Seattle Mariners Rumors And News

Mar 12, 2014; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) hits a double against the Chicago Cubs at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

First, this team was gonna go for broke and spend like crazy this offseason. Then after signing Robinson Cano, the Seattle Mariners started surrounding themselves with the leftovers of the league. Players with huge upside potential, but more question marks than a Riddler costume.

Then every headline reads: Seattle Mariners Rumors, as every player imaginable is linked as possibly coming to Seattle or could be traded here.

Then we hear that the M’s are out of money. Done spending. Then they are linked to talks with Nelson Cruz (which don’t pan out, he signed with the Orioles) and with Ervin Santana (who shocked many and went to Atlanta). Signing Fernando Rodney was arguably the second-biggest signing of the offseason for Seattle – no offense Corey Hart.

But now, the trade rumors are swirling again. Because it seems that Nick Franklin is probably out of a job in Seattle. But who is interested? We knew the Mets and Rays had shown interest in acquiring Franklin. Now you can add the Orioles to the mix.

According to Jon Heyman;

"The likelihood of a trade somewhere seems strong at this point. Discussions are ongoing."

The Rays and Orioles both are looking at Franklin as a 2B prospect while the Mets are interested in seeing if he can handle shortstop, which he played all through college.

This is good news for the Mariners. With three teams now in the hunt for Franklin’s services, the Mariners can be choosy and take the best package of players offered. Each of the three teams will have to offer a pretty substantial package in order to outbid the others.

Now we wait.

Morales Talks Ongoing

Speaking of waiting. Kendrys Morales is one of the last “major” free agents remaining available. With Ervin Santana signing this week, Morales and Stephen Drew remain.

And according to Jon Heyman once again, the Mariners have continued to remain in touch with Morales and his agent, Scott Boras.

"Explaining why Morales, who would appear to be another needed power bat from the right side (he’s a switch hitter), isn’t a Mariner, Zduriencik said, “It strictly has to do with where they’re at (in negotiations) and where we’re at.”"

Could it be that Morales will be back in Seattle after all? What would that mean for Justin Smoak, Michael Saunders and the recently acquired Corey Hart and Logan Morrison?

Your guess is as good as mine, but I could only imagine that Smoak might be the odd man out. Especially if he ends April with a batting average at or below .220. Again, now we wait.

Oh Ca-NO You Didn’t!

Oh yes he did. Robinson Cano had another two hits and another two RBI as the Mariners beat Arizona 6-3 in Cactus League play Thursday. Cano is now hitting .609 in Spring ball with 6 RBI.

Blake Beavan improved to 2-0 in the spring, pitching 4.2 IP scattering five hits and only one earned run while striking out four and walking none. Hector Noesi followed suit with another 2.1 IP with one hit and a walk.

BOX SCORE

Seattle Batting

a-Grounded into a forceout for Smoak in the 9th.
1-Ran for Chavez, En in the 6th. 2-Ran for Cano in the 7th.

BATTING
2B: Smoak (4, Bradley, A).
HR: Morrison (1, 5th inning off Woodall, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Cano 2; Reinheimer; Quintero; Chavez, En; Zunino; Ackley; Smoak 2; Bloomquist; Saunders, M; Morrison 5.
RBI: Cano 2 (6), Saunders, M (8), Bloomquist (3), Morrison (4), Chavez, En (4).
2-out RBI: Bloomquist; Cano; Morrison.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Morrison; Smoak; Kivlehan.
GIDP: Franklin, Morrison.
Team RISP: 4-for-12.
Team LOB: 7.

BASERUNNING
SB: Chavez, En (2, 2nd base off Bradley, A/Gosewisch).

Arizona Batting

a-Doubled for Hill, A in the 8th.

BATTING
2B: Pollock (4, Beavan), Chavez, Er (1, Beavan), Flores, R (3, Medina).
3B: Owings, C (1, Miner).
TB: Pollock 2; Goldschmidt; Gosewisch 2; Chavez, Er 2; Hill, A; Ahmed; Flores, R 2; Owings, C 3.
RBI: Pollock (6), Marte, A (4), Gosewisch (3).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Gosewisch; Duncan.
Team RISP: 0-for-9.
Team LOB: 7.

FIELDING
E: Gosewisch (1, throw), Paredes (1, missed catch).
DP: 3 (Pennington-Gregorius-Goldschmidt, Goldschmidt-Gregorius, Owings, C-Ahmed-Jacobs).

Seattle Pitching

Arizona Pitching

  Groundouts-flyouts: Beavan 4-4, Noesi 2-1, Medina 3-0, Miner 3-0, Bradley, A 3-1, Woodall 5-1, Paredes 2-0, Perez, O 1-0, Harris 2-0, Hernandez, Da 2-0.
Batters faced: Beavan 19, Noesi 9, Medina 5, Miner 4, Bradley, A 13, Woodall 11, Paredes 5, Perez, O 3, Harris 3, Hernandez, Da 5.
Inherited runners-scored: Noesi 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Brian Gorman. 1B: Scott Barry. 2B: Mike DiMuro. 3B: Ron Kulpa.
Weather: 76 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 1 mph, Varies.
T: 2:52.
Att: 12,611.
Venue: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
March 13, 2014

Seattle Batting

Arizona Batting

Seattle Pitching

Arizona Pitching