No word on Kuroda yet, except that he told his Japanese team that he will be in the US in 2008 playing for MLB.

I have a strong gut feeling that the deal is already done with Seattle, but Bavasi as secret as he is is postponing the "pulic" news until early this week when the Winter Mtgs start. Between Kuroda & some big trade it would be huge PR like the Sexson/Beltre signings within a 48 hour period 3 years ago.

It's going to be hard trumping BoSox and Yanks as they are driving the price of each other up for Santana.

BUT, like I said last week MOST of next years Free Agents will sign extension before they even hit the street for the rest of us...like Zambrano this year! Everyone's probably already heard about Peavy's supposed extension with the Pads now.

We need to lockup the top arms we can get thru trades: Santana, Peavy, Bedard...and then build around that!

I'm not concerned about mortgaging our farm. In fact, just 4 years ago the Seattle farm system was ranked as one of the best. What's happened with our farm system over the past 4 years? NOT ONE prospect has panned out! So even though Adam Jones value is high...we might want to sell these prospects on their highs and land at least one of these established aces with these prospects.

I personally think that the one that is in "reasonable" reach for Seattle is Bedard!

I also think that Fukudome is a guy that Seattle has been looking for for many years: Power LHB, major Doubles hitter, gold glove RFer, and 2 batting titles in Japan!

Heck, I wouldn't even mind trading Lopez for Prior (a lot of upside here, but would take an up & coming top pitcher like Cain or Linecum from the Giants) & running with Chen at 2B.

Bavasi has a lot of opportunities to put together a decent team in 2008. But I think it Starts with Kuroda & Fukudome!!!

We land Fukudome's LHB, and I wouldn't mind trading Ibanez to Cleveland for Laffey, and running with Jones in LF. 3 teams are interested in Ibanez cheap 1 year contract for $5.5M.

We're stuck with Sexson for 2008, and DO NOT want to pay any portion of his salary to have him leave. In fact, I would rather suffer through 2008 with Sexson "hoping" he has a stellar contract walk year.

With Sexson, Vidro & Ibanez $26M coming off the books in 2009 we can throw a TON of money at Texeira for 1B.

"If" done right Seattle can have a killer team in 2009! I don't see a 2008 Santana deal with the Ms, and I don't see us getting past the Angels in 2008...but Kuroda & Fukudome & a pitcher via trade this week and we would definitely have the wildcard advantage in 2008. THEN a Texeira signing in 2009 would definitely make us majorly competitive to go deep into the playoffs in 2009 and beyond.

I thought Texeria signed a long term deal with Atlanta. If not i would expect him to do so because he is from the Atlanta area.

Fukodome ... Fukodome

The name keeps on popping up. Is this a legitimate signing or are we talking wish list like Santana?

Garry I must certainly hope you're correct in your assertion that Kuroda is a done deal and it's just a matter of the FO announcing it to the press and the public.I futher agree if the M's have Fukudome's name on a contract hopefully no more than 3 yrs to platoon with Balentien in LF.

I like to see to be quite frank a deal that sents Sexson/Lopez and say a mid level RP to the Giants for Lowry/Durham and Ishigawa a 1stB AAA prospect.
Good deal for both clubs the Giants get Sexson who they have coveted for some years and the M's by accepting Durham in the deal saves 7 mil and dumps Sexson and his contract.
The M's also get young saveable LHP and near MLB ready 1stBman with short term veteran 2ndBman to platoon with Chen.

Fish I believe you're correct Texeria did sign a 3 or 4 yr extension contract with the Braves not to long after they aquired him in the trade with Texas.

I agree with wrmike. Fukodome, what's up with him? Geoff, can you provide us some info on the guy and whether or not the M's are going after him?

Re: What's happened with our farm system over the past 4 years? NOT ONE prospect has panned out!
Felix has panned out. Asdrubal Cabrera is looking pretty good as well. I won't count Putz as he was pretty old for AAA in '04. Your point is valid.

Geoff,
The M's still NEED a corner OF.
Guillen would have been a PERFECT player for the M's, regardless of the steroids, for the following reasons:
1. Guillen is a better defender in the OF than Raul in all areas like range, arm strength, routes to ball, jumps on the ball, and etc...
2. Even at $10 mil for 2008, it is GUARANTEED for only one year...so you do not end up blocking a prospect (like Vlad or other)
3. Guillen has produced at Safeco as a right handed hitter...not many right handers have, and anyone who is brought in will have to figure out how to hit in Safeco.
4. Since Bavasi / Lincoln / Armstrong or whomever in the M's FO believes that the team NEEDS and MUST HAVE a vocal leader (like Buhner, Everett, Guillen), Bavasi now has to go get another "leader", since the M's still do not have one. I GUARANTEE the next leader will be worse choice than Guillen.
5. Since the deal with Guillen would only be a one year deal and due to Guillen's "veteran-ness", Guillen would be an easy player to trade after the AS Break to get a quality young player in return.
6. In having Guillen, the M's FO would have to trade Sexson (or Vidro or Ibanez), because even these idiots who just let Guillen go realize that the M's have too many 1B / DH veterans on the team. Unfortunately, they let the wrong one go.

Looking forward to all your reports this week Geoff! Bring home a couple winners with you please. Keep up the great work!

Geoff,
While I agree that Fukodome would be a good choice, I have no faith that Nintendo / Japan would open the purse strings enough so as to get both Kuroda and Fukodome...thus GUILLEN was the best choice.
I can only hope your choices (Kuroda and Fukodome) both come about.
I totally agree that the M's can not and will not be able to compete with the Angels this year, so Bavasi needs to be focused on next year. However again, I have no faith that Bavasi has the job security or foresite to be able to move any of the guys who will not be around on 2008, regardless of Sexson's salary.

We're definitely not in the Santana running, but might have a good chance at getting Bedard or maybe even Burnett. I hope we get Kuroda, but a lot of teams have interest in him, however we have Kenji behind the plate so we have to have some advantage there.

I would like to see Fukudome end up a Mariner, but I don't see Bavasi making a move in that direction, unless Adam Jones is dealt for pitching. I think we should deal Jones while his stock is high, because our need for pitching is huge. I can think of handful of Mariner prospects over the years that were highly regarded and then did nothing (Marc Newfield, Jose Cruz Jr., Joel Piniero, etc.)

Since I have little faith in our GM, I would like to see Kuroda become a Mariner at the Winter Meetings, at least. All other scenarios are just extra.

I think we should take a look at dealing for Mark Prior and or bringing back a Freddy Garcia at a discount rate.

I hope you keep us posted Geoff.

Typical stupidity from Bavasi and Co. for failing to offer Guillen a compensatory pick.

First, there is little reason to believe that Guillen won't get the multi-year deal he's looking for. Teams don't care if he used 'roids. Somebody will give him the money. Bavasi just cost the team a top-40 pick.

Second, if the reason for this dumb move was one of principle, I'm still waiting for them to waive Sexson for his DWI. Further, I wonder what their take is on Bret Boone's abrupt collapse in 2004 - or Joel Pineiro's. The Seattle Mariners are not virgins in the whole steroid affair.

Third - Bavasi has already said he won't start two rookies (Jones and Balentein) in the OF. If he doesn't want Ibanez in LF, that means he's got a hole to fill, and that he doesn't think Guillen is good enough to play OF for the M's FOR ONE MORE YEAR. Or, it means that he's as horrible of a player evaluator as we all guessed, and he thinks that Raul can do the job in LF.

Just a dumb, dumb move by a dumb, dumb GM.

We're not getting Santana. He said he would only go to Yankees or Boston:

http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/sp_bb_sox03_12-03-07_D683VHV_v14.29961f1.html

I am also holding out hope there is some way Guillen comes back. I think his presence in the clubhouse and aggressive play are going to be sorely missed.

Not virgins? You're right, it's the exact opposite. Bill Bavasi is the "trail blazer" when it comes to paving the way for other GM's to trade for, sign, and start players with failed drug tests. That will be his legacy 10, 20 years and beyond.


June 27, 2004 - Becomes the first GM in Major League history to trade for a player with a failed steroid test. (Mike Morse)


7/31/05 - Recalled Jamal Strong from AAA Tacoma, four months after Strong became the first player on the Mariner 40-man roster to test positive for performance enhancing drugs.


7/27/2005 - Bill Bavasi became the first GM in Major League history to start a position player with a failed drug test when Jamal Strong started against the White Sox. (Strong's first appearance was on August 13th against the Royals).


8/13/2005 - Bill Bavasi becomes the first GM in Major League history to start a pitcher with a failed drug test. (Ryan Franklin)


January 11, 2006 - Bill Bavasi becomes the first GM in Major League history to sign a known and admitted steroid user as a free agent. (Matt Lawton)

Sorry, that should be 8/27/05 when Jamal Strong made his first start after failing a drug test.

here you go adam and all you idiots that hate bavasi because..well i dont know why. just to hate someone i guess. this is from a mlb trad rumors article:

Bob Dutton believes Guillen is just posturing, as the Mets are the only other interested club. It still seems like Guillen can't get more than three years, but you never know. Dutton notes that the Mariners accurately judged the interest in Guillen to be weak, and preferred to abandon a sandwich pick rather than risk getting stuck with him for one more year.

not only do we not want him. every seems nervous about taking him except for the royals. give it a rest and talk about something else for a change

Glad to see that the blog is back. I'm looking forward (in a nervous kind of way) to see what the M's do this offseason.

Here are some random thoughts: 1. The departure of Guillen likely means that Ibanez will open in LF, and Jones or Balentein will fill the other corner position. Which, by default, means that Sexson will be our 1B again this year. Not really a big shocker there, we have too much money invested in him - and nobody else wants him. I'm pretty much resigned to that fate.

2. We all know the M's need SP, but how much are they willing to give up in order to do that. And how likely are guys like Haren, Santana, and Bedard going to OK trades to Seattle when they can pitch for the Yanks, Sox, Mets, Braves, etc. I think perhaps our best chance is signing Kuroda and then looking within for the 5th starter (RRS or Morrow or Baek, etc).

3. With everyone focused on pitching, perhaps we should look elsewhere. I wonder if we could put together a package for Brian Roberts, whom mlbtraderumors.com says might be available. It would probably take Lopez + two top prospects, but an Ichiro/Roberts 1/2 punch would be nice.

i saw on roto wire that matt clement is getting healthy and that seattle and toranto are in the mix

I second eastcoast and wish all of you other retards that frequent this blog would just shut up with you "Bavasi is the worst GM" crap. THEY DON'T WANT GUILLEN! Can't any of you get that through your thick heads?! Sure it would have been nice to have the compensatory pick but what if Guillen realizes that he's not going to get any kind of better offer and his best hope is to stay with Seattle for another year, so he accepts the arbitration? Now the M's are stuck with him and really forced to trade Ibanez if they want Jones to play every day which they clearly do. Obviously I am totally for moving Ibanez (my name, a dur) but not so that we can bring back someone that is only going to impede the progress of this team, IMO. Not only that, but all of you out there proponing for the Mariners to go after this Fukodome guy, there's no way it's going to happen and I wish you would just shut up with it. The Mariners don't need any more outfielders, obviously. If they did they'd have kept Guillen. They want a couple of starters, improved play at second and that's it. We got Jones and Balentien on their way, not to mention Mike Morse and co.

my bad, i second timmy, not eastcoast

Librocrat beat me to it - I heard the same thing this morning, that Santana only wants to play for the Yankees or the Red Sox. Sigh.

Timmy and byebyeIbanez - You guys new here or something? Calling people who don't agree with you idiots and retards isn't cool.

And bbI, "there's no way they're going to get Fukudome so just shut up about it" is a pretty odd comment in the middle of hot stove season. This is the one time out of the year that wild speculation is best, and part of the fun. If you don't like specific conversations, go start your own damned blog. As for Fukudome specifically, I agree the M's aren't going to get him; not because of failing on the M's part, but because last I knew he'd re-upped with his team in Japan and decided not to come to the majors this year. If someone has more recent info than that, though...

Walrus - I agree with you on everything but your last point. I don't think the F.O. sees the same logjam of 1b/DH types that the fans (well, the fans who comment online) can see. Also, something I know I don't always remember: just because a player really should be moved, doesn't mean anyone will take him. By all rights, Sexson should have been traded last year for a ham sandwich. No one wanted him. Name another team that could actually benefit from Sexson, Vidro, Guillen, Ibanez being there, and then you have a possibility. (I only lump the last two in there b/c so many others do; I'd actually be alright with Guillen in right and Raul at DH...)

Another confirmation of no Santana in the NW

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071203&content_id=2315814&vkey=news_sea&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea

Rich keep getting richer...same as life.

Timmy and byebyeIbanez - First of all, if you've got any sort of argument as to why Bavasi is NOT a terrible GM, I'd love to hear it.

Second, the decision re: Guillen was simple.

Here were Bavasi's options:

a. Go to spring training as is, with Ibanez in LF and Jones in RF, and do not offer Guillen arbitration. As has been demonstrated ad nauseum here and in other forums, Ibanez is a horrible defensive LF and a liability to the team. This means the Mariners are worse off defensively, AND they don't get a compensatory pick.

b. Move Ibanez to first or DH, and put Wlad in RF, with Jones in LF, and don't offer arby to Guillen. Even though Bavasi said he wouldn't do this, and though Wlad remains an important trade piece, this is an option. What it means is that we get better defensively (anyone is better than Ibanez), but we lose offensive production. Despite Wlad's showing in a handful of ABs, he's still got some issues to work out at the plate. He'll likely suffer as a dead-pull hitter in Safeco. Plus, our chances of getting a deal for a SP take a hit. AND we don't get a compensatory pick.

c. Don't offer Guillen, and trade or sign for a OF. Since the top focus of the M's is to get SP, I doubt you'll see a deal for a starting OF. That leaves the FA market. Geoff Jenkins? Perhaps, but Bavasi has to compete with other teams, and will he be able to convince Jenkins to come here? If not, his options are Ibanez or who? Wlad? If Wlad, then our ability to get a SP just took a hit. AND we don't get a comp. pick.

d. Offer Guillen arbitration. Here's Bavasi's risk: He might actually have to pay a $10 million salary for ONE YEAR to a RH hitter who was productive at Safeco and was good in the clubhouse. And if Guillen accepts, Bavasi can still use Wlad in a trade and can still get Ibanez out of the OF. Oh, the horror!! Weigh that "risk" against the possible reward: Having Guillen turn it down because the Royals, or Mets, or Cubs offer a two- or three-year deal, giving the Mariners a top-40 pick.

What it comes down to is this: The M's don't have an extra comp. pick, AND Bavasi still has to figure out what to do in the OF.

Bill Bavasi is a terrible GM, and I defy anyone to prove me wrong.

Oh, and byebyeIbanez - Mike Morse??

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA!

"I second eastcoast and wish all of you other retards that frequent this blog would just shut up with you "Bavasi is the worst GM" crap. THEY DON'T WANT GUILLEN! Can't any of you get that through your thick heads?!"

And how would offering him arbitration make any difference with whether they want him or not. It was would have been such a low risk move it was crazy not to offer it to him.

"Sure it would have been nice to have the compensatory pick but what if Guillen realizes that he's not going to get any kind of better offer and his best hope is to stay with Seattle for another year, so he accepts the arbitration?"

Guillen isn't going to have that hard of a time finding someone to give him a multi year deal IMO. And if he did decide to accept arbitration he still would likely be easily tradable. And if you couldn't trade him you could release him in the spring and only owe him a quarter of his salary.

I'll prove you wrong right here...
Everyone wants to campaign for these big exotic moves in FA or with trades while Bavasi sits back and watches other teams hamstring themselves financially with stupid mistakes like the Giants with Zito and the Red Sox with Dice-K (cost per value is WAY off, not saying he isn't decent) etc. and etc. he makes moves like adding Guillen who NOBODY save me thought would be a good addition at this time last year and now look at all of you wanting him to stay LMAO. He trades for Vidro for next to nothing puts him at DH and although I particularly dislike Vidro and want him gone, there's no denying the brilliance of that move and how it paid off and resurrected Vidro's career. Whereas Alfonso Soriano signed an astronomical deal with the Cubs for 140 mil, Bavasi got Ichiro re-signed for $90 and although I dislike Ichiro as well because of his selfish/cocky personality and the fact that he doesn't do anything but slap at the ball and get these cheap base hits (sorta just annoys me when guys like Granderson bust their ass and get half the credit -- I'd take Granderson over Ichiro every day of the week and twice on Sundays). IMO the only errors that Bavasi has made in his tenure are dealing Soriano (who I loved) for Ramirez and ... wow I just totally forgot the other one I was going to say. But now when you look at all of the positives: 1) he's rebuilt the farm system BIG TIME 2) he traded away Eddie Guardado and put in Putz who has been nothing short of amazing 3) he didn't waste money on guys like Zito and Millwood and countless others 4) successful signings of Beltre, Guillen, Johjima, Yuniesky (re-signing) and trades for Vidro and Broussard.

The well publicized gaffe of trading Soriano for Ramirez as I've said made me angry at first but Ramirez does have potential, he's got good stuff, it's his head that needs to be fixed and who better than Mel to get him right. And if he does get right, it only cost us a great set-up man but OMG we have a great closer and great set-up men in Lowe and Sherill. Not too bad of a loss, IMO.

If that won't dissuade the critics than nothing will and you haters will only continue to be blinded by the bad and block out the good. You're always quick to judge the bad moves but late to give credit to the good ones. How about being patient and waiting for things to play out? You know, that cuts down the stress in ur life and won't give you ulcers.

Perhaps the other error you couldn't think of was when Bavasi traded Carlos Guillen for Ramon Santiago? Or perhaps it was the Richie Sexson signing? Speizio?