Mariners Morning News (11/9/2013)

Romero Lights It Up In Arizona

Mariners prospect Stefen Romero hit two homers in his only two at-bats in last Saturday’s Fall Stars Game. I took the opportunity to ask the question whether or not the M’s should try to move Romero now that his stock is at the highest it’s been.

Take a look at both shots below:

Oct 30, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury reacts after scoring a run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth inning during game six of the MLB baseball World Series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Let The Speculation Begin

Now that free agency has officially begun, the speculation as to who the Mariners will get or will not get is heating up. Multiple reports have the M’s linked to Jacoby Ellsbury. We’ve been talking about that for months.

But several of our writers here at SodoMojo have thrown out some other names to consider over the past week.

– JJ Keller pondered whether or not the Mariners should go after Peter Bourjos and Mark Trumbo after the Angels made it known they were available.

– Sam Wendel wondered whether or not declining Franklin Gutierrez‘s 2014 option was a good move or not.

– Both Dan Shearer and Matt Seto offered up reasons the Mariners should go after Masahiro Tanaka.

– Matt also suggested the Mariners take a look at bringing in Josh Johnson.

– Dan S. also had M’s fans take a look at why we should try for Mike Napoli again.

– Finally, I concluded my GM for a Day Series with a look at who I would’ve hired for manager.

Sep 27, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) throws against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

King Felix’s House On Fire

On Monday, the Bellevue, Wash. home belonging to Felix Hernandez caught fire. The fire started in the laundry room and no cause has yet to be released.

Felix and his family were in California at the time, no one was injured. The house has been deemed uninhabitable by investigators. You can read the whole story by following this link here.

June 2, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers batting coach Lloyd McClendon (8) watches batting practice before the game against the New York Yankees at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

McClendon Is The New Skipper

Then, the biggest news of the week. Lloyd McClendon was hired as the next manager of the Seattle Mariners. We had it for you shortly after the Puget Sound Business Journal tweeted the leak. Unfortunately, whomever leaked the story did so before the remaining finalists were notified that McClendon was hired.

Whether or not the hire is a good one will unfold over the course of the 2014 season and beyond, but he hit it out of the park with reporters at his first press conference (when asked what drew him to Seattle he said, “Felix, Felix and Felix”) AND the Mariners didn’t hire Dave Valle (you should see how many emails I got regarding that possibility), so I guess for now, we can call it a win.

Sep 13, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma (18) throws to a St. Louis Cardinals batter during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Iwakuma A Finalist For Cy Young Award

The 2013 Seattle Mariners struck out in the Player’s Choice Awards, the Gold Gloves and the Silver Sluggers. But Hisashi Iwakuma is one of the three finalists for the 2013 American League Cy Young Award.

The odds-on-favorite for the award has to be Detroit’s Max Scherzer, but I have heard analysts on MLB Network and ESPN radio say that it’s hard to argue against Iwakuma.

Regardless of whether or not he wins the award, it’s exciting to see if he can repeat that success in 2014 with what is likely to be an improved Mariners team.