Jeff Kingston Quotes
by Jon ~ January 31st, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Last update: 11:20 pm, Sunday
As mentioned in the last post, Seattle Mariners Assistant GM Jeff Kingston has been speaking of the team’s intentions to bring in a right handed hitter for the bench as well as a pitcher the last couple of days at Mariners Fan Fest.
“We’re still looking at a couple more pieces here we feel we’re pretty close on. Still looking at another right handed bat, maybe help out at DH and first, and then add another pitcher. Hopefully we’ll have some more of those items checked off our list here the next week.”
“We are still talking to some right handed bats that are out there on the market right now; we hope to land one here in the next week or so. I think our vision is someone who can help Ken Griffey in the DH spot, maybe spell Casey Kotchman at first base at times against left handed pitching; that’s where we see this player fitting in. I’m not sure he’s going to be an impact type bat, but someone who can really help out against left handed pitching and give Grif and Kotchman days off at times. As far as the pitching, we are still trying to land a pitcher as well… we do anticipate landing a pitcher sometime in the next week.”
Some interesting stuff. Two things I take from this with regards to the 1B/DH:
- “out there on the market right now” seems to imply free agents. Obviously, there is the “trade market,” but I think it would have been worded differently if they were negotiating with other teams for said bat.
- Notice in both quotes that the focus seems to be on getting help for Griffey rather than Kotchman. You could take this to mean that this bat isn’t necessarily a true first baseman, and also that Milton Bradley could see more time in the field that we’d all like (which is great for the batting lineup, but not for the defense and Bradley’s health).
Two guys jump to mind. One is Ryan Garko, who I’ve brought up in previous posts, and the other is Jermaine Dye.
Garko is a not-terrible defensive first baseman who has some home run power to all fields, hits lefties well and is a pretty solid hitter overall. His upside is limited, but I think he’s a known quantity and wouldn’t be much of a risk.
Dye is a little risky considering his age, but the guy still has some big time thunder in his bat (406 average home run distance last year) and mashes lefties (.894 OPS in 2009, .871 career). He’s only played one game at first base in his big league career and a few more in the minors years ago, but he has stated this offseason that he is willing to play there if it helps him get a contract, and you’ve got to think he may be working out at first base this offseason if that is what he’s telling teams. That second quote seems to describe Dye better than any available free agent– with the focus on DH rather than first base– and it’s no big surprise that there are some rumblings making their way across the interwebs that Dye is in Seattle for a physical. I have no idea where this rumor first came from so I’m certainly skeptical, but it seems to match up with Kingston’s quotes. Keep an eye on that (but please curb your enthusiasm until then). Dye recently turned down an offer worth about $3.3M from the Chicago Cubs, according to reports.
More on how Dye would effect (handcuff?) the roster and what could be expected from him if he should sign. Same with Garko or anyone else.
19 Responses to Jeff Kingston Quotes
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MarinerMan6
January 31st, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Jon, good stuff, thanks for the info. I think the SP would be a welcome addition but I guess I didn’t realize they want to platoon Kotchman.
Unrelated, its cool you’re a Blazer fan. I grew up in Portland and really the only teams I care about are the Blazers and the Ms (although M’s hold my ultimate allegiance).
Jon
January 31st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Some sketchy rumors that Jermaine Dye is in Seattle…
BoiseM
January 31st, 2010 at 5:23 pm
“Some sketchy rumors that Jermaine Dye is in Seattle…”
You have my attention.
MarinerMan6
January 31st, 2010 at 5:37 pm
where is this from???
Jon Reply:
January 31st, 2010 at 5:38 pm
The all reliable grapevine. We’ll see what happens.
Aliyana
January 31st, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Jermaine Dye turned down $3.3 million from the Cubs a couple days ago.
Do we know that they are looking for major league 1B/DH and not someone they can sign to a minor league deal?
MarinerMan6
January 31st, 2010 at 5:48 pm
With Dye he could be the RH DH and we could see how he looks at 1B to platoon with Kotchman. Griffey relegated to PH and Bradley plays LF against LHP and DH’s vs. RHP. If we sign him though I see an 11 man staff with Hannahan, Langerhans, Brynes, Dye, and Griffey on the bench. This all with Brynes playing LF vs. RHP, Langerhands utility OF, Hannahan utility IF, Dye RH DH and maybe platoon at 1B (if he can play it), and Griffey pinch hitter for Jack Wilson/Rob Johnson at the end of games.
200tang
February 1st, 2010 at 1:23 am
I think it’s funny that even with the huge advantage in HRs, Mike Sweeney still out-OPSed him last year.
I wish they would sign Garko/Gomes/Baldelli if they really are after a 1B/DH.
200tang Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 1:30 am
Figures I would make a mistake. He actually out-OPS+’ed him.
Jon Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 2:09 am
First of all, who is “he”
200tang Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 2:51 am
Of course I have 2 mistakes in one sentence. Jermaine Dye.
carlls007
February 1st, 2010 at 2:29 am
Great work! Since the right handed bat is now clear, I am more interested in who the pitcher will be. Given Mr. Kingston obviously didn’t claim him to be a starter or reliever, it makes little sense to add another bullpen arm when Kelly, League, Lowe and Aardsma are all closer qualified.
But if the M’s are adding a starter, he should have more upsides than either Vargas, Olson and Fister to make the signing make sense. Would it be Wang? Also, if they do acquire a legit no.5 starter, is there also a chance that they trade away one of those three pitchers to the Nats for Willingham?
Oh, I kind of went too far. But according to the Nats, they are more than willing to trade Willingham for pitching depth.
Jon Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 2:35 am
The right handed bat is now clear?
carlls007 Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 3:01 am
I think just like you said, it is difficult to not be Dye or Garko because the rest of the market can hardly fit.
Among right handed bats with MLB experience:
Marcus Thames doesn’t,
Reed Johnson kind of fits the profile but he’s closed to be a Dodgers.
The rest are mostly left-handed DH type or injury prone players which cannot server the team’s need.
section331
February 1st, 2010 at 5:36 am
Eh, a market is a market – if they’re not going to talk about how much money they have left, and nobody really sees deals until they’re done, they’re certainly not going to stipulate between free agents and trade. Just my opinion, though.
I wish I would have brought a note pad this weekend.
docmilo
February 1st, 2010 at 5:49 am
“…but someone who can really help out against left handed pitching and give Grif and Kotchman days off at times.” Hmm. Sounds like Griffey is the primary DH option and won’t be getting spelled by Bradley so much. At least that sounds like the plan. I wonder where I’ve heard that line of thought?
“Days off at times” doesn’t mean a platoon. It means days off at times.
Luisam911
February 1st, 2010 at 8:05 am
Do you think we could see another “out of nowhere” move like we have seen in the past?
ernier
February 1st, 2010 at 9:20 am
Interesting stuff Jon! I think I’d rather have Garko over Dye, but if Dye is willing (and able) to play 1B I suppose that gives the M’s more flexibility. Dye could play DH, 1B, or LF/RF. He’s not a good outfielder, but he does have experience.
He has an .871 OPS against lefties and in 221 PA’s at Safeco he has a .777 OPS with 8 HR, so he’s had some success at the Safe. I could live with signing Dye.
Coug1990
February 1st, 2010 at 9:48 am
The AP is reporting that the Mariners have signed Ryan Garko.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txmarinersgarko&prov=st&type=lgns