Practically from the very beginning of the offseason, we've heard that Jack Zduriencik and the Seattle Mariners wanted to add a veteran to the starting rotation. Thursday, the team signed Hisashi Iwakuma to a one-year contract. But presumably implicit in the word "veteran" is "Major League veteran", and Iwakuma's only ever pitched in Japan. So it stands to reason that the Mariners haven't shut the door on bringing in another arm. Ken Rosenthal:
Sources: #Cubs, #Orioles, #Mariners, #RedSox on Paul Maholm. #Pirates also in touch, but "highly unlikely" per @Dejan_Kovacevic.
#Mariners, even after signing Iwakuma, open to adding another veteran at right price.
Those things would look so much better without the Twitter formatting, but I'm leaving them as is so you can better appreciate what has become of us as a society. We should be ashamed of ourselves, but there's no one to hold us accountable. Lions could probably hold us accountable, if they were present in greater numbers. Judgmental lions.
So for those of you who have wondered whether Iwakuma means the M's are out on the Maholms and the Millwoods and the Francises of the world, the answer is no. Iwakuma reduces the odds of the M's signing a free agent starter, just because now there's less of a need, but those odds aren't 0%, or anywhere close. The team's fifth starter right now is Blake Beavan or Charlie Furbush. Beavan struck out 42 batters in 97 innings. Furbush allowed 12 homers in 12 starts. It wouldn't be the worst idea in the world to improve on them and give them more time in triple-A.
Plus, signing another free agent starter would give the M's more flexibility to trade Jason Vargas, were they so inclined, and were Vargas to have a market. I don't know if either is true.
It might seem weird for the Mariners to be looking at starters, since they have enough starters, and could really use a bat. But they might not sign another starter, and even if they do, someone could get hurt, or someone could get traded. No one will get blocked. If Danny Hultzen or James Paxton or Erasmo Ramirez or whoever looks ready, the Mariners will make room. That's not something to worry about.
So the Mariners finished with a horrible offense, a year after finishing with a horrible offense. They signed a starting pitcher. They're thinking about signing another starting pitcher. This should be received well by the general audience.
1 recs | 49 comments
I've actually found that pretty strange.
Communication gets easier and easier all the time, but at the same time, less and less coherent. How the hell did we end up adapting to the computer’s language instead of the other way around?
troymccluresf - January 6, 2012
Computers are superior
Matthew - January 6, 2012
Not as long as they are built and instructed by humans they're not
Once they can spawn and replicate on their own, then they will be. Overlords!
pdb - January 6, 2012
Yes...
once they can…
Matthew - January 6, 2012
You mean not if?
I, for one, look forward to being ruled by our mechanical masters.
JLProck - January 6, 2012
If that's the case...
Is the Marauder a computer?
Matt Erickson - January 6, 2012
Indeed.
01010110011000010111001101110100011011000111100100101110.
HititHere - January 9, 2012
Hell, I just learned yesterday that grammar constantly loses to the times.
Just to make that point clear, I typed out “constantly loses” in the subject line instead of the more proper “loses constantly”. I suppose the future grammar Nazi’s will be pointing out false usage of hashtags.
The Typical Idiot Fan - January 6, 2012
I ranted about poor hashtag usage months ago
1. CamelCase you tards.
2. Use it like a tag. If you need it to indicate subtext, then it needs a re-write
Matthew - January 6, 2012
I get using them if you want to attach your comment to a subject, like #Mariners.
But, like you said, if you need it to explain your comment further, or to make a joke, then you should probably think twice. Whatever. To each their own. I don’t want to start sounding like Darren Rovell here.
JLProck - January 6, 2012
Could also give them flexibility to trade Pineda
JackZ has called him untouchable, but after seeing the returns for Gio and Latos, I’d be very tempted.
AndrewMcQ - January 6, 2012
Florida can have him.
For Brett Lawrie.
The Typical Idiot Fan - January 6, 2012
Only if they get the Yankees
to include Matt Wieters in the deal.
junglist215 - January 6, 2012
Wait, what? Florida?
joof - January 6, 2012
The Sunshine State!
You know, with all the gang violence and Crab cakes and Cubans and drug trafficking and SeaWorld and oranges…
EequalsMc2 - January 6, 2012
Don't forget Epcot Center!
Is that place still operational?
JLProck - January 6, 2012
I appear to be half asleep.
The Typical Idiot Fan - January 6, 2012
Yeah, Brett Lawrie plays for MIAMI!
Kenneth Arthur - January 6, 2012
Jack Zduriencik spoke very highly of him during a radio interview, to the point where it didn't sound like he was interested in trading him.
Pineda is also going to FanFast for whatever that is worth. (I do remember Aaron Heilman going and then getting traded soon after)
Mayo - January 6, 2012
Probably got too skinny.
Aaroniero Arruruerie - January 6, 2012
I would really like it if they signed Maholm.
I’ve always liked him and I think he’s a good pitcher, even if not a superstar. I look at the rotation as it stands and even with Iwakuma, there’s too much volatility for me to feel comfortable. I mean, we don’t really know if Iwakuma will be able to hold his own on the major league level, but I’d feel comfortable that Maholm has a good shot to do so. Need hitters? Yeah, but we also need more starting pitchers that have a good shot to be decent starters in April.
Kenneth Arthur - January 6, 2012
I like the idea. Francis or Moyer would also work.
I know they’re not #2 material but it would be fun to put one of them in between Felix and Pineda. Just mess with hitters everywhere.
mamaxmax - January 6, 2012
I don't think volatility is a bad thing on a terrible team. The more volatility, the more likely that a projected 73 win team wins 93 games and makes the playoffs.
lailaihei - January 6, 2012
What I mean is, give yourself more starting pitching options to work with. They don't have five guys on guaranteed major league contracts that are slated to start.
The addition of Maholm would give them more flexibility and they need more flexibility, I think.
Kenneth Arthur - January 6, 2012
Ah, I got ya.
lailaihei - January 6, 2012
Fielder, Veteran Pitcher
Tomato, tomato.
RunDMD - January 6, 2012
heh
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 7, 2012
I'd rather give Beavan the 5th starter job
Punkhazard - January 6, 2012
Same
I don’t have much confidence that he’s going to be much of anything. However, I think his ridiculously low K rate will improve (it was far below his minor league averages) and his BB rate is usually pretty good. Put him out there for 150 innings, I think he’ll be worth 1.5 WAR. The extra half a win or so isn’t worth the money to me.
I still haven’t written off Furbush as a starter either, but I’d like to see him in the minors.
AndrewMcQ - January 6, 2012
Before last season started I thought Doug Fister was boring but then I saw Beavan
I doubt Beavan will be interesting like Fister was.
Edgar for Pres - January 6, 2012
Damn right they ain't cockblocking Danny Hultzen
lemonverbena - January 6, 2012
I say that because he's really good and they are unable to cockblock him because he's so good
lemonverbena - January 6, 2012
Though in reality, I bet I could totally cockblock Danny Hultzen under the right circumstances
lemonverbena - January 6, 2012
"Shut up."
Fearless Frog - January 7, 2012 via mobile
I have also considered signing most pitchers
The Mariners FO and I, we have much in common.
Bearskin Rugburn - January 6, 2012
I don't know. I don't like the idea of returning to that 2006 Pittsburgh Pirates well.
csiems - January 6, 2012
I think this is just a pressure move
Telling Boras if he doesn’t hurry up with Fielder he’s going to just spend all his cash slowly and not have any left for the big guy
valencia - January 6, 2012
Considering Francis, Millwood and Moyer
I think Maholm is probably better than any of them. Which isn’t necessarily saying a lot.
extavernmouse - January 6, 2012
I really don't see Hultzen, Paxton, or Ramirez making the team.
So this is good news to me.
Aaroniero Arruruerie - January 6, 2012
This isnt a knee-jerk "we need a bat" response
But I really think we will get diminished returns by adding another SP. If we sign a 2war pitcher and he takes the place of a 1war pitcher, that is only an improvement of 1 win even though we are likely paying for 2war.
If we sign a 2war position player and he replaces a -1war player that is an improvement of 3 wins for just the cost of 2.
Every rotation can always be improved, but you really have to ask yourself where you can make the BIGGEST improvement, otherwise you spend too much money for too small of an improvement.
It seems like a lot of people are laughing at the "bet a bat" supporters, but there is actually sound logic to back it up.
briwas101 - January 6, 2012 via mobile
You're assuming the goal is to pay market price for wins.
It isn’t. If the M’s project as a 77 win team (that may be a little high), and they need to win 90 games to get into the playoffs (that is probably a little low), they would need to spend over $50 million if they were paying market price for each of those wins. Obviously, the M’s don’t have that much money to spend, so even though it seems like adding a bat makes more sense, it really is more important that they add wins anywhere they can without paying full price for them (this is why a high risk guy like Iwakuma on a cheap contract make so much sense). So while adding a hitter may seem like a better idea in a vacuum, if they feel like they can get better value out of a starter then that still make more sense.
wetzelcoal - January 6, 2012
My assumption
And its a fair one, is that the Mariners will not get discounts from most non-japanese players.
Also, the specific pitchers that the Ms are supposedly interested in would not sign for $1.5m like iwakuma.
I have no problem with the Ms signing a 2war pitcher for $2m, but they would likely have to pay $5-8m just like any other team.
Im all for improving the team, but improving weaknesses makes more sense than improving strengths UNLESS you somehow get a killer deal, which probably isnt happening with a non-japanese player.
And my example with war is 100% valid. If a 2war player replaces a 1war player it is only a 1 win improvement. But replacing a -1war with a 2war player is a 3 win improvement. A 3 win improvement is better than a 1 win improvement.
When ichiro was good we didnt try to upgrade rf, when beltre was good we didnt try to upgrade 3b…..when Boone was good (had to go back that far) we didnt try to upgrade 2b. Same with Griffey and Arod.
Successful teams fix their weaknesses instead of trying to tweak their strengths.
Why not upgrade over felix? We can do better than having felix as our ace. Lets go get a better #1 pitcher because I dont think we should settle for just a felix
briwas101 - January 7, 2012 via mobile
I'm not saying your point about war is invalid.
Of course the best way to get better is for the M’s to replace their bad players with better players, but you have to actually have better available players to replace them. The M’s biggest weaknesses are probably 3rd base, catcher, and LF. Look at the free agents available at those positions, any improvements to those positions would be minor, and much more expensive than what the M’s have already. Additionally, non-Japanese players sign discounted contracts all the time. Look at Bedard’s deal last season, he was worth substantially more than what he was paid, but he had to sign for less because of injury concerns. At this point, the M’s are so far away from contention that their only chance is getting substantially more than what they are paying for out of high risk guys like that.
wetzelcoal - January 7, 2012
Well, we've been taking care of them lions.
And decreasing the numbers of all the other big critters that might hold us accountable. It’s their own fault for holding us accountable for decreasing their numbers. Especially tigers. What happens to Detroit when all the tigers are gone? The Detroit Historical Tigers?
PackBob - January 6, 2012
The city will be dead long before the tigers
MT Olson - January 7, 2012
heh
probably true lol
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 7, 2012
No chatspeak here please
Matthew - January 7, 2012
Sorry
I apologize.
FWIW as a Pirates fan, I think Maholm is underrated. That’s not homerism speaking either because I am tired of our “ace” being a soft-tossing lefty so I was never really enamored with Paul.
Still, he’s as good a bet as you can get to provide #3-4 starter production next year at a decent price. He’ll never wow you with his numbers and his peripherals have declined lately, but he’ll get the job done, it just may not be too pretty.
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 7, 2012
This seems like a smart reaction to how the AL West is shaping up.
Stoking up on a couple inexpensive pitchers gives the team great insurance for their untested youngsters. It gives them the room to send people back to AAA rather then being forced to use them ala Vasquez (spelled wrong I’m sure).
Plus working on pitching, though to some boring, will help keep them balanced against the Angels and the Rangers.
I’ve liked this off-season, safe and smart though kinda dull. Lordy, I’ve embraced turning 30.
sea-townie - January 7, 2012 via mobile
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