Quick Thursday Wrap-Up
by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 7, 2006 8:34 AM PST
in Seattle Mariners News, Regular
- If you thought we had it bad, Raffy Soriano went to bed last night completely unaware that he had been dealt. His agent didn't find out until 9 or 10pm, and by that point Soriano was out cold because he's currently got the flu. Contrary to several reports, he hasn't taken a physical yet, so nothing's official. Nobody's quite sure whether they'll want him to take it in the DR or the States, but given that he's pretty sick right now, it could be a little while.
- Via Dave, the Mariners picked up Sean White from the Pirates after he was selected in the Rule 5 Draft. Seemingly for no reason at all. He's a groundball pitcher who's able to keep the ball in the yard because he doesn't throw strikes, and we already have one of those in the bullpen. There's not enough room in this city for two Sean + Colors. White's not going to stick around, because if he does, um, that's embarrassing.
- The Mariners let Joel Pineiro's agent know that they have renewed interest in his services. Eventually it's going to get to the point where all this stuff is funny and we can share a blithe chuckle, but we're not there yet, not by a long shot.
- Want to know the value of a good relief pitcher in this market? The Nationals want a starting pitcher and a top prospect for Chad Cordero. The Pirates had Adam LaRoche for Mike Gonzalez before the Braves realized they could get another terrific arm for free. Eric Gagne is being hotly pursued despite having thrown only 15.1 innings in the last two years. Scott Linebrink has been discussed as the primary return in a Manny Ramirez trade. The Royals got Brian Bannister for Ambiorix freaking Burgos. Baltimore gave three-year contracts to Chad Bradford, Jamie Walker, and Danys Baez. And so on. The most maddening thing about this Soriano trade is that Bill Bavasi very clearly isn't cashing him in for anything even remotely close to max value. Instead of signing John Thomson and then dealing Soriano for (say) Adam LaRoche or a good starting pitcher, he ignored John Thomson and dealt Soriano for back-or-the-rotation junk. Don't analyze this trade in isolation. Doing so will only lead you to the improper conclusion that it somehow isn't as bad as it really is.
Bavasi and Hargrove
Are becoming WAY too similar for my tastes as far as tactical prowess is concerned.ThundaPC - December 7, 2006
Exactamundo
Teams are starving for good relief pitching right now and will pay a premium. Boston fans are right now kicking themselves and bemoaning that the Braves landed a potential elite closer for next to nothing.Things Bavasi could have done that would have been eminently better:
manyoso - December 7, 2006
Speaking of Soriano in the rotation
evidently there's been considerable disagreement within the organization over which way to go. Chaves has been pushing for Raffy to start for more than a year now, particularly at the most recent team meetings in Arizona. Nobody would listen.Jeff Sullivan - December 7, 2006
"Nobody would listen."
Matthew - December 7, 2006
Making sense out of all this
What could explain the sudden brain-dropping-out-of-his-ass deal with Bavasi?Yes he's made moves in the past that ended up sucking, but at the time those moves were made there was potential payoff with each one.
Even the JoseG move has a potential payoff.
But this has no upside at all.
Soriano has not taken a physical yet? Let's hope this gives us time to do something more.
eknpdx - December 7, 2006
One word:
Panic.Schmidt was lost and within hours Bavasi was frantic. That's the only thing that can explain it.
manyoso - December 7, 2006
Exactly
This was a horrible, terrible, idiotic reach made in desparation. PERIOD.tait644 - December 7, 2006
how can you be so dumb
as to panic into acquiring something you already have?Matthew - December 7, 2006
Exactly
hell, Soriano in the rotation would've been better, even if he couldn't adjust right away.Trent - December 7, 2006
There are current Ms pitchers
who wont be used that are better than Horacio.Hell, John Thompson is way better than Horacio and just as "injury-plagued"
Matthew - December 7, 2006
Can Bavasi be arrested
if he takes any kind of paying job with the Braves after getting fired from the Mariners at the end of the 2007 season?Tom C - December 7, 2006
I'm ok with keeping Pineiro
if he's in the pen. He should be cheap cause he sucks. Let him rebuild his career for a couple months and then trade him.Oh, and why don't we trade Mateo right now? He isn't very good and it seems like we could get something for him.
I miss Lowe.
Edgar for Pres - December 7, 2006
Jo-El wouldn't be cheap
Unless we cut him and then sign him later the cheapest we can get him at is a little more than 3 million a year.3+ million a year for him...out of the bullpen.
No thanks.
Bill just say no. So help me God if we resign Joel to a multiyear contract, I will go postal.
Ben in Va - December 7, 2006
I'm tired of thinking about the Mariners.
I think I'll go out and see a movie tonight. Anyone know where 'Kill Bill' is playing? :-)Tom2000 - December 7, 2006
It is the next day
and after shock turned to anger I am now bewildered. Trying to wrap my mind around this trade has caused me great pain. I feel as if I am dumber, just having been an M's fan during during this period. What could Bavasi and the front office have been thinking? Unless Soriano has been cringing every time a ball is hit up the middle, or ducking with each crack of the bat, why would they do this?Bavasi is the point man, the throat to choke on this deal, but clearly he does not go to the restroom without permission from Lincoln and company....this morning is like waking up from a nightmare and finding Freddie Krueger or Bill Krueger standing at the foot of the bed...
Dollar97 - December 7, 2006
It gets worse!
WeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeTrading for Soriano could help revive talks between the Braves and Los Angeles Angels, who were prepared earlier this week to send utility man Chone Figgins and first-base prospect Casey Kotchman to the Braves for LaRoche, but balked at including a standout pitcher in the deal.
Jeff Sullivan - December 7, 2006
The Bavasi press conference...
will be interesting. Then again, I think he is in hiding. Wanna bet that he's had some time to think about it and figured out that he panicked? The guy is toast. He must see writing on the wall... But then the entire organization should be toast for this.manyoso - December 7, 2006
So not only did we fuck ourselves
But we may have just helped out the Angels get their big bat.Fantastic!
Goose - December 7, 2006
I love it.
"Two dudes that got hit in the head by line drives, how ironic," said Ramirez.Deanna - December 7, 2006
www.talkingchop.com reports it is official :(
manyoso - December 7, 2006
Uh
How does this trade become official before Soriano takes a physical?Jeff Sullivan - December 7, 2006
Dunno, but they are announcing it
Perhaps they just had to review Raffy's previous records...manyoso - December 7, 2006
Here is the official announcement
...from the braves site:Note that they are not reporting any other players involved. I can't believe this was a one-for-one deal. Just amazing.
manyoso - December 7, 2006
Figures
Anyone else click that link and get a "Happy Halloween" ad at the top of the page? That's funny....and sad at the same time.ThundaPC - December 7, 2006
Sean Mustard!
With the candlestick! In the conservatorium!JLC - December 7, 2006
I want Sean "Fireball" Fuschia
Gomez - December 7, 2006
Our opening day rotation
Felix, Washburn, Ramirez, Baek/Woods, Pineiro. My god, that's 90 losses on paper.My only solace is that this would seal Bavasi/Hargrove's demise in 2007.
Raffy probably has the same illness I have. This is flat out kicking my ass and I actually had to call out of work this morning.
Gomez - December 7, 2006
We seem to be viewing
the baseball equivalent of the Deuteronomic Curse, where the Israelites are told that if they misbehave, an avalanche of catastrophes will ensue, culminating in a return to Egypt to be sold again as slaves.Looking ahead, we can expect announcements that Safeco will be bulldozed, the Kingdome will be rebuilt, Maury Wills will manage, and Willie Horton will be signed as DH.
Paytheline - December 7, 2006
Yeah, that's bad, but
I can certainly get behind the "return Bavasi to Egypt to be sold as a slave" part.Tom2000 - December 7, 2006
You can sign a rainbow, sign a rainbow
Mark Redman! Shawn Green! Sean Green! Khalil Greene! Sean White! Rondell White! Willie Blue-mquist! Hunter Brown! Travis Blackley! Wheeeee!Deanna - December 7, 2006
Hmmm.
Somehow I doubt that we could round up one of the Indigo Girls to come play for the M's. They'd probably hit better than Bloomquist, though.PositivePaul - December 7, 2006
Don't forget manager Bud Black!
Gomez - December 7, 2006
Don't forget
Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown!patsfan - December 7, 2006
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