Comments on: This Doesn’t Smell Like Rebuilding

By: Jon Shields

Jon Shields — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:57:41 +0000

^It’s a common connection people make, but you have to think about it like this:

Bringing Johjima in to improve communication with three pitchers would worsen communication with the other 9-10 pitchers.

The Sox are a team with the payroll flexibility, a ballpark that would benefit Johjima, and a vacancy at catcher, but there are much better options for them.

Johjima calls a bad game, is awful at blocking pitches in the dirt, cannot walk to save his life and has suddenly lost his ability to hit. Something has to dramatically change for anyone to seriously consider him at $8M per.

If Seattle were desperate to move him they may look for a contract swap, but there isn’t many terrible contracts that extend through the next 2-3 years (that aren’t on the Mariners, anyway).

The only match I can think of off the top of my head is LA’s Juan Pierre, who is also signed through 2011. Seattle has little use for Pierre, though, and the Dodgers would have to think about moving Russell Martin to third base, something they’ve thought about but would be stupid to do. I don’t see it happening, nor would I want it to happen. Pierre makes more, anyway.

By: MarcT

MarcT — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:09:25 +0000

With Dice-K, Okajima and possibly the new kid, Tazawa coming on board….maybe, just maybe, the Red Sox are considering Johjima behind the plate to better handle communcation, if nothing else?

By: section331

section331 — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:55:21 +0000

“They have much better options than the worst team in the AL.”

They suuuuure do. haha! I know it’s far too obvious that it won’t happen.
I guess the “feel out” thing seems like a good idea – I wouldn’t think Zduriencik would have much cause to know a whole lot about how Boras operates at that level, so maybe that is indeed what’s going on. Whatever the case, all the suspense is killin’ me.

“Varitek is such an odd inclusion.”

I concur.

By: Jon Shields

Jon Shields — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:37:54 +0000

I can’t remember if it was ever announced that there was going to be a payroll cut, or if it was just implied/assumed. Either way, if the team wants to sign someone to a big contract they can always change their mind or just backload the contract. I don’t see a Tex or Sabathia signing even if the team gets the okay, though. They have much better options than the worst team in the AL.

Churchill added a comment in that same thread in which he makes the poitn that Zduriencik could just be trying to “feel out” Scott Boras, which could explain the connection to Tex, Varitek and Lowe.

I don’t see either Tex or Lowe signing, but at least they can be justified if you try hard enough. Varitek is such an odd inclusion.

By: section331

section331 — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:54:50 +0000

I’m not great at this part of the game at all, but I was under the impression that the front office was giving Zduriencik LESS money to work with? Everything I’ve read says that Boras is asking an inhumane amount of money for Teixeira, how would we be able to go through with that?
If we sign Varitek for any reason, I may have to burn SafeCo to the ground…
Giambi seems like a one-year deal to me, if at all; isn’t he getting up there in years? I guess we do need a DH, though, for sure…

By: Jon Shields

Jon Shields — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:49:18 +0000

It’s not that he’s going to hit a “wall” necessarily, but just that there is no reason for this team to pay ~$15M a year for any pitcher, especially one as old as Lowe. Considering the team’s situation, the rotation shouldn’t be one of the worries. Hernandez-Bedard-Silva-RRS-Morrow is pretty solid, and better than a lot of teams. Even if Bedard cannot go we still have Washburn and others. Next season Seattle will be without Bedard, Washburn and Batista, and a play can then be made for a good FA pitcher.

Also, I’d avoid Sabathia like the plague. Obviously I’d love for him to be on my team, but it is just too risky to give ANY pitcher so much money and so many years, especially on a team already loaded with bad contracts.

By: Dustin Shires

Dustin Shires — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:55:32 +0000

I’d kill for Teixieira or Sabathia, but my gut tells me that neither would even visit Seattle.

Jon: Good job spelling Teixeira correctly! (Only he would understand this).

I don’t see why you would avoid Lowe. His skillset isn’t the power-type pitcher that loses velocity with age. He relies on the movement of his pitches, along with location. I don’t see him hitting a wall. If anything, I think it would be minor decreases in his stats, but nothing insanely drastic that would cause me to avoid him all together.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:34:25 +0000

I like this post…the M’s could take a very interesting approach to making the team better. It’s too early to get my hopes up, but I think Zduriencik has potential to get this team out of the cellar faster than I first expected.

By: Mariner Melee

Mariner Melee — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:26:44 +0000

Some interesting things. I don’t really see why the Mariners are looking into so many starting pitchers. unless they plan to non-tender Bedard, the rotation is set for half the year.
Bullpen options make sense. Effective and cheap.
Varitek however makes no sense. We already have a catcher overload and probably need to deal Johnson.

Giambi I like. Blake I like. Tex and Sabathia won’t happen, and the SS options are from a pure defensive standpoint which is better than having a good bat, and okay defense.

Interesting to see what happens.