I think missing the playoffs is a good thing.

[HawkandMariner88]

Poorly run franchise what can I say. I think it's pretty obvious at this point. This passive liberal media won't have the balls to call out this franchise on their bullshit because their too chicken shit. We all know who's at fault here.

On the flip side, Tampa had the 2nd best record, scored the 2nd most amount of runs yet is bottom of the league in spending. Explain that one.

[Vogelbomb]

Yeah, well, if Kirby can't go more than 90 pitches a night, he can take a walk for all I care

[Vogelbomb]

I'm with OP on this, missing the playoffs is a good thing.
Re: Cal -- I get the emotion after all of the hard work over a season, but dude, your naivete is showing. Signing stars on the market is not the smartest way to win in this league. Look around the league for a minute. Ask yourself which clubs are in the best position now and going forward. Texas is spending $200m+ and they skated in by the skin of their teeth. And things are only going to get worse for them as that shit show of a rotation ages. That's not the club you want to highlight as the model of how to build a winner.

The only thing I regret about missing out on October is the chance to further a rivalry with the Jays and potentially start one with the O's

[ddraig]

I wonder how much the Mariners will pay for JK's "potential?" And the last time a player criticized management and the F.O., they traded his ass to another club.

And in a way VB, you are correct. They shouldn't go out and fill three or four positions in a year. They can look ahead and see what they will need for next year. Pitching is solid, but they could use two solid to good position players. OF and 2B. Would have been only one if had signed anyone but Wong!

[GL_Storm]

Maybe players speaking out is a silver lining, but I wouldn't say missing the postseason is a good thing.

[Seattle or Bust]

I'm with OP on this, missing the playoffs is a good thing.
Re: Cal -- I get the emotion after all of the hard work over a season, but dude, your naivete is showing. Signing stars on the market is not the smartest way to win in this league. Look around the league for a minute. Ask yourself which clubs are in the best position now and going forward. Texas is spending $200m+ and they skated in by the skin of their teeth. And things are only going to get worse for them as that shit show of a rotation ages. That's not the club you want to highlight as the model of how to build a winner.

The only thing I regret about missing out on October is the chance to further a rivalry with the Jays and potentially start one with the O's

Again, I would be careful using this narrative without providing context.

Texas also had multiple pitching injuries, DeGrom missed the whole year, and their best player missed 50 games. Had they stayed even remotely healthy they realistically run away w. the NL West. And that's an indictment on Jerry and Co. that they overtook the Mariners this quickly and did so by simply spending more money. Texas also has a really nice, young core of hitters that they built around which is what fans are asking the M's to do around the pitching staff. From where I sit, they're positioned well moving forward and that's not a good thing if you're an M's fan.

The Mets, Padres spending a lot of money didn't work because they didn't have a nice young core to build around. That style doesn't work anymore... but they also shouldn't be used as comparisons to the M's because they're not even close to 1:1's.

The Mariners also can't go around pretending that Jerry and the front office are in any way on the same level as teams like the Tampa, Atlanta, LAD, etc. They're simply not and pretending the M's can money ball their way to a title isn't realistic in the slightest... they're not smart enough and they don't develop position players well enough.

They're going to have to dip their toes into the F/A and trade pool in a big way. They don't really have a choice of they want to be competitive... there's no bats that are close and will impact the team in a way that makes a title look plausible. It's just not realistic to think otherwise.

[Juliooooo]

Because they didn’t do shutting the last free off-season, they will be forced to trade for bats, which will diminish the ability to use the farm to supplement the team and cause them to need to trade even more.

Or they can just sit tight the next 2-3 years while the next wave of players gets ready and cross their fingers that everything goes just right because otherwise they will lose their veterans and will be in the exact same position with the next crop of players.

[Seattle or Bust]

Because they didn’t do shutting the last free off-season, they will be forced to trade for bats, which will diminish the ability to use the farm to supplement the team and cause them to need to trade even more.

Or they can just sit tight the next 2-3 years while the next wave of players gets ready and cross their fingers that everything goes just right because otherwise they will lose their veterans and will be in the exact same position with the next crop of players.

Question is, I can't come even close to pinpointing who might be available for trade that would require significant prospects sent back. The trade market is so dry these days given the 3rd wild card... I mean teams like Arizona and Miami were competitive this year... there's 20 teams who believe they can do it in '24 so why would they trade anyone good who has some control remaining? You really saw that bear out this past winter and at the trade deadline.

Now, the Dodgers and Braves traded for Mookie Betts, Matt Olson w. 1 year remaining on their deals... and then gave them big contracts. I would be all for the M's trading for a Pete Alonso or Juan Soto... but does anyone have faith that the M's would have the balls to sign either? F No. It would certainly be a way to mitigate the prospect haul sent back... hell, that's exactly what happened w. the Braves and Dodgers... they sent a buncha fringe top-100 guys who haven't panned out. I just don't think the M's have the balls.

The perfect move would be for the M's to trade for Juan Soto and have a $400 million contract waiting for him on arrival. He's 24 fuckin years old. But they do not have the nuts like the Braves and Dodgers do.

[Donn Beach]

Scott Boras is Soto's agent so there isn't much hope of keeping him away from FA. I don't think it really makes much sense for the Mets to be trading Alanso for as win now as they are oriented. We shall see

[Seattle or Bust]

Scott Boras is Soto's agent so there isn't much hope of keeping him away from FA. I don't think it really makes much sense for the Mets to be trading Alanso for as win now as they are oriented. We shall see

Who cares if he reaches F/A or not?

Hope he enjoyed his time with the M's, offer him the biggest contract in free agency and worry about it later. One team is going to do it, so why not the Mariners?

Re: Mets... according to Justin Verlander the GM told him the Mets are taking a step back in '24 and won't be offering big contracts which is why it's rumored that Alonso is very much on the trade front and was at the deadline... but the price was steep given the lack of bats on the market. .