Minor League Updates

[Dr Naysay]

The other thing with Cole btw is that when Houston came calling he had a come off of two very average seasons and Houston knew they could take a 27 year old 7 million a year pitcher for cheap and turn in to a way better pitcher which is exactly the kind of market efficiency I would like us to turn to instead.

[Wishhiker]

I don't like the way Baseball contracts are set up full stop tbh and I think its ridiculous that both Cy Young winners will earn a fraction of what Felix has this year. Cole himself has made 34 million in earnings after this season and he deserves to be on big bucks(And his agent is Boras), I just don't like the idea of having a player on a long term contract and earning 30 million a year at age 36 when we witnessed Felix's decline aged 32.

I personally don't think it's prudent for a team like us where you can't hide an overpaid over the hill vet like say the Yanks can and when you see how early in his career Felix lost it it just seems inefficient. I am not saying Gerrit will be over the hill at age 35 or 36 btw, it just seems for every Zak Grienke there is there are a few more Chris Davis, Alex Gordons, Jordan Zimmermans, Wei Yin Chens, Miguel Cabrerras etc. I just prefer the nimble approach Oakland takes towards setting up it's roster rather than say LA who are paying Pujols insane amounts for one 800+ ops season. I think it's nuts what San Diego are paying Hosmer and Machado for what is essentially a grad total of 3 WAR so far this season and if it isn't a blip for them and both of those guys are on the books till 2026/2028

I'm advocating exactly 1 big contract. The Ace that's missing. That's all. I am not worried about any other position being filled adequately by 2022. Any other thing that goes wrong, be nimble. I'm saying that Cole is a unique workhorse right now. It didn't look like he was going to be just 2 years ago. Others were extended and now he's potentially the only FA in his range in the next 3 years. Besides Strasburg who has injury history and other concerns. I won't advocate Strasburg, although that could work out. I'm only talking about Gerrit Cole. The veteran of 4 postseasons, including 2019, at the age of 29.

If you want to buy anything else later, the roster filled with largely league minimum players from the farm should adequately allow for such additions. Don't make another big purchase because you shouldn't need to. Play the Gillick level FA game as needed, it seems there will be plenty of vets available for shorter years than there had been in a long time.

The soft cap is above the Mariners $320 million revenue listed here for 2018. Fans should stop making that excuse for them;

https://www.statista.com/statistics/193 ... s-in-2010/

[Wishhiker]

The other thing with Cole btw is that when Houston came calling he had a come off of two very average seasons and Houston knew they could take a 27 year old 7 million a year pitcher for cheap and turn in to a way better pitcher which is exactly the kind of market efficiency I would like us to turn to instead.

Until this year Cole's career year was at 24 in Pittsburgh.

[Dr Naysay]

And then he had two seasons where things progressively got worse and allowed Houston to come and take him away for cheap and they got an Ace pitcher for an average of 10 mil a year. I would rather have the system than the pitcher for 30 mil a year, it's the same system that has turned 4 million a year Wade Miley back to the 2012 Wade Miley it's the same system that allows them to have a championship challenging team out on the field whilst spending what the Mariners did last year.

Personally I wouldn't even have an issue getting a guy like Cole once we know if our exciting prospects are panning out and he is the cherry on the sundae that take you over the top but I doubt he would wan't to come to us now when we are planning on losing next year and we don't even know if our prospects are turning us in to challengers.

[Wishhiker]

And then he had two seasons where things progressively got worse and allowed Houston to come and take him away for cheap and they got an Ace pitcher for an average of 10 mil a year. I would rather have the system than the pitcher for 30 mil a year, it's the same system that has turned 4 million a year Wade Miley back to the 2012 Wade Miley it's the same system that allows them to have a championship challenging team out on the field whilst spending what the Mariners did last year.

Personally I wouldn't even have an issue getting a guy like Cole once we know if our exciting prospects are panning out and he is the cherry on the sundae that take you over the top but I doubt he would wan't to come to us now when we are planning on losing next year and we don't even know if our prospects are turning us in to challengers.

Sounds great. You know what that system is? I'm sure the M's could find a spot for you if you can help them out with that. Otherwise know of anyone who might be able to tell you? Hmmm, maybe Gerrit Cole could.

There is no other Gerrit Cole expected to be a FA until 2022 at which point they're likely to be have already been extended first anyway.

I'm not expecting losing in 2020. I'm expecting .500 and we'll see how things go. I actually see potential for playoffs next year depending on the moves made in the offseason and how the 18 or so of the 30 top prospects who played at AA or higher come around in the offseason and spring. Next year we should have a better idea but who are you going to sign then?

[Dr Naysay]

It doesn't necessarily have to be a free agent though which is just how Houston got Cole in the first place. Houston are also going to qualify him the 15 million offer and get a first round pick from someone which is another reason I wouldn't like to do a deal now and hand over our first round draft pick to Houston.

[Juliooooo]

The largest pitcher contract was $217 million to David Price. 7 years. Where's this 10 year hyperbole coming from?

Let's say Mariners offer Cole 7 years, 225 million. You don't think that a contending team is going to offer at least similar, and that he'll choose the contending team? I don't know what it will take fir the Mariners to sign him, but it's much more than they should spend.

[Juliooooo]

It doesn't necessarily have to be a free agent though which is just how Houston got Cole in the first place. Houston are also going to qualify him the 15 million offer and get a first round pick from someone which is another reason I wouldn't like to do a deal now and hand over our first round draft pick to Houston.

Mariners don't hand over a first round pick given they pick top 10, that's why they didn't have to when they signed Nelson Cruz

[Dr Naysay]

We would still forfeit a pick though, would that be in the second round?

[Wishhiker]

We would still forfeit a pick though, would that be in the second round?

Yes and that would be far cheaper than trading for a lesser player as suggested.