D-trains Offseason Plan

[Pharmabro]

I appreciate this, D-Train. In truth, I like all the moves - it keeps our pitching rotation intact, gives up a little from the farm while improving the team immensely. So yeah - it hurts a little (I hate giving up good prospects), but that's what prospects are for (partly) and it definitely improves the team here and now instead of 3 or 4 years down the road.

My only problem is that most of the moves are what we wish would happen rather than what is likely to happen. For example, unless Dipoto and Stanton are lying through their teeth, there is no way on god's green earth that they are going to pony up the kind of money it is going to take to land Bregman. In my plan, I proposed they go after a second tier FA because (a) I still think Santander's bat will translate to success with the Mariners, and (b) it's the biggest bat I thought they could get without going nuts. Bregman is predicted to get 6-8 years and $200MM - almost twice what I thought it would cost to get Santander. Nothing the M's have done in recent memory would come close to this kind of contract, and nothing ownership is saying makes it likely they will make this kind of move this offseason.

I drool over the Rooker deal - I think it helps both sides, and I'd love to have him batting for us instead of against us. But I don't think the A's will give him up. They had a chance to deal him and Mason Miller at the trade deadline. They could have gotten a mountain of top prospects and the time, but they didn't. So either the asking price was too high, or they feel these pieces are part of a 2025 season when they might actually be competitive. I expect they are holding on to these guys as part of a core that could keep them in the hunt in the AL West next season. But maybe not...

The Lowe trade is the only one I see happening, but not a deal that includes Arozarena. The Rays got rid of him presumably because he was expensive, and he's owed $11.5MM next season. But yeah, Lowe would be awesome - let's pull the trigger.

I agree that Bregman is fantasy land and won't happen even though he will cost less than Soto.

Jerry has said the OF is set but Santander for DH would work!

Rooker is a 30 yo DH that has had two good seasons. I think the A's would sell high if given multiple top prospects. They have down it countless times. Definitely would have to be more that what MLB Trade values is saying is fair value.

Yeah I swapped out Randy for Williamson and Bliss in the second post.

This has more than a bit in-common with my perspective. I think they will improve with a couple of guys like Donavan, Lowe, Burger, Yandy, and the like. But nothing like Soto, or any landmark trades.

[tehmc]

1. Sign Anthony Santander

He's a switch hitter that provides much needed pop (28+ hr's last 3 seasons) that can be the DH and be rotated around through LF/RF/DH and occasionally 1B so that we don't need a dedicated DH. He also provides insurance in case Robles regresses after putting up career numbers this year.

2. Trade Bryce Miller to the Orioles

Trade 1.png (19.23 KiB) Viewed 119 times

The Orioles may be motivated to move Westburg and/or Mountcastle to create room for top prospect Coby Mayo, if thats the case we have the chance to grab a young infielder capable of playing 2B/3B.

3. Pick up Jorge Polanco's option

He was playing injured last season, I'm not saying he's going to bounce back to .800+ OPS next year but he can be a stop gap until Ryan Bliss or Cole Young take over.

RF/DH Robles
CF Julio
LF Arozarena
RF/DH Santandar
C Raleigh
1B/OF Raley
3B Westburg
2B Polanco
SS Crawford

[Donn Beach]

Put this somewhere, terms of plans. I doubt dipoto does much of anything. I think he will count on existing players playing better next season

Stanton said that the club “would do backflips” to keep the Hall of Famer involved with the coaching staff, while Dipoto added that the front office will “develop a creative situation” to support that effort.

[Big_Maple]

1. Sign Anthony Santander

He's a switch hitter that provides much needed pop (28+ hr's last 3 seasons) that can be the DH and be rotated around through LF/RF/DH and occasionally 1B so that we don't need a dedicated DH. He also provides insurance in case Robles regresses after putting up career numbers this year.

2. Trade Bryce Miller to the Orioles


Trade 1.png


The Orioles may be motivated to move Westburg and/or Mountcastle to create room for top prospect Coby Mayo, if thats the case we have the chance to grab a young infielder capable of playing 2B/3B.

3. Pick up Jorge Polanco's option

He was playing injured last season, I'm not saying he's going to bounce back to .800+ OPS next year but he can be a stop gap until Ryan Bliss or Cole Young take over.

RF/DH Robles
CF Julio
LF Arozarena
RF/DH Santandar
C Raleigh
1B/OF Raley
3B Westburg
2B Polanco
SS Crawford

Love the Santander idea (see my plan on another thread).

What do you do to fill the gaping hole left by Miller’s trade? Hancock isn’t likely gonna fill those shoes. Sign a FA? Who?

Westburg, westbound sounds good to me.

As Donn said, this likely deserves its own thread rather that a nonsqequitur to D-Train’s.

[D-train]

Totally setting the expectations low. More of the same half measures that cost us the playoffs the past two seasons...

"Our team is here"
Dipoto dispelled speculation that the Mariners would be open to dealing young starting pitchers Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo, likening the notion to “plan Z.”

"We could shoot ourselves in the foot by trying to get too crafty in what we do,” Dipoto said. “Our pitching is how we're built. I love our rotation."

He also confirmed that the club views its outfield contingent of Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena and Victor Robles as the group that will be intact next season -- which leaves the infield as an avenue where the Mariners could see turnover.

Dipoto said that the club is banking on shortstop J.P. Crawford having a bounceback year, and as it stands, Luke Raley figures to see an enhanced role at first, which leave second and third and some semblance of first as possibilities to upgrade.

That said, Dipoto hinted that most of the 2024 roster will remain intact.

"We've got some holes that we'll need to address and areas of improvement,” Dipoto said. “All in all, I think the group has shown us again over these last five weeks why we believe in them."

[Seattle or Bust]

Totally setting the expectations low. More of the same half measures that cost us the playoffs the past two seasons...

"Our team is here"
Dipoto dispelled speculation that the Mariners would be open to dealing young starting pitchers Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo, likening the notion to “plan Z.”

"We could shoot ourselves in the foot by trying to get too crafty in what we do,” Dipoto said. “Our pitching is how we're built. I love our rotation."

He also confirmed that the club views its outfield contingent of Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena and Victor Robles as the group that will be intact next season -- which leaves the infield as an avenue where the Mariners could see turnover.

Dipoto said that the club is banking on shortstop J.P. Crawford having a bounceback year, and as it stands, Luke Raley figures to see an enhanced role at first, which leave second and third and some semblance of first as possibilities to upgrade.

That said, Dipoto hinted that most of the 2024 roster will remain intact.

"We've got some holes that we'll need to address and areas of improvement,” Dipoto said. “All in all, I think the group has shown us again over these last five weeks why we believe in them."

He's not wrong though. That is a decent core to start with and should have been accomplished prior to last season.

They need big upgrades at 3B, 2B, 1B.

Get it done.

[D-train]

Totally setting the expectations low. More of the same half measures that cost us the playoffs the past two seasons...

"Our team is here"
Dipoto dispelled speculation that the Mariners would be open to dealing young starting pitchers Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo, likening the notion to “plan Z.”

"We could shoot ourselves in the foot by trying to get too crafty in what we do,” Dipoto said. “Our pitching is how we're built. I love our rotation."

He also confirmed that the club views its outfield contingent of Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena and Victor Robles as the group that will be intact next season -- which leaves the infield as an avenue where the Mariners could see turnover.

Dipoto said that the club is banking on shortstop J.P. Crawford having a bounceback year, and as it stands, Luke Raley figures to see an enhanced role at first, which leave second and third and some semblance of first as possibilities to upgrade.

That said, Dipoto hinted that most of the 2024 roster will remain intact.

"We've got some holes that we'll need to address and areas of improvement,” Dipoto said. “All in all, I think the group has shown us again over these last five weeks why we believe in them."

He's not wrong though. That is a decent core to start with and should have been accomplished prior to last season.

They need big upgrades at 3B, 2B, 1B.

Get it done.

Raley is the 1B. I think they should let him hit lefties regularly to see if he can do it. Need a DH and Santander or Rooker would be perfect. Might have to settle for Bliss at 2B but yes a 3B is mandatory....

[D-train]