How do you think the M's will spend money?

[D-train]

I think of all the years to add a DH/1B, this may be the year.

Haniger in RF, Moore starts in LF, France at 2B.

Gives us time for Kelenic to work his way up.

Haniger, White and the new 1B/DH can fight for the two spots that will be available when Kelenic comes up moving Moore or France to the UTIL role until Seager leaves after the season.

If White struggles, send him down.

If Moore or France struggle, they move to UTIL.

Either way I think we have the right mix of players to be able to add some Evan White insurance.

I think he only played one game in the minors but I wonder if France could play LF.

[bpj]

Would be nice if France could play left so he's the only one changing positions when he moves to 3B.

The WAR leaders for 2020 has some interesting names on it that may end up on the trade block:

Zach Wheeler
Lance Lynn
Aaron Nola
Dylan Bundy

There were people around that wanted Wheeler if not Cole. At 2 WAR he may have been enough to get us close. Sad they wasted the opportunity. Hope we see them try harder in 2021.

[Coeurd’Alene J]

Question 1: Will they ever? If not, why not?

Question 2: If they will, how will they spend it? On what?

Question 3: Where do you anticipate the M's payroll will be in 2022 (keep in mind their payroll was $160+ million in 2018)?

Question 4: If they don't spend money, will you continue to put up with the losing?

They have spent considerable resources on blm banners and that whole shit show

[Sexymarinersfan]

Without spending any money as is, you're looking at a lineup of:

1B. Evan White
2B. Dylan Moore
SS. JP Crawford
3B. Kyle Seager
LF. Jarred Kelenic
CF. Kyle Lewis
RF. Mitch Haniger
C. Tom Murphy
DH. Ty France

BENCH
1. C Luis Torrens
2. UT Shed Long
3. UT Sam Haggerty
4. UT Tim Lopes
5. OF/INF Jose Marmolejos

ACE Marco Gonzales
P Yusei Kikuchi
P Justus Sheffield
P Justin Dunn
P Nick Margevicius
P Logan Gilbert

RP Kendall Graveman
RP Anthony Misiewicz
RP Yohan Ramirez
RP Brandon Brennan
SET Andrés Munoz
CL Joey Gerber

Fringe Players:
Taylor Guilbeau
Aaron Fletcher
Art Warren
Erik Swanson
Ljay Newsome
Philip Ervin
Jake Fraley
Taylor Trammell
Cal Raleigh

Let's say we do acquire some experienced bullpen pieces, this team is pretty damn set to go come Opening Day.

I'm not sold as to how Dipoto exactly plans to acquire more talent for the bullpen, my guess is they might make a signing or two in free agency, but tend to be more likely through trade, most probably during the season. Covid will no doubt play a part this off-season. Hope we can use it to our advantage somehow.

[bpj]

I agree. They should be supplementing this roster with the best players they can get.

We already know they currently only have 3 holes, including 1B- if you include it.

We know they won't replace White this season. So that leaves us with clear vacancies at SP and RP.

Adding an ace starting pitcher at this point is a no-brainer imo.

Our best options, aside from Bauer, would likely be a trade with a bad team for a starting pitcher who is two-ish years from free agency.

What you're describing, ISLTM, is the same strategy that was employed by the greatest baseball mind I've ever known, Jeff, "doc", "jumanji", at Seattle Sports Insider, the Stars & Scrubs strategy.

Means supplement your young foundation, which we clearly have, with the best possible players you can.

The Mariners have brilliantly positioned themselves to deploy this strategy if they choose to. Up until this offseason it certainly looks more like they're trying to mirror the A's and Rays.

If they start adding 1-2 great players every year, and replace them with great players as the contracts expire, the M's are perfectly set up for Stars & Scrubs. Money goes to stars, arbitration and the minimum wage filler, as it should be, imo.

Young players can give you the 0-2 WAR range that Dipoto has seemed to be chasing in his past free agent signings without paying for it.

Dipoto needs to go for the 4-6 WAR player if he's going to put money into it. I wouldn't pay for 0-2 WAR, but I'd pay $12.5M per WAR for every win they bring over 2.

Paying for the first 2 WAR a player provides is a fools errand. That's what your best young players should provide.

.

[bpj]

I think of all the years to add a DH/1B, this may be the year.

Haniger in RF, Moore starts in LF, France at 2B.

Gives us time for Kelenic to work his way up.

Haniger, White and the new 1B/DH can fight for the two spots that will be available when Kelenic comes up moving Moore or France to the UTIL role until Seager leaves after the season.

If White struggles, send him down.

If Moore or France struggle, they move to UTIL.

Either way I think we have the right mix of players to be able to add some Evan White insurance.

.

[ddraig]

Question 1: Will they ever? If not, why not?
I figure they will spend some. But how much really depends on how many rookies they bring up next season.
They seem to believe each and every one of them will play baseball like the second coming of Christ!

Question 2: If they will, how will they spend it? On what?
Presuming they don't bring up every rookie that is younger than 26 years of age, I'm hoping they get a FA shortstop for around $30 million and a stud, TOR pitcher for the same amount. That will double their payroll right there.


Question 3: Where do you anticipate the M's payroll will be in 2022 (keep in mind their payroll was $160+ million in 2018)?
I'm hoping they move closer to $150 million instead of the current $60 million. But of course we're talking about the M's here. If you look up the word "cheap" in the dictionary, there is a picture of the M's logo.

Question 4: If they don't spend money, will you continue to put up with the losing?
Do we have any other options? Now if we could place teams in Portland and Vancouver....

[Sexymarinersfan]

I kind of like the Cardinals approach. Wait for a franchise altering player to get disgruntled with his team then go all in to acquire said player ala, McGwire, Goldschmidt, Arrenado. Tge Mets did this with Lindor. The Padres, Machado.

[Donn Beach]

I predict they are in on a SS

[Bil522]

They will spend just enough money to give us hope.