The 2010 Seattle Mariners

Charlie Klein and Puneet Singh

Since I came out to the west coast and promised more content for those not afflicted with east coast bias, I figured I ought to up the ante. The 2009 Seattle Mariners have proven to be a major improvement to the 2008 edition, which was predicted by Tim Kurkjian to win the AL West. The M's instead finished in the cellar and had the second worst record in baseball. The 2010 edition, with the correct additions, could be of a World Series calibre ball club.

The Mariners will have approximately 50 million to spend as the contracts of Miguel Batista, Jarrod Washburn, Richie Sexson, Adrian Beltre, and Erik Bedard all come off the books. Jack Zduriencik & Co. will not spend money on just anyone, but will spend it on players who have proven to be worth the money. Instead of Bill Bavasi, who signed players for their one good year and paid them as though they would duplicate it every year, the Mariners have a GM that their fans can trust.

The key needs for the 2010 Mariners will be a power hitting left fielder, a third baseman, first baseman, shortstop, and two new starting pitchers.

Key Additions

1. Jason Bay (LF) The Trail, British Columbia native will want to come closer to home after a few years away from his home nation. Seattle is only a few hours away by plane and would be a relative homecoming for Bay. More importantly the Mariners will have plenty of money to sign the AL clubhouse leader in RBIs to a long-term contract to play left field. The Mariners have been looking for a left fielder for at least the past decade. Bay would fit that role and would probably be a 4 yr/28 million dollar player.

2. Hank Blalock (3b). Mariners fans are all too familiar with the work of Hank Blalock, having watched him mash baseball after baseball throughout his time with division rival Texas. Blalock can also DH, which is another position which the Mariners have had trouble finding a suitable replacement for Edgar Martinez. Blalock is only 29 and still has at least three good seasons ahead of him. I would expect a 2 yr/12-14 million contract with a club option for a third season.

3. Re-sign Russell Branyan. The genius of Zduriencik is present for all to see in signing Branyan this past offseason. The thought by the Mariners brass was that if Branyan was given regular at bats, that his production would soar. This has undoubtedly proven to be the case. As of today, Branyan is hitting .306 with 16 homeruns with 31 RBIs and a .407 on base percentage. He has also turned in great defense which has been invaluable to the weak defensive team.

4. Randy Wolf (SP). The Mariners will need to replace at least one starting pitcher in their rotation and Randy Wolf would be an excellent addition to a rotation with burgeoning ace Felix Hernandez. Wolf has a 3.29 ERA with a record of 3-2 and 69 strikeouts. Wolf will cost the Mariners between 5-8 million a year but would be cheaper than re-signing Erik Bedard, should the club decide not to re-sign or trade Bedard.

5. Tim Hudson (SP). This definitely has the feel of a Zduriencik signing. Hudson, who is 34, is coming off Tommy John surgery and should not cost the Mariners a ton of money. It is a move that is low risk, high reward, something that Zduriencik has made into a creed with his first season in charge.

6. Brett Myers (SP). Myers will not be extremely expensive to add and has excellent potential. Surely pitching in Safeco Field will be beneficial to his ERA and he has decent strikeout numbers. A change of scenery could be just the thing Myers' career needs.

7. Fernando Rodney (RHP). Rodney would not be terribly expensive either and the Tigers may let him go considering Joel Zumaya's return to good health. Would be an excellent set-up man to Aardsma or could replace Aardsma should David not be able to continue his dominance as closer. This would also save the Mariners the temptation of moving Morrow back to closer.

Considerations: Mark Prior, Justin Duchscherer, Brandon Webb (if the Diamondbacks for some reason elect to not exercise their option), Josh Beckett (same as Webb), Matt Holliday (Lf), Chone Figgins (3b), Jack Wilson (SS), Victor Martinez (if the Indians don't exercise their option) (C/1b/Dh).

The 2010 Mariners Starting Lineup:

Manager: Don Wakamatsu

1. Ichiro Suzuki Rf
2. Russell Branyan 1b
3. Jason Bay Lf
4. Hank Blalock Dh
5. Jose Lopez 2b
6. Kenji Johjima C
7. Franklin Gutierrez Cf
8. Mike Carp 3b
9. Yuniesky Betancourt SS

Rotation:

1. Felix Hernandez
2. Randy Wolf
3. Tim Hudson
4. Brett Myers
5. Brandon Morrow

Bullpen

1. David Aardsma (Closer)
2. Fernando Rodney
3. Shawn Kelley
4. Sean White
5. Chris Jackubauskas
6. Carlos Silva
7. Mark Lowe