The Mariners continued with their conservative approach this offseason by trading Single A pitcher Maikel Cleto to St. Louis for infielder Brendon Ryan. While this deal does not deserve to much ink or speculation, it does give the Mariners another cheap infielder who has Major League experience and will help the club solidify next years infield and give the Mariners some options and depth.
As we all know Jack Wilson has one more season at $5 million with the organization, and if he can stay healthy will be the starting SS next year. Of course Jack Wilson has a track record of being injury-prone and along with Josh Wilson the Mariners now have another guy in the mix while they wait for Dustin Ackley to hone his skills in AAA. In addition this trade will enable the club to move Chone Figgins back to third where he is more comfortable now that we have another infielder who can play second.
On the positive side it must be noted that Ryan along with Cust and Olivo are all guys with Major League experience and thus have the potential to produce. Baseball is a funny game and one does not have to look any further than our neighbors in San Francisco to note that sometimes cast-offs and underrated players can all of a sudden put up big numbers. While I am not saying this is likely with these 3 guys, I am saying it is possible and if any team and its loyal fans deserve a miracle it is certainly our turn here in Seattle!
I would not be surprised to see Jack Z. make some sort of other deal before the club assembles in Arizona. Call it a hunch but I just feel something else coming. If not we will go into camp this year with a lot lower expectations than last year which is a good thing for us fans as we are not as likely to be let down, and may even be pleasantly surprised with Eric Wedge and the 2011 Mariners. Tugboat Jeff at: http://jeffsmariners.com
Filed under: Offseason Trade Rumors and deals |
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several years ago I was driving a cab in ventura ,CA and I picked up a guy who told me he needed to get to the santa barbara airport ASAP! and if I stepped on it there was a c-note in it for me so off we went. On the way he told me his nephew brenden was called up from triple a and was playing in his first major league game for the st. louis cardinals against the s.f. giants in a few hours and he needed to catch a flight to S.F. I dropped him off and he made his flight. That weekend brenden ryan went 4 for 7 with 3 RBI’s and a HR in his first 2 M.L. games. Ever since then I have followed his career and think he has the potential to be a great addition to the Mariners.
Brian, Thanks for the nice note on Brenden Ryan. Good to hear he has one real fan here already.Kind of decided to try and keep hopeful on the blog through the Holidays at least! Jeff
The real question is when are the Mariners going to add some pitching depth and relief help?????. Cust and Ryan are good additions and might pan out, but I really have to question signing signing Miguel “Mendoza Line” Olivo. The lateral moves this club makes blows my mind every off season. when are these idiots in the front office going to realize the necessity of a balanced rotation that doesn’t put it’s hope in reclamation projects, and one hit wonders.
Jeff, Well perhaps Jack Z. can package up Miltin Bradley and some AAA guys like Price or Mangini and get us a starter. Relievers we will probably need to make due. Happy Holidays….Jeff
What the mariners need to do is take a look at Oaklands moves this off season. Willingham, Harden, and matsui. Now that’s low cost high yield acquisitions. Non of this olivo bs that we know won’t produce. What I always say “you can’t put a band-aid on a bullet hole”. Which the mariners seem to lack the insight to understand this.
Jeff, Well we can only look forward from here. I have decided to try and stay positive as long as possible or at least emotionally neutral. Just starting to recover from 2010! Happy Holidays, Tugboat Jeff