The Off-Season May Have Just Gotten Interesting For The Mariners

Time: as I type is 9:05 WCT
Time the blog was posted: 8:10 WCT
Subject: Hiroki Kuroda

Apparently a source very close to the Kuroda signing says that the Dodgers have gotten Kuroda's services. It is not official on any mlb site, or the Dodgers home page, but it was posted by a source close to the deal (he was actually in Japan, apparently) says that Kuroda says the Dodgers will be his team in 2008. This is shocking because the Mariners have a stronger Japanese circle of influence (Seattle, Ichiro, Kenji) and we offered more money (undisclosed). I really don't know why Kuroda would rather pitch for the Dodgers for less money, but that wasn't my decision. Geoff Baker's blog on the Seattle Times website says that this is untrue, but from 3 other rumor sites, his is the only one I've said that the deal wasn't true, and that it may be another week before Kuroda makes his decision. So, think what you want, and believe what you want. So, I'm making this blog a hypothetical blog now (since according to Baker, Kuroda wasn't signed).

Now, this makes Bavasi's job a lot more stressful. He now knows he must push for Bedard or Santana (let's pray it is Santana). He must decide who is tradeable, who is untradeable, who is untouchable, and work out a deal that won't give up too much or a deal that goes dead because he offers too little. Let's hope Bavasi knows where this line is.

Johan Santana
Santana is going to be the easier in terms of trade agreement, because the Twins haven't asked for as much as the Orioles. However, he has a full no-trade clause, and has said he doesn't want to be a Mariners pitcher. Now, he needs a new contract also... From baseball history in the era of greed, we know any player will sign for x ammount of money. With deeps pockets for owners, the Mariners could shed the money. I see this getting easier if we can somehow shed Sexson in the deal (lots of money, little performance). Adam Jones, Brandon Morrow and Jeff Clement may be too much, in some people's opinion, but to me, the deal makes total sense. Aside from the Red Sox, in Ellsbury, the Twins won't find another young CF with immense potential. This also makes sense in that Morrow could go either way as a starter or a closer. They lose Santana, they get Morrow to start. Joe Nathan's contract is up soon, so if he goes, they have Morrow to step in and close. The Twins have discussed moving Mauer to 1st, left or DH to save his legs. Clement can step in and catch, and hit too. Justin Morneau's contract ends soon, and if he wants to leave, Clement or Mauer could step into 1st. The Mariners need a starter. Why not get the best pitcher on the planet? His numbers and his awards (2 of the last 4 Cy Young awards) say this also. He is 100% proven on the mound, and he's left handed. I love this scenario. I really hope it is explored.

Erik Bedard
The other option, and more difficult one, is Erik Bedard. The Orioles are asking more for Bedard, since he is not in his contract year. His contract ends after the 2009 season, so the Orioles aren't in a rush to deal him. The only way I see this easier than Santana is that an Orioles scout and front office man said the Mariners are "a logical and easy fit for Bedard." Those aren't worded perfect, but it is a paraphrase, since the quote was about a paragraph. Bedard would also have to be signed. I don't want a two year rent-a-player. That would be bogus. He is a high price. Jones, Morrow, George Sherrill and Wladimir Balentien is the asking price, and that only seems to go up. I don't like giving up Jones (future Mike Cameron) or Wladimir (future Manny Ramirez), let alone in the same deal! The Orioles are out of their mind if they think they will pry away both of those players in the same deal. Also, Bedard hasn't had any measure of success outside of his last 2 years as a starter. He isn't as proven, and I venture to say he isn't even fully proven. He is left-handed though, so it wouldn't be a total blow below the belt to the Mariners organization if we ended up with him. Either way, he's an upgrade over Weaver and HoRam. I, still, would push for Santana.

Now, it is up to Bavasi to get off his butt if this rumor about Kuroda is really 100% true. I guess we will find out soon...