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PolarVortex
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So as we enter season three of the Dipoto/Servais regime, let's take a quick analysis of the current state of Mariner affairs. I can sum it up in one sentence. The mariners have zero prospects in the hot top 100 and their payroll, for the first time in their 41-year history, is higher than the New York Yankees.
I realize that Dipoto had some tearing down to do before he could build back up, but after two years we have stooped pretty low. A major part of the problem, none of which was Dipoto's doing, is that $84 million of the payroll is tied up in four guys who are close to or past their prime. This is certainly true in the case of Hernandez and Cano, and you could make and argument for Seager and Cruz as well.
Nellie Cruz, the most productive and least expensive of the quartet, will be the first one out the door. He only brings $14.5 million on salary relief while taking 40 homeruns and 100 RBI with him. But at age 37 and soon to be 38, they have to let him walk or trade him in July.
Hernandez leaves after 2019, but not before making $54.7 million over the next two years. If we get 15 wins over the two years, for that $54.7 million, we will be lucky.
Seager is still owed $77.5 million over 4 years. And while he has been a steady producer over his 6+ years as a starter, he never developed into the star quality player that they thought he would be when he originally signed his huge contract extension. To date he has only been in one all star game and only once placed higher than 20th in the MVP vote. Now the lingering question, as he enters his age 30 season, is will he be the type of player who remains effective into his mid 30s or will he start to fade at an earlier age that is more traditional for the average baseball player.
Cano, whose OPS was his lowest in 9 years last year, is still owed $144 million over six years. Now we enter the years in his contract in which his burden on payroll becomes apparent. We all knew, the day he signed, that these days were coming. The payoff was the first 3-4 years, and the gamble failed to produce a playoff team.
So with $84 million tied up in 4 players he did not sign, how is Dipoto supposed to fill out the other 21 spots on the active roster, field a competitive team, and re-build the minor leagues all at the same time? Seems like an insurmountable task. The state of the Mariners is not very good and payroll challenges will continue to have us handicapped for at least this season and next season.
I realize that Dipoto had some tearing down to do before he could build back up, but after two years we have stooped pretty low. A major part of the problem, none of which was Dipoto's doing, is that $84 million of the payroll is tied up in four guys who are close to or past their prime. This is certainly true in the case of Hernandez and Cano, and you could make and argument for Seager and Cruz as well.
Nellie Cruz, the most productive and least expensive of the quartet, will be the first one out the door. He only brings $14.5 million on salary relief while taking 40 homeruns and 100 RBI with him. But at age 37 and soon to be 38, they have to let him walk or trade him in July.
Hernandez leaves after 2019, but not before making $54.7 million over the next two years. If we get 15 wins over the two years, for that $54.7 million, we will be lucky.
Seager is still owed $77.5 million over 4 years. And while he has been a steady producer over his 6+ years as a starter, he never developed into the star quality player that they thought he would be when he originally signed his huge contract extension. To date he has only been in one all star game and only once placed higher than 20th in the MVP vote. Now the lingering question, as he enters his age 30 season, is will he be the type of player who remains effective into his mid 30s or will he start to fade at an earlier age that is more traditional for the average baseball player.
Cano, whose OPS was his lowest in 9 years last year, is still owed $144 million over six years. Now we enter the years in his contract in which his burden on payroll becomes apparent. We all knew, the day he signed, that these days were coming. The payoff was the first 3-4 years, and the gamble failed to produce a playoff team.
So with $84 million tied up in 4 players he did not sign, how is Dipoto supposed to fill out the other 21 spots on the active roster, field a competitive team, and re-build the minor leagues all at the same time? Seems like an insurmountable task. The state of the Mariners is not very good and payroll challenges will continue to have us handicapped for at least this season and next season.
