1) We of all are aware that the Mariners have finalized the Jesus Montero/Michael Pineda trade. I still like it, I’m not sure I love it. But, it’s truely impossible to really understand the value that this trade provides either team. I’m excited about seeing dingers, sad about seeing less K’s. Montero is going to be a very good hitter and Noesi is a better pitcher than Blake Beavan and should slide into the rotation as #3 or #4 starter with the immediate pitchers available.

2) Kevin Millwood signed a minor league deal. I LOVE this deal. I know someone is going to see that I “liked” the trade but “loved” this deal and make a big deal. Whatever. The two aren’t comparable and are on two different levels. The most important thing to remember is that this has no risk and at worst case scenario he gets cut in Spring Training but more likely gets the 5th starter role as in my mind he’s a better at being Blake Beavan than Blake Bevan.

3) This doesn’t directly effect the Mariners, but I saw that the Boston Red Sox are in need of a move to clear a roster spot for Cody Ross and considering the Mariners are in search of arms for the rotation I thought “Hey, wouldn’t Andrew Miller be an interesting move?” That’s just pure speculation on my behalf and it’s not like the Red Sox seem absolutely sold on keeping him for 2012. One of my many crazy thoughts.

4) Prince Fielder sign that huge monster contract…

You know whats funny? I remember a few years ago when Buster Olney mention the new Seattle Mariners GM, Jack Zduriencik, in association with acquring Miguel Cabrera. The Tigers had thrown Cabrera out on the trade block and it was widely presumed that the Red Sox were going to make a move for him or Gonzalez. It was believed that Detroit couldn’t sustain such a high payroll. Now they are sporting a line-up of Cabrera, Fielder and Victor Martinez are all going to some how co-exist while absorbing roughly 55 million dollars of the payroll. This is crazy. CRAZY.

Cabrera is only signed for another 4 years and that takes him up to his 33rd year. I wonder, should this third base experiment not work out, what the future holds for him in the Motor City… Again, just simple conjecture on my behalf.

I like the trade overall. I don’t love it. I don’t get the anger or disappointment with the front office and I certainly don’t get the Bill Bavasi compairsons. People have been screaming for a “big bat” for nearly 3 years and that’s exactly what Jack Zduriencik has delivered. The problem is that many people have found 20 different problems with what we “recieved” and to be fair those types of people are always going to complain. It’s annoying but at least you know what to expect out of them.

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Having Jose Campos also apart of this deal kind of makes me flinch. Initially, my reaction had me shaking my head at the thought of losing Jose Campos as I really like him and think he was one of the better pitchers in the Mariners minor league system. The fact is he’s only 19 years old and while we would all love him to be the next Felix Hernandez or Michael Pineda, he’s just not that at this point. Though, as I stated on twitter, his future is incredibly bright and I anticipate that being a sincere disappointment of this trade in the future.

There is Hector Noesi, who is basically another Erasmo Ramirez, but with better stuff. His fastball velocity sits around 93 and his slider and change-up combo looks like it’s been progressing. He was moved to the bullpen last year and I wonder what the Mariners might do with Noesi and suspect they will give him an opportunity in the rotation, but most likely he’ll end up in the bullpen.

I don’t think this is “the move” but rather a piece of the off-season puzzle. I could be wrong, but I’m holding my breath right now with the thought that this isn’t the whole context and to judge this single trade we’re going to need a better picture to say one way or another how smart this move is.