Off Season Focus: Seattle Mariners

Steven Hanson puts his “Off-season Focus” on the Seattle Mariners.

One year after losing 99 games, the Seattle Mariners look to revamp their struggling offense and starting rotation. Upcoming stars like Jeremy Reed, acquired from the Chicago White Sox last year in a trade for Freddy Garcia, provide the future for the Mariners.

Last season the Mariners released shortstop Rich Aurilia in the middle of the season and brought up 20-year-old Jose Lopez from AAA Tacoma to replace him. Since then, the new signings from last off season proved to be busts; with Scott Spiezio sitting on the bench, and Rich Aurilia on a different team.

This off-season, outfielder Randy Winn may be traded for some needed depth in the bullpen. A name being thrown around for a possible deal to Seattle in exchange for Winn has been Baltimore's Jorge Julio.


Needs: 1B, 3B, OF, SP, RP

Along with Aurilia, first baseman John Olerud was released and was later signed with the New York Yankees, leaving Seattle with a gaping whole at first base. Along with the retirement of Edgar Martinez who could have been a possible (although slight) first-basemen in 2005, the Mariners will be shopping for a first baseman to fill that hole. A possible scenario for the Mariners, however, would be to sign an outfielder instead of a first baseman, and move Raul Ibanez to first.

Names that have popped up this season for the Mariners include Matt Clement, Carl Pavano, Adrian Beltre, Corey Koskie, Richie Sexson, and Carlos Delgado. Seattle has made offers to most of those players, including an offer reaching five years worth more than $10 million per season for the 25-year-old Beltre.

Predicted Signings: 1B Richie Sexson, 3B Adrian Beltre, SP Matt Clement

Although the market this year has obviously evolved from years past, the Mariners could get by with signing Beltre, since barely any other teams will be able to match Seattle's offer thus far.
Clement, whom last year played for the Chicago Cubs, will most likely sign towards the middle of January for around 3 years, at $8 million per year.

Although he was injured for most of last season, Richie Sexson will attract offers from across the league, but will, towards the beginning of spring training, sign with the Mariners.
Probably the most surprising team last year, with more than 30 losses than their total in 2002, the Mariners could be in the hunt for the playoffs once again with the signing of these three players.

If healthy, these new pickups could lift the Mariners into at least third place in the AL West, easily the best division in baseball.

2005 Season Prediction: 86-76, 3rd in AL West

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions specific to this article, please do not hesitate to email Steven Hanson at bravest2@yahoo.com.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.