Seattle has a secret (Hot Stove News)

by BubbaFan on Dec 1, 2008 10:26 PM EST Comment 41 comments

The Seattle Mariners have made an offer to a free agent player.

They won't say who it is, except that it's not Griffey. (Though they have talked to Griffey's agent.)

They also admit that it's a position player, not a pitcher, which leads Matt Snyder to speculate that it might be Adam Dunn. However, he thinks Dunn will be too expensive for the Bedard-depleted Mariners organization. His best guess? Jerry Hairston, Jr.

He's sure to be cheap, worked hard all season for the Reds, and has good versatility. At 33, he's not too old to be productive, yet he's old enough to accept a two year contract this early in the process, especially considering his career path and numbers. He's not going to cost them any draft choices, either, so this would be a good fit.

Yeah, yeah, not exactly earth-shattering. But hey, I figured we needed a fresh hot stove thread, with all the arb decisions being announced tonight.

Though not the Reds yet. I guess the beat reporters haven't tortured the info out of Jocketty yet. FWIW, C. Trent thinks Hairston, Lincoln and Weathers will be offered arbitration. Along with Encarnacion and maybe Majewski.

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D-back don't offer Dunn arbitration

Holy crap. This would have been considered nuts just a couple of months ago.

Dunn’s case was difficult. Part of the team’s justification for giving up the young players — including big-league starter Micah Owings — it did for Dunn was the expectation of two draft picks when Dunn departed as a free agent, but the downturn in the economy led the team to this decision, meaning Dunn will depart without any compensation.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Dec 1, 2008 10:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I find it a little odd.

The arbitration salary might end up being pretty high, but I think Dunn will get a multi-year deal from someone else that ends up better than what arbitration would’ve gotten him.

Everybody's a jerk. You. Me. This jerk.

by andromache on Dec 1, 2008 10:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It is odd

Near as I can figure, the D-backs didn’t offer him arbitration because they were afraid he’d accept the offer.

He’s said he really loves Arizona and fit in well in the clubhouse. And with the market the way it is, he might have been willing to take a one-year deal, in hopes that the market will be better next year.

This is a result of the financial crisis. Everyone’s afraid to spend money. Even the people who want to spend can’t get the credit lines they used to have access to. The credit markets are still frozen. Heck, the state of California is broke. With Florida and NY likely to follow soon.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Dec 1, 2008 11:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is the result of Arizona's financial ineptitude

These guys almost went bankrupt in the aftermath of winning a WS. Colangelo had to sell his shares as a result. As good as their GM is, their accountants are much worse.

How do they expect to score enough runs next year? Marginally, Dunn is a worth a lot to them because without his bat they won’t contend.

by ken on Dec 2, 2008 11:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but

the supposedly wealthy Yankees didn’t offer arbitration to anyone. Not even Abreu, who everyone expected would get an offer.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Dec 2, 2008 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Yankees also haven't laid off 10% of their staff recently

And not offering arbitration to Abreu is defensible. They don’t need his bat like Arizona needs Dunn’s. Plus, they have plenty of guys to play the corners, right? Damon, Swisher, Matsui, Nady (?), etc.

by ken on Dec 2, 2008 1:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Arizona never meant to keep Dunn, though

The plan all along was to offer him arbitration, have him refuse it, then take the draft picks and run.

What changed is that they’re afraid now that he might not refuse.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Dec 2, 2008 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Brilliant!

Bob and Walt are really evil geniuses!

1. Trade Dunn in his walk year for 3 guys who are OK, but might end up being pretty good.
2. Conspire with OPEC, Al-Queda, the mortgage industry, and Al Gore to ruin the economy.
3. Re-sign Dunn at a discount without losing any draft picks.

Maybe I was too hasty in panning the trade in August.

Often wrong, never uncertain.

by sidnancy on Dec 2, 2008 8:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pat Burrell wasn't offered arbitration either

So who do you want, Walt? The left-handed shunned Dunn, or the right-handed old Dunn? Take your pick.

by Brendanukkah on Dec 2, 2008 12:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dusty is going to call Kerry Wood

to see if he would like to be the Reds next set-up man. while Wood would be a significant upgrade over the likes of Stormy and Lincoln, he could most likely get a deal closing somewhere for a lot more money. but its cute of Dusty to bring it up.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 2, 2008 12:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

sorry

wish I would have read this before slapping a fanpost together. I wasted time on the internet that I could have been wasting on the internet.

by jacob brumfield on Dec 2, 2008 1:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

um

no i think yours is cooler. we need more cryptic messages here at RR.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 2, 2008 10:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For Charles:

Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower, and draws all good things toward you. Allow your love to nourish yourself as well as others. Do not strain after the needs of life. Do not strain at stool. It is sufficient to be a Red Reporter. In this way life proceeds more naturally and effortlessly. Life is here to Enjoy! until you become aged, sick, progressively more physically and mentally disabled and then die from a long lingering horrible disease.

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

Sir Winston Churchill

by Madville on Dec 2, 2008 1:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Stormy

Reds offer arbitration to Weathers

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that he’s the only one.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Dec 2, 2008 6:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jeez Cherry is gonna be 33 ?

I still think he’s got another year in him, but if Seattle wants him, well good luck Jerry Jr.

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

Sir Winston Churchill

by Madville on Dec 2, 2008 8:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

They've talked to Griffey's agent though

Story here. The Seattle Times says that new Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik has talked with Brian Goldberg, Griffey’s agent. It seems like very preliminary talks and nothing may come of it. Zduriencik says he doesn’t even know if Griffey would fit on the team (not if they’re smart, he wouldn’t).

One interesting thing to note is that Zduriencik joined the Mariners from the Brewers, so he’s gotten to see plenty of Griffey from his days in the NL Central. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing for Griffey’s chances of getting signed.

by Brendanukkah on Dec 2, 2008 11:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Astros still think they're players, but I'm not sure they know what that means

It was a little confusing when they traded away most of their minor league assets for Miguel Tejada. It was head-scratching when they traded for Randy Wolf at the deadline. Now they’ve gone and signed Mike Hampton. Yup, 36 year old Mike Hampton who missed all of 2006 and 2007 with injuries, and had an 88 ERA+ and 1.423 WHIP last year in 13 games. The deal is worth $2 million plus incentives for one year.

Can’t say this deal really puts the fear of god into me.

by Brendanukkah on Dec 2, 2008 11:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

And

It was head-scratching when they traded for Randy Wolf at the deadline.

Like the DBacks and Dunn, they didn’t offer Wolf arbitration.

Often wrong, never uncertain.

by sidnancy on Dec 2, 2008 12:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

seriously?

Jeez, maybe the Reds can get Berkman off of them while they’re making asinine moves.

...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield

by Cy Schourek on Dec 2, 2008 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

With Hampton in,

it’s most definitely Lima Time in Houston.

by ken on Dec 2, 2008 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dunn would be...

…a great fit for Seattle, actually. His on-base skills and deep power would be huge assets in the offense-suppressing expanses of Safeco Field.

by Travis G. on Dec 2, 2008 12:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

well howdy, and welcome

by jacob brumfield on Dec 2, 2008 4:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's high, hello, and welcome

n00b. :)

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Dec 2, 2008 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe to you, hippie!

The rest of us spell it “hi.”

by Brendanukkah on Dec 2, 2008 4:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Damnit

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Dec 2, 2008 4:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing to do with Seattle

But apparently this guy thinks the Reds would trade Bailey for Gerald Laird.

MLBTraderumors.com via Dallas Morning News

No thanks.

"Yes, and it's so important in this sport that the athletes be able to train in the same location." -Cynthia Potter, NBC Synchronized Diving Analyst

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on Dec 3, 2008 11:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ugh. Wrong catcher from Texas.

Everybody's a jerk. You. Me. This jerk.

by andromache on Dec 3, 2008 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dunn news

from Robothal. He hears the Braves, Mariners and Nationals (gasp) are interested. After Manny and Teixeira move the market will expand and may include the Dodgers, Yankees and Angels.

by Red Menace on Dec 3, 2008 3:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Nats make sense

They still need an outfielder to play catcher.

Why have I been blogging for so long? It's certainly not because of the paycheck. Because I could be making a lot more money as a doctor or a professional athlete.

by Slyde on Dec 3, 2008 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dunno about the Yankees

They are really trying to cut payroll, and Cashman thinks the team needs to be more athletic. If Dunn were right-handed and had a plus glove, I could see the Yanks being interested. But they’re pretty well stocked with lefties and corner outfielders at the moment.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Dec 3, 2008 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs