deal with the Mariners.

Ricky Nolasco signs a 2 year, $21 million deal with Colorado.

Fernando Rodney turns down an offer from the Mariners to sign with Toronto - 3 years, $29 million.

Corey Hart signs a 3 year, $20 million deal with the White Sox.

Kendrys Morales is still a free agent on February 21st, 2014. The Mariners have an offer on the table for him for 4 years, $36 million.

Stephen Drew is also still a free agent.

So is Ervin Santana.

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That brings us up to date. Kendrys Morales eventually got $36 million from the Chicago Cubs, Paul Maholm got $11 million from Houston. Stephen Drew had to settle for a one-year deal from Cleveland. The 2014 season started with Joe Nathan, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Ervin Santana as free agents - in part because Santana was terrible in 2014 and Jimenez needed Tommy John surgery.

Here's a look at the rotation and bullpen, and here's the opening day lineup.

I'll take the current Mariners.