Mariners Mini Morsels: Movember 25 (morning edition)

 

Buster Olney sees a lot to like in the Mariners, much more than a lot of grousing Mariners fans do for sure. His extensive article opens with: “There are more than a few rising young executives — and older executives, for that matter — who are outside of the Seattle Mariners‘ organization and looking in, and they are wistful, wishing they could grab the Mariners’ steering wheel. They see potential in the passion of a fan base that is dormant after more than a decade of struggles. They see the Mariners as the great sleeping giant in baseball. They see a possible financial powerhouse, given that the Mariners own their own television network. They see a team saturated with prospects taken near the top of the draft.”

He goes on to name some players he can see the M’s acquiring, the list includes pitchers Masahiro Tanaka, Matt Garza, Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez and closers such as Brian Wilson or Fernando Rodney, with power bats like Nelson Cruz and Kendrys Morales.

Buster thinks they could aim higher; he quotes “rival executives”: “They could be the team that goes after Robinson Cano,” one official said. “It might cost them $30 million [per year] to sign him” — because the Mariners would have to overpay to land him — “but they could do that. They could sign Jacoby Ellsbury. They could do both, easily, and make it fit.” Because, he says, Cano and Ellsbury are elite, and for the Mariners, they would be game-changers.

He points out that the M’s could court the big names together, as the Miami Heat did with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh by letting them know that they were not going to be a one trick pony but part of The Next Big Thing. He closes with: “There’s a lot that’s gone wrong with the Mariners. But there’s one thing that many drooling rival executives love about them: You look at how they’re set up, you look at the talent, you look at the financial structure and the network and the ballpark, and you can dream big”. 

 

The Mariners’ scouting department is one of the best in the game. Some of the folks responsible for that have been recognized and promoted. Mark Lummus, a member of the Mariners’ scouting department the past 14 years, has been promoted to assistant scouting director by the club. Lummus, 41, will serve as senior national crosschecker for the Mariners. Additionally, former West Coast supervisor Butch Baccala was promoted to national crosschecker, with Midwest supervisor Jeremy Booth shifting over to be the new West Coast supervisor. Jesse Kapellusch, who had been scouting North Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma for the Mariners, will now become the Midwest supervisor.

Brian Nichols, previously responsible for scouting the New York and New England areas, will now cover Canada as well.

Anthony Aloisi, who joined the Mariners as an intern in the amateur scouting department last year, has been hired as an amateur scouting analyst. Alex Smith, the Mariners’ Northeast supervisor, was recently named “Cross Checker of the Year” at this year’s Mid-Atlantic Scouts Association banquet. Smith, 51, has been a crosschecker with the Mariners since 2010 after working as an area scout with the Braves (1991-94), Mariners (1995-2001) and Nationals (2002-09). From Greg Johns at MLB.com

 

AL West Commentary

Take a look at the results of Prince Fielder’s daddy, Cecil, sometime. In the four seasons he played after his age-31 season he produced 2.2 fWAR total. Similar body type, similar genes, will most likely be a bigger albatross. He will help Texas for possibly 3 or 4 years, maybe not that long, plus they have lost Kinsler’s production. It will make them better for some time but their owners have lost money on them so far and look set to lose some more.

 

What do you call it when you make a trade that does not accomplish your primary off-season objective? A good start, or so Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto hopes. But the trade announced Friday — third baseman David Freese” href=”http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/baseball/david-freese-PESPT000010053.topic”>David Freese and right-handed reliever Fernando Salas” href=”http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/baseball/fernando-salas-PESPT0015525.topic”>Fernando Salas from the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Peter Bourjos” href=”http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/baseball/peter-bourjos-PESPT000009923.topic”>Peter Bourjos and outfield prospect Randal Grichuk — could hurt the Angels as they pursue young, cheap starting pitching. The Angels have a limited budget this winter, with owner Arte Moreno wanting the payroll low enough that he would not have to pay a luxury tax. The need for starting pitching got more acute when Jason Vargas” href=”http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/baseball/jason-vargas-PESPT000010477.topic”>Jason Vargas spurned a three-year offer from the Angels for a four-year contract from the Kansas City Royals. But the Angels also added about $4 million in payroll, and they traded two chips that might otherwise have been used in a package for a starting pitcher. By at the LA Times

 

The Rangers not adding McCann makes a short-term, left-handed hitting catcher more attractive, leaving bigger dollars for an outfielder. Switch-hitting Dioner Navarro, who had a strong offensive comeback year with the Cubs, could be a free-agency fallback who would allow the Rangers to pour dollars into a more athletic middle-of-the-order outfielder. GM Jon Daniels called left field “a work in progress” in the wake of the Fielder acquisition, which suggests it is now a higher priority. The current arrangement has Craig Gentry potentially sharing time with Engel Beltre or Jim Adduci. If there is one spot in the free-agency market where adequate options exist, it is left field. The Rangers are seriously considering on-base machine Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Beltran, with Jacoby Ellsbury and Nelson Cruz all legitimate possibilities. All four are athletic. Choo or Ellsbury could replace Kinsler at the top of the lineup. From Evan Grant at the

 

So they said

My criterion for valuable (as in MVP) is “player whose kidnapping would net you the most ransom money.” —

 

Mariner’s potential off-season targets

has said the ‘ plan is for Kinsler to play second. Things change, but Cano would seem long shot given the team’s other priorities. From Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports

 

Draft and Prospects

Outfielder Stefen Romero, the Mariners’ 2012 Minor League Player of the Year, hit .212 with two home runs and six RBIs in 19 games, and also hit a pair of homers in the AFL Fall Stars Game while continuing his transition to the outfield after getting drafted as an infielder out of Oregon State. Romero overcame a slow start in the Arizona Fall League, raising his average from .125 by going 10-for-34 (.294) with five RBIs over his last 10 games.

“It was good for him because he was working on some things,” Mariners Minor League Coordinator Chris Gwynn said. “He had a pretty good Triple-A season once he got healthy. Changing positions was probably a big mental deal for him. I’d imagine he’d still tell you he has a lot to learn out there. But he’s a good player, a right-hander with some power and a tough, hard-nosed type kid. He hit those two home runs in the All-Star Game and he usually does rise to the occasion,” said Gwynn. “When he reports to Spring Training, I expect him to be ready and make a push to make positive imprint on the new coaching staff.”  — at

 

Baseball Best Practice

“For 1/$7M, you get warts. You just pick and choose which warts you’re okay with.”  —Dave Cameron at FanGraphs comment on the Mets signing outfielder Chris Young

 

MLB is asking all teams to increase security for next season, including screening each fan at the entrance. The league’s security director, John Skinner, is recommending that teams install walk through metal detectors at each gate, although teams may opt for other methods if they wish. The move is part of a larger effort to increase security at sporting events after 3 people were killed by a terrorist attack at the 2013 Boston Marathon. The NFL changed its policy regarding bringing bags into stadiums, so that all belongings must be carried in a see-through pack this season.

Skinner told  after the panel that baseball will be making a presentation to its teams at the winter meetings in December in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Asked for more details, MLB spokesman Michael Teevan said the plans are still developing. “We have been reviewing our security procedures for many months and we will issue a security bulletin in 2014 that will include practices and procedures that are responsive to the new security environment,” Teevan said in an email. “Fan screening will be one of the subjects addressed. We are continuing to consult with our clubs, our experts and the Department of Homeland Security, and we expect to announce specific changes after some further off-season meetings.” Based on material from , Sports Illustrated and ESPN New York

 

International

Sanspo says that new knuckleballer Tomo Ohka has interest from the Orioles and others. From at NPB Tracker  

 

By The Numbers

Robinson Cano is one of only four players in the game who have been worth more than five WAR in each of the past four seasons. (The others: Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto and Adrian Beltre.) Cano is also one of just four who have been worth at least 6.8 WAR in each of the past two seasons. (The others: Cabrera, Trout and Andrew McCutchen.) —Jason Stark at ESPN [Insider needed and recommended]

 

Baseball Biz

Jay Z could hypothetically include himself in a Cano deal. For example, If Cano signs with the Tigers, Jay Z could sign a contract to play 3 shows per year for 5 years in Comerica. The revenue from those 15 shows would offset a portion of the premium Cano would get as a free agent. Probably a real gray area in terms of “multi-entertainment-media” negotiation, but it would be interesting. —Blog comment from “bobbleheadguru”

 

A federal judge has sentenced a former Chicago White Sox scout to eight months in prison in a kickback scheme that targeted players from Latin America. Dominican-born Victor Mateo was sentenced for wire fraud Friday in Chicago. Earlier this year, former White Sox scouting executive David Wilder was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty in the same scheme. at ESPN Chicago

 

Alumni News

The Rockies have shown interest in a guy who could emerge as one of the best low-risk, high-upside free-agent hitters on the market: Michael Morse, who is currently recovering from surgery to remove a bone spur in his left wrist. Morse in April and May, despite playing half his games at Safeco Field, averaged .254, with a .789 OPS and 11 home runs in 173 at-bats. During the rest of the year, while trying to play through those wrist issues, Morse averaged .165, with a .477 OPS and only two home runs in 139 at-bats. It wasn’t until after the season that he finally underwent an MRI that revealed he needed surgery, which explained those last four months. A bunch of teams are on his trail. But if you were picking out free agents who were made for Coors Field, how high would this guy be on anybody’s list? —Jason Stark at ESPN [Insider needed and recommended]