Adding contact, and doing it cheaply. Off Szn Plan 1.0

[Seattle or Bust]

I sometimes feel like I enjoy this part of the game more than watching the game itself. It's probably insane... but looking ahead is all I've ever known as an M's fan, so ya. This build is about adding contact at a low cost but big production. I said I liked the Jays formula in the playoffs and I think the M's can follow suit. This would knock some 300+ K's off the M's total from this past year.

Free Agents:

Mariners sign 1B Josh Naylor to a 4-year $70M contract

Mariners sign 2B Jorge Polanco to a 2-year $24M contract

Mariners sign LHP Danny Coloumbe to a 2-year $11M contract

Coloumbe has been dominant in more of a specialty role the last 3 seasons for the Twins and Orioles. He was traded to the Rangers where he struggled in 12 innings. I like him as a low-to-mid leverage lefty that the M's hoped they were getting in Ferguson. He's pretty much a junk baller but he produces a lot of weak contact and can be a lefty specialist.

Trades:

Mariners trade C Harry Ford, RHP Emerson Hancock, OF Luke Raley to the Cardinals for 3B Brendan Donovan (FA in '28, $5.75M in '26) and C Pedro Pajes (Pre-Arb)

I forever think the Cardinals need to sell off vets and just commit to a youth movement - Ford could be the start of that. The M's add Donovan who was on pace for a 3.7 WAR season before an injury. He hit .287 last year, striking out only 67 times in 118 games. He'd be a perfect leadoff hitter for the M's. Pajes serves as the M's backup catcher - he's defense first but has a little pop so he won't be a total liability. The Cardinals get a top-50 catching prospect in baseball who isn't blocked. They also get Hancock who maybe benefits starting for another franchise and Raley who is maybe due for a bounce back after a bad '25.

Mariners trade RHP Logan Evans, RHP Michael Morales, RHP Troy Taylor, 2B Ryan Bliss to the Rays for RHP Pete Fairbanks ($12.5M club option, FA in '27) and DH Yandy Diaz (Club Option $12M picked up '26, FA in '27)

Fairbanks is coming off another very solid year for the Rays despite a drop off in his K's per 9. The Rays have yet to pick up his team option for '26, and if they don't, he could be a free agent option. If they do, then I'd work to trade for him as he's in the final year of his deal and set to make $12.5M. Diaz is exactly who the M's could use at DH. A contact-first option who has some power but just puts the damn ball in play. He ended '25 with a .300 BA, .848 OPS, 136 OPS+ and 92 K's over 150 games. He is controlled with pretty cheap club options the next 2 years. The Rays get the bulk trade they often seek, including a pair of good, young pitchers to add to a farm that is sorely lacking any arms that are near MLB ready.

Roster:

1. Brendan Donovan (.287/.353/.422/.775, 13% K rate)
2. Cal Raleigh C - (.247/.359/.589/.948, 26.7% K rate)
3. Julio Rodriguez LF - (.267/.324/.474/.798, 21.4 K rate)
4. Josh Naylor 1B - (.295/.353/.462/.816, 13.7% K rate)
5. Yandy Diaz DH - (.300/.366/.482/.848, 14.1% K rate)
6. Jorge Polanco 2B - (.265/.326/.495/.821, 15.6% K rate)
7. Randy Arozarena - (.238/.334/.426/.760, 26.9% K rate)
8. Victor Robles/Dom Canzone RF - (.307/.381/.433/.814, 18% K rate in '24/ .300/.358/.481/.840, 21.9% K rate)
9. JP Crawford SS - (.265/.352/.370/.722, 18.7% K rate)

Bench: Cole Young IF, Pedro Pajes C

Staff:

1. Bryan Woo
2. George Kirby
3. Logan Gilbert
4. Luis Castillo
5. Bryce Miller

Pen:
CL: Andres Munoz
HL: Matt Brash, Pete Fairbanks, Gabe Spier, Eduard Bazardo
ML/LL: Carlos Vargas, Danny Coloumbe, Gregory Santos

[HawkandMariner88]

Hard to argue with that, especially adding another pair of relievers. I like the idea of adding Donovan more contact less K if he's even available. Nothing flashy nothing big. Would love to add Santos to the pen if he's healthy. The key to good staff is an even better bullpen. I know other names will come up but can't argue with what I've seen so far.

[desbcoach]

Some good ideas but with Naylor performance I think it will take 5-100+, Polanco will get 3 years. I also think Arozarena is gone and they like Williamson

[bhofferb]

Thinking the M’s need a real backup catcher that can play 60 plus games and hit MLB pitching at least decently. This will allow Cal to get lots of DH time to keep him fresh. This may be Ford, but until he faces MLB pitching for a while it’s no guarantee

[Seattle or Bust]

Thinking the M’s need a real backup catcher that can play 60 plus games and hit MLB pitching at least decently. This will allow Cal to get lots of DH time to keep him fresh. This may be Ford, but until he faces MLB pitching for a while it’s no guarantee

Pajes put up 1.4 WAR last year in 112 games. He’s defense first and I’d like to fill a void on the roster with a trade of a player who is blocked.

[Pharmabro]

I sometimes feel like I enjoy this part of the game more than watching the game itself. It's probably insane... but looking ahead is all I've ever known as an M's fan, so ya. This build is about adding contact at a low cost but big production. I said I liked the Jays formula in the playoffs and I think the M's can follow suit. This would knock some 300+ K's off the M's total from this past year.

Free Agents:

Mariners sign 1B Josh Naylor to a 4-year $70M contract

Mariners sign 2B Jorge Polanco to a 2-year $24M contract

Mariners sign LHP Danny Coloumbe to a 2-year $11M contract

Coloumbe has been dominant in more of a specialty role the last 3 seasons for the Twins and Orioles. He was traded to the Rangers where he struggled in 12 innings. I like him as a low-to-mid leverage lefty that the M's hoped they were getting in Ferguson. He's pretty much a junk baller but he produces a lot of weak contact and can be a lefty specialist.

Trades:

Mariners trade C Harry Ford, RHP Emerson Hancock, OF Luke Raley to the Cardinals for 3B Brendan Donovan (FA in '28, $5.75M in '26) and C Pedro Pajes (Pre-Arb)

I forever think the Cardinals need to sell off vets and just commit to a youth movement - Ford could be the start of that. The M's add Donovan who was on pace for a 3.7 WAR season before an injury. He hit .287 last year, striking out only 67 times in 118 games. He'd be a perfect leadoff hitter for the M's. Pajes serves as the M's backup catcher - he's defense first but has a little pop so he won't be a total liability. The Cardinals get a top-50 catching prospect in baseball who isn't blocked. They also get Hancock who maybe benefits starting for another franchise and Raley who is maybe due for a bounce back after a bad '25.

Mariners trade RHP Logan Evans, RHP Michael Morales, RHP Troy Taylor, 2B Ryan Bliss to the Rays for RHP Pete Fairbanks ($12.5M club option, FA in '27) and DH Yandy Diaz (Club Option $12M picked up '26, FA in '27)

Fairbanks is coming off another very solid year for the Rays despite a drop off in his K's per 9. The Rays have yet to pick up his team option for '26, and if they don't, he could be a free agent option. If they do, then I'd work to trade for him as he's in the final year of his deal and set to make $12.5M. Diaz is exactly who the M's could use at DH. A contact-first option who has some power but just puts the damn ball in play. He ended '25 with a .300 BA, .848 OPS, 136 OPS+ and 92 K's over 150 games. He is controlled with pretty cheap club options the next 2 years. The Rays get the bulk trade they often seek, including a pair of good, young pitchers to add to a farm that is sorely lacking any arms that are near MLB ready.

Roster:

1. Brendan Donovan (.287/.353/.422/.775, 13% K rate)
2. Cal Raleigh C - (.247/.359/.589/.948, 26.7% K rate)
3. Julio Rodriguez LF - (.267/.324/.474/.798, 21.4 K rate)
4. Josh Naylor 1B - (.295/.353/.462/.816, 13.7% K rate)
5. Yandy Diaz DH - (.300/.366/.482/.848, 14.1% K rate)
6. Jorge Polanco 2B - (.265/.326/.495/.821, 15.6% K rate)
7. Randy Arozarena - (.238/.334/.426/.760, 26.9% K rate)
8. Victor Robles/Dom Canzone RF - (.307/.381/.433/.814, 18% K rate in '24/ .300/.358/.481/.840, 21.9% K rate)
9. JP Crawford SS - (.265/.352/.370/.722, 18.7% K rate)

Bench: Cole Young IF, Pedro Pajes C

Staff:

1. Bryan Woo
2. George Kirby
3. Logan Gilbert
4. Luis Castillo
5. Bryce Miller

Pen:
CL: Andres Munoz
HL: Matt Brash, Pete Fairbanks, Gabe Spier, Eduard Bazardo
ML/LL: Carlos Vargas, Danny Coloumbe, Gregory Santos

I like it Nails and Polo are proven here.

You kinda converted a good player but is blocked by the 4 OF, and Nails

Yandy is a pro/s pro and TB trades

And we are probably in the WS if we would have had Duran added

[GL_Storm]

Is Donovan any good at 3B?

[Donn Beach]

Is Donovan any good at 3B?

He's considered to have elite defense generally so I'd guess he is. He's an interesting target, mariners would like his versatility I bet. On the other hand there's an argument he's the guy the Cards should build around, 28, fan favorite, team leader, wants to be a cardinal. Probably wouldn't be a popular decision to trade him

[Seattle or Bust]

Is Donovan any good at 3B?

He's considered to have elite defense generally so I'd guess he is. He's an interesting target, mariners would like his versatility I bet. On the other hand there's an argument he's the guy the Cards should build around, 28, fan favorite, team leader, wants to be a cardinal. Probably wouldn't be a popular decision to trade him

They aren't figuring on contending over the next little while and he's 2 years away from being a free agent. I'm not sure why you wouldn't trade him at his high value and build to the future.

I supposed they could do the same thing the Pirates did with Bryan Reynolds. Hasn't really worked out for them.

[Donn Beach]

Just saying seems to be a mood there. I don't see the cardinals doing a tear down to the studs kind of deal, they have resisted any sort of sell off so far. See themselves like the Yankees, don't do rebuilds. Like the mariner's hanging on to haniger. Fairly often teams resist tearing all the way down, White Sox hanging on to Abreu. Hang on to some leadership as well as some fan interest
I guess

St Lois sports journalist

"There’s certainly reason to consider trading Donovan this offseason, particularly if a trade helps the Cardinals acquire the starting pitching they desperately need. Ultimately, the Cardinals will benefit more from keeping Donovan as a cornerstone in their rebuilding efforts. They need his experience, versatility, steadiness and willingness to be one of the leaders and tone setters."