Current… for now… that is today… 2010 M’s depth chart

DMZ · December 23, 2009 at 6:33 pm · Filed Under Mariners 

Pitching
SP-R Felix Hernandez
SP-L Cliff Lee
SP-L Ryan Rowland-Smith
SP-R Ian Snell
SP-R Doug Fister

(SP-R Yusmeiro Petit, then there’s a grey area for a couple of the guys below)

Soooo let’s try and sort out the bullpen this time, rather than just leave a huge blob. Assume 7.

RP-R David Aardsma
RP-R Brandon League
RP-R Mark Lowe
RP-L Luke French
RP-L Jason Vargas
RP-L Garrett Olson
RP-R Shawn Kelley

(then the blob: RP-R Sean White, RP-R Kanekoa Texeira)

Position players
C-R Rob Johnson
C-R Adam Moore
1B-L Mike Carp
2B-R Jose Lopez
SS-R Jack Wilson
3B-B Chone Figgins
LF-L Michael Saunders
CF-R Franklin Gutierrez
RF-L Ichiro!
DH-L Ken Griffey Jr.
DH/LF-B Milton Bradley
UT-R Bill Hall (IF/OF-R?)
IF-L Jack Hannahan
OF-L Ryan Langerhans

Still no Saunders word.
Branyan’s negotiating position is eroding fast.
And I don’t know that we should count the Morrow/League trade as the “other shoe” from the last time we ran this.

Comments

49 Responses to “Current… for now… that is today… 2010 M’s depth chart”

  1. just a fan on December 23rd, 2009 6:38 pm

    You forget that we disappeared Jaku

  2. Slurve on December 23rd, 2009 6:39 pm

    I hope Nick Hill makes the team out of ST.

  3. bseblfevr on December 23rd, 2009 6:43 pm

    Jakubauskas was let go and picked up on waivers by someone…don’t ask why.

  4. bseblfevr on December 23rd, 2009 6:48 pm

    I don’t see that big feared hitter in this lineup…

  5. Kurt on December 23rd, 2009 7:02 pm

    Jakubauskas went to Pitt.

    We still have 3 rookies in the starting lineup.

    Would be nice to get a one year deal for 1B this year…next year’s 1B FA class looks strong:

    Albert Pujols (I wish!)
    Carlos Pena
    Adam Dunn
    Nick Johnson (again)

  6. thehemogoblin on December 23rd, 2009 7:08 pm

    Why are you keeping three replacement-level lefties in the pen? I can’t see justifying more than one of Olsen/Vargas/French in the pen. They’re not good enough to consistently exploit left-handed hitters.

  7. behappy on December 23rd, 2009 7:09 pm

    As of now we need a big year from just about all the postion players. What does everyone think about Moore?

    Ok Jack time to pull a stud 1B out of your ass.

  8. DaveValleDrinkNight on December 23rd, 2009 7:19 pm

    Im with behappy. But who can we get at 1st through trade?

  9. Dave S. on December 23rd, 2009 7:22 pm

    I think you’re right – in fact I’m thinking the “other shoe” is replacing Fister with an established starting pitcher. Plenty of options on the free agent market.

    I was really shocked that Glaus signed for so little. Think it means that we’ll see a decent low-cost pickup?

  10. DAMellen on December 23rd, 2009 7:22 pm

    What’s wrong with Branyan’s negotiating position? This still looks like a team in need of a firstbaseman. And how much is left on our theoretical budget?

  11. DaveValleDrinkNight on December 23rd, 2009 7:26 pm

    Absolute pipe dream I know but does anybody think that Jason Bay could play 1st base?

  12. Dave S. on December 23rd, 2009 7:26 pm

    I think he’s referring to the fact that Glaus signed for 1 yr/$2 mil with the Braves. The market for 1B is not strong this year.

    Plus, it further weakens LaRoche’s bargaining position (not that the Braves were going to re-sign him anyway).

  13. just a fan on December 23rd, 2009 7:36 pm

    Do we have 3 rookies starting? I know catcher and 1st base (as of now), but LF/DH seems to be Bradley in one spot, with Langerhans, Hall and Griffey filling the other (and if you want to call that rookie, then in a way, ok). Unless Saunders performs to make it otherwise, in which case, cool!

    And, the way things are going, some serviceable 1st baseman is gonna have to take $2-3 million if he wants to play.

  14. DMZ on December 23rd, 2009 7:46 pm

    Fixed Jak. Sorry.

  15. joe simpson can hit on December 23rd, 2009 7:56 pm

    Dave Valle, I’ve been wondering the same thing. Could we sign Bay and play him at first? Would he want to? Would we?

  16. sodomojo95 on December 23rd, 2009 7:59 pm

    could the Morrow trade lead to a Ben Sheets signing?

  17. fiftyone on December 23rd, 2009 8:00 pm

    Clever to post this on the evening of 12/23. It might actually have a 72-hour shelf life this time around, if we’re lucky.

  18. just a fan on December 23rd, 2009 8:04 pm

    What’s the price of the current depth chart?

  19. Liam on December 23rd, 2009 8:24 pm

    Branyan’s negotiating position is eroding fast.

    With several injury risk players on the roster, do the Mariners even want him back at this point?

  20. Banton on December 23rd, 2009 8:34 pm

    I would be concerned about adding another known injury risk (Branyan). And I hope to all that is holy that Saunders figures it out at the big league level. I can deal with Carp at 1sat in the short term, as the upgrades, slight as they are, are still a bit too pricey. Of course, I presume that Johnson will get most of the starts in Apr/May.

  21. nepacific on December 23rd, 2009 8:45 pm

    I’m still thinking of Saunders as the starting LF, based on winter performance and a possible good spring. Is this crazy? The less time Bradley spends in the field the better, for the sake of his health. Let him concentrate on hitting.

  22. Gibbo on December 23rd, 2009 8:50 pm

    anyone think we should or could go after Loney for our 1B? I know he doesnt have power yet, but very good numbers, hits left and struggles at his home ground.

  23. Gibbo on December 23rd, 2009 8:53 pm

    yeah I agree on Saunders, I really hope he gets a good shot, it could set us up in the OF for a few years.

  24. J-Dog on December 23rd, 2009 9:01 pm

    It looks like the depth chart has 26 players. I assume that means that 1 of either Saunders or Langerhans will start the year in Tacoma (does anybody know whether we lose Langerhans if we send him to Tacoma?)

    Why are you keeping three replacement-level lefties in the pen? I can’t see justifying more than one of Olsen/Vargas/French in the pen. They’re not good enough to consistently exploit left-handed hitters.

    I think that the Mariners will probably sign another pitcher (Sheets, I hope!). That will probably push Fister into the bullpen and move one of Olsen/Vargas/French out.

  25. J-Dog on December 23rd, 2009 9:05 pm

    To clarify my question above, do the M’s have to put Langerhans through waivers if they decide to send him to Tacoma?

  26. Mariners2620 on December 23rd, 2009 9:20 pm

    I seriously don’t see anyway that Jack Z thinks that this lineup will produce enough to be a contender. He really wants to win not only this year (even though it’s apparent he really wants to this year), but for years to come as well. That should lead to Jack Z finding a way to get a legit healthy guy to play first base. The only guys who Jack Z might actually have a chance at are Adrian Gonzalez and Prince Fielder. They both make perfect sense for our team, seeing as how both are phenomenal hitters and both are lefties. I just don’t see how it’s possible that we get either one of them without completely depleting the farm. Whatever happens, I honestly don’t see us coming out of this off season without one of them. I don’t know how we will get one of them, but I do know that an awesome bat to go in the middle of the lineup is exactly what this team needs to put them over the top.

  27. Mariners2620 on December 23rd, 2009 9:30 pm

    I understand what it is going to take to get Adrian Gonzalez, but if GMZ is ready to win right now, with all of the rent a players he has on the team this season, he needs to get “that guy”. The only way that I would approve of a trade for Adrian is for us to some how some way be able to give up a guy who has huge upside who is down in A and AA, along with a couple of AAA guys and package them with Kelley and Lopez. It’s a ton to give up, but I think it would pay off big time. I realize I sound pretty dumb, because everyone in the Mariners world has already thought of this, but i’m just saying what I think we truly need to do if we intend on winning this season.

  28. J-Dog on December 23rd, 2009 9:42 pm

    That should lead to Jack Z finding a way to get a legit healthy guy to play first base.

    Yep. My Christmas wish list includes (in order)

    1. 1B
    2. a 3rd Starter
    3. a LOOGY (no previous major league experience required)

  29. Liam on December 23rd, 2009 9:43 pm

    @d_a_cameron
    Attention, USSM commenters: there are first baseman on this earth besides Adrian Gonzalez and Prince Fielder.

    Dave also believed that the Mariners were contenders before the addition of Bradley.

  30. Jeff Nye on December 23rd, 2009 9:47 pm

    I hear Richie Sexson is available.

  31. Mike Snow on December 23rd, 2009 9:58 pm

    Jeff, you’re brutal.

  32. Stunasty on December 23rd, 2009 10:02 pm

    What does everyone make of the comment that Jack Z said today? Zduriencik said he’d envisioned Morrow competing for a fifth-starter role this spring with pitchers like Garrett Olson, Jason Vargas and Doug Fister. Wow I think that sums up what Big Z thought of Morrow and why he traded him.

  33. Liam on December 23rd, 2009 10:15 pm

    On the previous depth chart, Morrow was slotted in the #4 spot so that’s close enough. Previous USSM entries on Morrow toward the end of the season weren’t that high on him either.

  34. dingbatman on December 23rd, 2009 10:35 pm

    Dave Valle, I’ve been wondering the same thing. Could we sign Bay and play him at first? Would he want to? Would we?

    I think if Bay really wanted to play in Seattle he’d have to offer to play 1st and offer up a Roy Halladay type below market contract 3yrs+option+option.

  35. Stunasty on December 23rd, 2009 10:40 pm

    Putting him in the same company as Olson,Vargas and Fister means they think he is expendable. There is a difference between the 4th and 5th spot in the rotation. I think there even some who thought if he pitched well enough in the spring he could even compete for the 3rd spot in the rotation. Obviously this was not the case and whatever Adair,Wak and Jack saw from Morrow is way different then what the rest of us think.

  36. Stunasty on December 23rd, 2009 10:46 pm

    You have to wonder if this means they are on the verge of signing a legit number 3 starter. If they think Morrow is expendable then I think Jack has something up his sleeve. It’s not like the rest of the rotation is that solid after the 1-2 punch.

  37. jack z is a beast on December 23rd, 2009 10:52 pm

    @d_a_cameron
    Attention, USSM commenters: there are first baseman on this earth besides Adrian Gonzalez and Prince Fielder.

    I don’t see fielder coming here, I think the only reason we’re linked to him is jack z’s milwaukie ties. he’s also represented by boras so he definitely is going to cost more than he should, which doesnt work when the m’s are going to have ichiro, and hopefully felix and lee on expensive contracts.

    A guy I see coming here is Doumit. he’s a versatile, switch hitter with upside, and injury risk. he would also come relatively cheap and wouldn’t take more than one or two okay prospects. I also like laroche because he has huge second halfs (maybe he could even it out a little) and may be talked into coming here by langerhans (maybe this is a reason why he was brought back?)

    if we have enough money (we might not) a deal with the reds for joey votto and a bad contract would take a relatively low amount of talent (their trying to clear cap space and have another 1b prospect waiting) considering we would be getting votto. This would get us a number 3 or 4 starter (arroyo or harang are the contracts they would want to move) with number 1 or 2 upside (for harang not arroyo) and a bat in the same deal. it would also put a dent in our remaining money, but imagine getting bedard for the second half of the year at 1 or 2 mil (and incentives) and i think our offseason would be over.

  38. Briggstar on December 23rd, 2009 11:40 pm

    A guy I see coming here is Doumit. he’s a versatile, switch hitter with upside, and injury risk.

    I like him too as a Northwest homer, but also worry about his wrists, especially the surgically repaired right one (he mildly sprained the left wrist in ’07, I believe). As a hitter there may not be a tougher injury to battle.

    Speaking of injury risks, I haven’t heard much talk about Vlad here. Is he just too much of a gamble with his wobbly knees and Griffey occupying the aging slugger/DT role? The idea of him signing to an incentive-laden contract and then opening a can of whoopass payback on the Halos would make my life complete…if that happens, Jebus, take me home.

  39. Briggstar on December 23rd, 2009 11:41 pm

    Messed up the block quotes! Reverse ’em…

  40. Liam on December 24th, 2009 1:25 am

    The reason you haven’t heard much talk is because there is no room for another DH-only type player.

  41. Route 21 on December 24th, 2009 6:42 am

    What does everyone make of the comment that Jack Z said today? Zduriencik said he’d envisioned Morrow competing for a fifth-starter role this spring with pitchers like Garrett Olson, Jason Vargas and Doug Fister. Wow I think that sums up what Big Z thought of Morrow and why he traded him.

    Ouch – I hadn’t heard that.

    I think that tracks with some of the observations from mid-late last season, when Morrow had been sent to Tacoma largely to take in the aroma pick up AAA groupies develop his changeup, and either couldn’t or hadn’t.

    Without a changeup, Morrow is a reliever, because he can’t throw Mach 2 with his hair on fire for 200 innings a year.

    Do others concur?

  42. Route 21 on December 24th, 2009 6:48 am

    My real worry is Snell. Barring another signing or trade, our rotation counts on him to figure things out (AL hitters, new park, his head, whatever).

    If Snell doesn’t, in all seriousness, wouldn’t this season be the season to go with a 4-man rotation, Felix/Lee/RRS/the best of the rest, rather than running out the second best of the rest every 5 days? It does cost us the opportunity to chant “Fister, Fister, Fister!” every 5 days in public, but I’d rather win the division and chant privately.

  43. Willmore2000 on December 24th, 2009 8:01 am

    I’d switch Lopez and Figgins in that write-up, but other than that, I think that even lacking a first baseman, this is a playoff team.

  44. eponymous coward on December 24th, 2009 9:20 am

    I’d switch Lopez and Figgins in that write-up, but other than that, I think that even lacking a first baseman, this is a playoff team.

    I’m not so sure. The Mariners, Angels and Rangers are probably going to end up all mid-to-high 80 win teams on true talent (an assessment of pre-Bradley/League gets them to 84, and I think Bradley at DH and League probably gets them about tied with the Angels), and injuries/breakouts/fallbacks/luck are so random and unforeseeable that I don’t think any one team is head-and-shoulders over the rest, given that.

    Adding a 2-2.5 WAR 1B to replace Carp would help push the team past the Angels in terms of true talent, as well as add some hitting depth to the organization. At this point, I think wanting Carp to demonstrate he’s one of the SUPERIOR hitters at AAA is fairly justified, not just able to hit there.

    Case in point:

    Mike Carp in AAA: .271/.372/.446
    Jeff Clement in AAA: .279/.368/.492
    Jeremy Reed in AAA: .301/.364/.458
    Jose Lopez in AAA: .304/.347/.505

    And just for fun,

    Michael Saunders in AAA: .292/.359/.504

  45. heychuck01 on December 24th, 2009 11:43 am

    [see guidelines]

  46. TumwaterMike on December 24th, 2009 12:07 pm

    I agree. I think Duchscherer (I’m glad you spelled it so I wouldn’t have to look it up)would have been a solid #3. There’s still Sheets. Hey the Cubs just got a new pitcher, maybe Zambrano’s available.

  47. NorthPac10 on December 25th, 2009 10:52 pm

    Nice 26 man squad! It should be a REAL! advantage, if the rest of the AL West gets only 25!

    But I am still not sure. Even if we had 26, we still have very little starting pitching (having a disinterested Lee for ONE YEAR! does not make a contender), no first baseman, a catcher who can not hit or throw anyone out at second (you seriously think Moore is going to start?), a left handed DH who hits in the .210’s and was given a raise!, and who “WAK” will insist bats 4th, (a GREAT use of talent was to have Branyan hit 2nd!), and a left fielder who is not certain that he is from earth! Gee, I wonder why the Angels are laughing.

    This roster (as it stands) is BARELY better than last year’s! Before passing out praise to “Dr. Genious”, we may want to actually correct a few of the problems from last year. Very little starting pitching would be a start. So what does “Dr.Z” do? Trade one of the few peices that we actually have at SP with HUGE upside! Absolute “Genious”!

    I have to end this now. I have to run outside and put up a statue!

  48. DMZ on December 25th, 2009 11:34 pm

    “Genious” indeed.

    Also, you’ll note it’s not a 25-man depth chart, nor is it intended as such, and attempts to call out where uncertainty still exists.

  49. Jeff Nye on December 26th, 2009 12:39 am

    Derek, I think your response needed more RANDOM CAPITALIZATION and maybe some gratuitous punctuation!! to give it that little extra bit of “genious”.

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