Note- I started writing this over a week ago, but I don’t think anything has happened since then to change anything. Consider it an indirect response to Joe’s earlier payroll post, although I didn’t originally intend it that way.
Coming into the offseason, everyone agreed that improving the Mariners to the point of playoff contention was a long shot. Crazy things happen, and Jack Zduriencik has done crazy things before, but to improve the team that much with a very limited budget didn’t look like it would be in the cards.
What was apparent was moves that could be made. Coming into the offseason, here’s what I would have laid out as the obvious moves I would look at if I were in Jack’s spot:
- Find a DH with some power
- Look hard for an upgrade at catcher
- Find a middle infielder who could start at second and then shift to short when Dustin Ackley is ready or Jack Wilson gets injured
- Find a right-handed bat who could platoon with Michael Saunders and ideally play some first base if needed
- Find a starting pitcher who could be counted on to throw a lot of decent innings
- Upgrade the bullpen Continue reading
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