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MARINERS 2020-2021 OFFSEASON MEGA THREAD: (Likes/RTs appreciated)
First order of business: BRING NELLY HOME
Despite being 40, Nelson Cruz is still an elite hitter. He would make perfect sense as our DH, likely on a two year deal.
'19: .311/.392/.639 .417 wOBA 163 wrc+ 4.3 fWAR 4.4 rWAR
'20: .303/.397/.595 .411 wOBA 164 wrc+ 2.0 fWAR 1.6 rWAR
Despite being 40, Nelson Cruz is still an elite hitter. He would make perfect sense as our DH, likely on a two year deal.
'19: .311/.392/.639 .417 wOBA 163 wrc+ 4.3 fWAR 4.4 rWAR
'20: .303/.397/.595 .411 wOBA 164 wrc+ 2.0 fWAR 1.6 rWAR
Cruz after his last game on the Mariners in 2018: “I came in with a goal, and I haven't accomplished that. I look for that."
It's likely he'll want to go to a WS contender (Rays, White Sox, Twins) but if he wants to come back to Seattle we shouldn't pass up the opportunity.
It's likely he'll want to go to a WS contender (Rays, White Sox, Twins) but if he wants to come back to Seattle we shouldn't pass up the opportunity.
I see three options for 2B:
1. 2B Kolten Wong
'19: .285/.361/.423 .334 wOBA 108 wrc+ 3.7 fWAR 5.2 rWAR 8 OAA 5.2 UZR 19 DRS
'20: .265/.350/.326 .300 wOBA 92 wrc+ 1.3 fWAR 1.1 rWAR 2 OAA 3.8 UZR 6 DRS
1. 2B Kolten Wong
'19: .285/.361/.423 .334 wOBA 108 wrc+ 3.7 fWAR 5.2 rWAR 8 OAA 5.2 UZR 19 DRS
'20: .265/.350/.326 .300 wOBA 92 wrc+ 1.3 fWAR 1.1 rWAR 2 OAA 3.8 UZR 6 DRS
Wong, 30, has great on base skills with elite defense. Pairing him with J.P. Crawford could very well give us the best defensive middle infield in baseball. This would fill the hole at 2B and free up Dylan Moore to be LF/super utility. A 2-3 year deal with ~7 mil AAV makes sense.
2. KBO IF Ha-seong Kim
'19: .307/.389/.491 .399 wOBA 146 wrc+
'20: .314/.405/.541 .421 wOBA 147 wrc+
'19: .307/.389/.491 .399 wOBA 146 wrc+
'20: .314/.405/.541 .421 wOBA 147 wrc+
Kim is expected to be posted this offseason, and is expected to have many suitors. He has dominated the KBO and will only be 25 next season. The jump from the KBO to MLB is quite large, as the KBO competition is seen as somewhere between AA-AAA.
via Fangraphs' ZiPS Projections, Kim is projected to translate to a great MLB player. I'd recommend this article about Ha-seong Kim and the jump from KBO to MLB. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/ha-seong-kim-has-big-mlb-aspirations-and-projections/
3. NPB 2B Tetsuto Yamada
It's unknown whether "Japan's Mike Trout" will be posted this offseason, but if he is, the Mariners need to be all over him.
It's unknown whether "Japan's Mike Trout" will be posted this offseason, but if he is, the Mariners need to be all over him.
These hitting stats combined with good defense at second and top-tier speed would in all likelihood translate to a great MLB 2B. Yamada would likely get him a relatively large contract, but he would no doubt be worth it.
Sign SP Marcus Stroman:
'17: 201 IP, 3.09 ERA, 4.33 xERA, 3.90 FIP, 3.59 xFIP, 88 -FIP, 3.85 SIERA
'18: 104 IP (injuries), 5.54 ERA, 4.47 xERA, 3.91 FIP, 3.84 xFIP, 91 -FIP, 4.04 SIERA
'19: 184 IP, 3.22 ERA, 3.73 xERA, 3.72 FIP, 3.99 xFIP, 82 -FIP, 4.41 SIERA
(opted out 2020)
'17: 201 IP, 3.09 ERA, 4.33 xERA, 3.90 FIP, 3.59 xFIP, 88 -FIP, 3.85 SIERA
'18: 104 IP (injuries), 5.54 ERA, 4.47 xERA, 3.91 FIP, 3.84 xFIP, 91 -FIP, 4.04 SIERA
'19: 184 IP, 3.22 ERA, 3.73 xERA, 3.72 FIP, 3.99 xFIP, 82 -FIP, 4.41 SIERA
(opted out 2020)
Stroman, 30, would be a great fit in Seattle on a 3-4 year deal. It seems likely we'll be looking to add a veteran starter into the mix this offseason, and Stroman seems to fit the mold. Stroman's 59% GB rate would also pair well with JP and Wong up the middle and White at 1st.
Sign one of three proven relievers to a multi-year deal:
1. Brad Hand
'19: 3.30 ERA, 2.80 FIP, 3.41 xFIP, 13.19 K/9, 2.83 BB/9, 61 FIP-, 2.93 SIERA
'20: 2.05 ERA, 1.37 FIP, 3.83 xFIP, 11.86 K/9, 1.64 BB/9, 30 FIP-, 2.80 SIERA
1. Brad Hand
'19: 3.30 ERA, 2.80 FIP, 3.41 xFIP, 13.19 K/9, 2.83 BB/9, 61 FIP-, 2.93 SIERA
'20: 2.05 ERA, 1.37 FIP, 3.83 xFIP, 11.86 K/9, 1.64 BB/9, 30 FIP-, 2.80 SIERA
2. Keone Kela
'18: 3.29 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 3.31 xFIP, 11.42 K/9, 3.29 BB/9, 69 FIP-, 3.81 SIERA
'19: 2.12 ERA, 3.52 FIP, 4.28 xFIP, 10.01 K/9, 3.34 BB/9, 79 FIP-, 3.56 SIERA
(injured 2020)
'18: 3.29 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 3.31 xFIP, 11.42 K/9, 3.29 BB/9, 69 FIP-, 3.81 SIERA
'19: 2.12 ERA, 3.52 FIP, 4.28 xFIP, 10.01 K/9, 3.34 BB/9, 79 FIP-, 3.56 SIERA
(injured 2020)
3. Trevor May
'19: 2.94 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 4.15 xFIP, 11.05 K/9, 3.64 BB/9, 81 FIP-, 3.68 SIERA
'20: 3.86 ERA, 3.62 FIP, 2.74 xFIP, 14.66 K/9, 2.70 BB/9, 81 FIP-, 2.38 SIERA
'19: 2.94 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 4.15 xFIP, 11.05 K/9, 3.64 BB/9, 81 FIP-, 3.68 SIERA
'20: 3.86 ERA, 3.62 FIP, 2.74 xFIP, 14.66 K/9, 2.70 BB/9, 81 FIP-, 2.38 SIERA
Sign two relievers from this list to one year deals:
-Chris Stratton
-Tony Watson
-Andrew Miller
-Sean Doolittle
-Tyler Chatwood
-Nate Jones
-Chris Stratton
-Tony Watson
-Andrew Miller
-Sean Doolittle
-Tyler Chatwood
-Nate Jones
2021 Opening day starters:
C: Tom Murphy
1B: Evan White
2B: Wong/Kim/Yamada
3B: Kyle Seager
SS: J.P. Crawford
LF: Dylan Moore
CF: Kyle Lewis
RF: Mitch Haniger
DH: Nelson Cruz
(Kelenic in the wings)
Bench: France (work in ABs), Haggerty/Walton, Bishop/Fraley/Ervin, Luis Torrens
C: Tom Murphy
1B: Evan White
2B: Wong/Kim/Yamada
3B: Kyle Seager
SS: J.P. Crawford
LF: Dylan Moore
CF: Kyle Lewis
RF: Mitch Haniger
DH: Nelson Cruz
(Kelenic in the wings)
Bench: France (work in ABs), Haggerty/Walton, Bishop/Fraley/Ervin, Luis Torrens
2021 Opening day Rotation:
1. Marco Gonzales
2. Marcus Stroman
3. Justus Sheffield
4. Yusei Kikuchi
5. Logan Gilbert
(6?: Dunn, Margevicius)
This would be such a great rotation
1. Marco Gonzales
2. Marcus Stroman
3. Justus Sheffield
4. Yusei Kikuchi
5. Logan Gilbert
(6?: Dunn, Margevicius)
This would be such a great rotation
Bullpen:
-Hand/Kela/May
-Watson/Miller/Doolittle
-Stratton/Chatwood/Jones
-Yohan Ramirez
-Anthony Misiewicz
-Kendall Graveman
-Guys like Fletcher, Hamilton, Delaplane, Gerber who impress in ST
-Hand/Kela/May
-Watson/Miller/Doolittle
-Stratton/Chatwood/Jones
-Yohan Ramirez
-Anthony Misiewicz
-Kendall Graveman
-Guys like Fletcher, Hamilton, Delaplane, Gerber who impress in ST
Conclusion: I know it is very unrealistic the Mariners will make 4 multi year signings, this is more of how I would address the holes in our roster via free agency, as trades are a lot tougher to predict. (special thanks to @TuxedoMurph for help on this)
BONUS: If the Yankees are dumb enough to let go of Gary Sanchez or trade him for cheap, do it. A catching tandem of Sanchez/Murph would be amazing.
