Making A Splash

Okay, I’ve been fighting the urge to make a splash all season, all off-season. I’ve been about developing the talent and cultivating the internal youth rather than adhering to the masses as they preach about making a said big splash. But you all convinced me.

There are few talents out there that equal out to what he can produce, and it’s not like there are many if any that often available so I say you dive on the grenade and just pull the trigger. I’m not saying whatever the costs because let’s face it people, if you are willing to pay X immedately then Y just became the new price tag.

Sure, he doesn’t have the prototypical “baseball players” body and that scares away teams –I also believe it’s why he hasn’t seen much in the way of teams getting into a bidding war for his talents– but it doesn’t mean that he can’t play or that he’s guarenteed to age badly. He’s an incredible athlete for a man of his size. Not to mention quietly being one of the better hitters in the National League.

So here is my plan to nab the Mariners the much needed piece they need for the 2012 season and beyond.

The biggest thing in trying to acquire talent is the fact that you need to give to get. It’s one of the things I hate about trades. You all heard my bellyaching last month about giving up Lueke and while he’s not a real significant piece you can only imagine how much grief I went through thinking about this trade for the past month or so.

“A trade?” Why yes, a trade.

Oh you thought… ahh…. I lead you all astray. I’m not talking about Prince Fielder. I’m talking about none other than the Kung Fu Panda of the San Francisco Giants, Mr. Pablo Sandoval. Who I believe is a much needed piece for the Seattle Mariners.

Let’s start with my first line of thinking. As you’ll hear on the upcoming podcast, that Keith and I recorded yesterday afternoon, third base is resounding hole right now for the Mariners and I’d like to see them fill it with someone that does not suck. This is going to be a pretty difficult task reviewing the current state of third basemen in baseball, as there is currently a deficit of decent third base options.

Enter Pablo Sandoval.

I have continued over the last year to question whether or not the Giants plan on keeping him around. Sandoval and his agent have entered into discussions with the Giants about an extensionbut it seems to be tabled until he can “prove” he’s not a physical liability long term. He was relegated to a mere bench warmer during their 2010 playoff run and the front office continues to bring up their constant concern about his weight.

Enter the Mariners.

Brian Sabean has a weakness for young pitching. The guy loves it. He loves his rotation and currently as it stands it’s getting expensive. The Mariners have some very exciting young hurlers and could potentially match-up well being that few (if any) analyst believe the team has any front of the rotation talent currently in their minor leagues.

I’m all for a move.

Again, I’m not saying whatever the cost. But I certainly acknowledge that the cost is high but the Giants I don’t think would value Nick Franklin as high as what Seattle or it’s fans do and so there really isn’t anyone else in my mind at this point that’s “untouchable” with the exception of Taijuan Walker, whose arguably one of the Top 5 pitchers in all the minor leagues.

I’d be willing to move Vinny Catricala, James Paxton, heck I’d talk Pineda too, so long as I get equal value (more pieces) back.

What that gives you is a third basemen, who is an above average hitter, an above average fielder, someone who has three more years of club control and is only 25.

I haven’t talk about making a big splash this off-season because I’ve felt that most of them would leave you all wet and it doesn’t help the future. I’ve given this move a lot of thought and I believe it’s the right one for now and the future.

We could easily send a long Seager, Liddi (or both) a long with whatever pitching prospect they really wanted. The Mariners are at a tough spot right now in terms of growth towards the next plateau and it’s going to make for some tough decisions. This is one of those tough decisions that leaves us in the positive.