OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - "Down to the Studs" -- The Tear-Down and Build-Up of the Seattle Mariners

Hendu Style · 12-20-2018, 06:48 AM

The Mariners broke Spring Training with little hope of contending in 2020. Their lineup was anchored by a 37 year-old Robinson Cano, back for another go-around in Seattle after the Mets could no longer stomach his contract. Their biggest free agent signing was a pitcher by the name of Brad Boxberger, a 31 year-old journeyman who had record a grand total of five saves in the previous four years. Still, Jerry Dipoto was optimistic about the future.

"I think we've positioned ourselves well for 2021," Dipoto told reporters after the Mariners wrapped up 2020 Spring Training in Peoria, Arizona. "I really like the potential free agent class next year, and our payroll will be in line for us to make some moves."

Dipoto wasn't wrong. The payroll was projected to fall just under $90 million, and that didn't include team options on Mike Leake ($18 million), Carlos Santana ($17.5 million), and Dee Gordon ($14 million). Mike Trout headlined a class of potential free agents for 2021, a list that also included closer Ken Giles and pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.

Seattle's hope was that its so-called bumper crop of prospects would be ready to greet a free agent or two on the Mariners MLB roster. But the farm system had yet to bear fruit. Outfielder Jarred Kelenic had struggled in Short Season A, hitting just .179 in 63 plate appearances as a 20 year-old. Lefty Justus Sheffield was still on the mend from a torn UCL and had tossed just 26 innings in his time in Seattle's farm system. 2018 1st round pick Logan Gilbert was the Mariners' lone top-100 prospect in the minors, ranked #69 according to Baseball America heading into 2020.

"I'm telling you right now, our farm system is sneaky good," Dipoto insisted during his annual State of the Team address to reporters. "We have some really high-ceiling infielders in the low minors, and I think we have a few guys who are right there, on the verge of making our big league roster in Triple-A."

As far as the Triple-A prospects, Evan White figured to be the most MLB-ready. The first baseman proved to be an exceptional defender, and he managed a .298/.355/.416 slash line in AA in 2019 before a late-season call-up to AAA Tacoma which saw him hit .280 in 20 games. Still, he had hit a total of just 26 homers in 1154 career minor league at-bats, hardly the kind of power that one would expect from a first baseman.

Cal Raleigh, a 23 year-old catcher drafted in the 3rd round two years prior, had a .291 batting average in 152 minor league games in 2018 and 2019, while amassing 17 home runs, 51 doubles, and 91 RBI. If not for incumbents J.T. Realmuto and Reese McGuire in the Majors, Raleigh could very well be playing on the MLB roster in 2020.

24 year-old middle infielder Logan Warmoth, a product of the JP Crawford trade, reached AAA the previous year in the Braves organization and had now climbed every single rung of the minor league ladder.

And longtime outfield prospect Kyle Lewis was primed to make his MLB debut after center fielder Mallex Smith went down with a partially torn labrum at the start of Spring Training.

Dipoto was even more keen on his prospects in the lower rungs of the Mariners minor league ladder. 19 year-old Riley Greene, an outfielder drafted out of high school in the first round in 2019, hit .314 and flashed a great glove in his first year of pro ball in the M's Rookie League. 2019 draft pick Liam Deegan (4th round) lacked a flashy glove, but made up for it with raw power, evidenced by his 7 homers and 14 doubles in 54 games in Rookie ball.

Above them were infielders Matthew Lugo, Marcos Junior Gonzalez, and Osiris Castillo. The trio of Latin American players were all natural shortstops, but were now branching out to new infield positions to avoid a logjam in the minors. Lugo, a .293 hitter the previous year for Atlanta's Rookie League team, shifted over to third base, bringing with him a howitzer for a right arm. Gonzalez's bat (.315 in a short stint in Short Season A) was starting to catch up with his elite level defense, and he remained at shortstop. Castillo, who was the furthest along in the farm system of the trio, would slide over to second base after hitting .224 and stealing 11 bases in 45 games in Class-A Clinton.

Despite the relatively quiet offseason, Dipoto was determined to make one last trade before the start of the 2020 season. With plenty of financial room to spare heading into the new season, the Mariners GM made a phone call that would net the team a slew of new minor league arms, and a new starting left fielder.

12-20-2018, 06:48 AM	#8
Hendu Style All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,450	Taking stock of the upcoming 2020 season The Mariners broke Spring Training with little hope of contending in 2020. Their lineup was anchored by a 37 year-old Robinson Cano, back for another go-around in Seattle after the Mets could no longer stomach his contract. Their biggest free agent signing was a pitcher by the name of Brad Boxberger, a 31 year-old journeyman who had record a grand total of five saves in the previous four years. Still, Jerry Dipoto was optimistic about the future. "I think we've positioned ourselves well for 2021," Dipoto told reporters after the Mariners wrapped up 2020 Spring Training in Peoria, Arizona. "I really like the potential free agent class next year, and our payroll will be in line for us to make some moves." Dipoto wasn't wrong. The payroll was projected to fall just under $90 million, and that didn't include team options on Mike Leake ($18 million), Carlos Santana ($17.5 million), and Dee Gordon ($14 million). Mike Trout headlined a class of potential free agents for 2021, a list that also included closer Ken Giles and pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. Seattle's hope was that its so-called bumper crop of prospects would be ready to greet a free agent or two on the Mariners MLB roster. But the farm system had yet to bear fruit. Outfielder Jarred Kelenic had struggled in Short Season A, hitting just .179 in 63 plate appearances as a 20 year-old. Lefty Justus Sheffield was still on the mend from a torn UCL and had tossed just 26 innings in his time in Seattle's farm system. 2018 1st round pick Logan Gilbert was the Mariners' lone top-100 prospect in the minors, ranked #69 according to Baseball America heading into 2020. "I'm telling you right now, our farm system is sneaky good," Dipoto insisted during his annual State of the Team address to reporters. "We have some really high-ceiling infielders in the low minors, and I think we have a few guys who are right there, on the verge of making our big league roster in Triple-A." As far as the Triple-A prospects, Evan White figured to be the most MLB-ready. The first baseman proved to be an exceptional defender, and he managed a .298/.355/.416 slash line in AA in 2019 before a late-season call-up to AAA Tacoma which saw him hit .280 in 20 games. Still, he had hit a total of just 26 homers in 1154 career minor league at-bats, hardly the kind of power that one would expect from a first baseman. Cal Raleigh, a 23 year-old catcher drafted in the 3rd round two years prior, had a .291 batting average in 152 minor league games in 2018 and 2019, while amassing 17 home runs, 51 doubles, and 91 RBI. If not for incumbents J.T. Realmuto and Reese McGuire in the Majors, Raleigh could very well be playing on the MLB roster in 2020. 24 year-old middle infielder Logan Warmoth, a product of the JP Crawford trade, reached AAA the previous year in the Braves organization and had now climbed every single rung of the minor league ladder. And longtime outfield prospect Kyle Lewis was primed to make his MLB debut after center fielder Mallex Smith went down with a partially torn labrum at the start of Spring Training. Dipoto was even more keen on his prospects in the lower rungs of the Mariners minor league ladder. 19 year-old Riley Greene, an outfielder drafted out of high school in the first round in 2019, hit .314 and flashed a great glove in his first year of pro ball in the M's Rookie League. 2019 draft pick Liam Deegan (4th round) lacked a flashy glove, but made up for it with raw power, evidenced by his 7 homers and 14 doubles in 54 games in Rookie ball. Above them were infielders Matthew Lugo, Marcos Junior Gonzalez, and Osiris Castillo. The trio of Latin American players were all natural shortstops, but were now branching out to new infield positions to avoid a logjam in the minors. Lugo, a .293 hitter the previous year for Atlanta's Rookie League team, shifted over to third base, bringing with him a howitzer for a right arm. Gonzalez's bat (.315 in a short stint in Short Season A) was starting to catch up with his elite level defense, and he remained at shortstop. Castillo, who was the furthest along in the farm system of the trio, would slide over to second base after hitting .224 and stealing 11 bases in 45 games in Class-A Clinton. Despite the relatively quiet offseason, Dipoto was determined to make one last trade before the start of the 2020 season. With plenty of financial room to spare heading into the new season, the Mariners GM made a phone call that would net the team a slew of new minor league arms, and a new starting left fielder. __________________ Catch me on Twitch.tv as Dr. Dynastic (drdynastic) Previous OOTP Dynasties: SimNation Fictional Universe (est. 1889) This is Oakland A's Baseball Beane Counting: The Oakland A's Last edited by Hendu Style; 12-20-2018 at 07:22 AM.