Should the Mariners Buy, Sell or Do Nothing at the Trade Deadline? (Poll)

Jul 7, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) celebrates with right fielder Nelson Cruz (23) following a game winning RBI-single against the Detroit Tigers during the eleventh inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Reasons to Buy

The Seattle Mariners are built to win now, and acquiring numerous high level prospects will not help this team win the World Series in the coming seasons. Robinson Cano is 32, Nelson Cruz is 35 and Felix Hernandez is 29. The M’s have a 5-year window to win, and they cannot afford to abandon ship right now. The Mariners have not graced the postseason since 2001, and if they dismantle the current group, it could easily be 15 more years before the streak is broken.

The second wildcard spot has revolutionized the sport, and it is a big reason why the M’s should be buyers on July 31st. Seattle has been a colossal disappointment thus far. They sit 11.5 games back of the American League West leading Los Angeles Angels. However, the Mariners are far from dead in the wildcard race, as they are just 7.5 games back of the Twins for the second wildcard spot. The uninspiring teams in front of Seattle provides fans with a beacon of hope. The Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins have played over their heads in 2015, and can easily be caught during the second half of the season.

Many have suggested that the Mariners should trade J.A. Happ and Austin Jackson on or before July 31st. Happ and Jackson are both set to hit the free agent pool this winter, and neither is a lock to return. However, re-signing these players would likely not break the bank in Seattle, as neither guy is having a stupendous season. Jackson is more likely than Happ to net a big return in the trade market, but both players are considered supplementary pieces and not stars. AJ and Happ are more valuable playing for Seattle than they are as trade bait.

The final reason is perhaps the most significant. Jack Zduriencik is convinced be will be fired if he sells. The Mariners’ and their fans have been more than patient with Jack Z, and he has never rewarded our faith. Known in Milwaukee as a draft guru, Zduriencik has been mediocre at best since becoming General Manager in 2008. The M’s have experienced more 90+ loss seasons (3) than winning seasons (2) under Z’s command.

Next: Why Seattle Should Sell

Jun 12, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Austin Jackson (16) reacts after striking out during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Why Seattle Should Sell

Do I really have to explain this one? The Seattle Mariners are 42-53, and are showing no signs of turning things around. A night after their most emotional win of the season, the M’s laid an egg on Wednesday night in Detroit. Seattle is 11.5 games back in the AL West, and MLB.com currently gives them a 3.3% chance to make the postseason.

This team is not very good. Plain and simple. It would take a miracle to right the ship and make a run at the playoffs. With that in mind, it would be a smart decision to sell off some of the M’s more valuable assets and build for the future.

Impending free agents, Austin Jackson and J.A. Happ could potential net a few interesting prospects. Contenders are always hunting for bullpen depth at the trade deadline. Mark Lowe is having a career year working out of the M’s bullpen, and he could be a very attractive option on deadline day. Seth Smith is having a nice season, and could garner some interest in trades.

It is extremely unlikely Seattle will play much better if there is not a significant shakeup on July 31st. Jack Zduirencik may see selling off pieces as a death wish, but he is almost guaranteed to be axed following the season anyway. Perhaps his only chance is if he reshapes the roster with younger players and the club produces a winning record during the last 60+ games. From a fans perspective, I do not like the idea of a General Manager mortgaging a future he will not be a part of.

Next: The Case for Doing Nothing

Jul 18, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) celebrates hitting a two run home run with Kyle Seager (15) against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The Case for Doing Nothing

The Seattle Mariners have enough raw talent on their roster to make a deep run in October. They have not played that way yet, but there is still time for things to change. Seattle and the Angels are far and away the most dangerous teams on paper in the division. The M’s are 19-20 since June 6th, and are playing better in some aspects.

Seattle has been burdened by players underperforming in 2015. Robinson Cano is the most notable offender, but others have been equally as disappointing. Kyle Seager is a having a nice season overall, but his batting average with runners in scoring position is nearly 100 points lower than last season. The bullpen has been pitiful all year, and Hisashi Iwakuma has looked like a shell of his former self. If these players can perform closer to their career averages, the M’s have a decent chance to get back in the race.

This team is far too talented to blow up. This is a very similar core group to the one that won 87 games in 2014, and missed out on the playoffs by 1 game. Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager and Felix Hernandez are all under contract for at least the next 4 seasons, which gives Seattle a great chance to make the postseason in the very near future. Players like Brad Miller, Taijuan Walker, Mike Zunino and Carson Smith all have the potential to one day become very strong supporting cast members.

The M’s have typically been sellers during Jack Zduriencik’s tenure, however 2014 was a different story. Jack Z pulled off a couple notable deals that brought Austin Jackson and Chris Denorfia to the Emerald City. The results have been mixed at best for AJ, while Denorfia was a total bust. Trading has never been Zduriencik’s strong suit, and the acquisitions of Welington Castillo and Mark Trumbo earlier this season serve as proof.

The deciding factor could be fan support. It has been a long time since the Mariners were a hot ticket in Seattle. The Mariners have not averaged more than 30,000 fans per game at Safeco Field since 2007. The M’s are averaging 29,250 fans per game this season, which is good for 18th in the league. Ownership is unlikely to alter the course of the franchise dramatically with the recent uptick in fan support.

Next: Verdict/Vote

Jul 12, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; General view of Safeco Field during the fourth inning of a game between the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Verdict/Vote

I believe the Mariners would be wise to listen to offers on players at the trade deadline, but I am not in favor of rebuilding right now. This is the most competitive group of players the M’s have had in years, and I do not think I can take another teardown. However, I am on board with re-tooling slightly.

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This team has been poorly constructed by management. They appeared to have very few flaws prior to opening day, but their problems have been exposed during the first half of the season. Seattle has plenty of power, but they are awful when it comes to hitting for average and getting on base. The bullpen is not nearly as strong as originally anticipated, and that will need to be addressed in the offseason. Speed is another key ingredient missing from the 2015 Mariners.

I would not be afraid to pull the trigger on a deal if you get some intriguing offers for players like Austin Jackson and J.A. Happ. I would be thrilled if someone was desperate enough to take Kuma, or Fernando Rodney or Dustin Ackley off my hands. However, Jack Z will be run out of town if he trades the farm for a rental player. I could see a couple small additions or subtractions, but I do not expect any significant moves to be made by the Mariners this year.

Next: My Favorite Unsung M's Heroes

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