Mariners Alternate Universe: Blow it up in the offseason (Part 2)

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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 30: GM Jerry Dipoto of the Seattle Mariners looks on from the dugout prior to the game against the Houston Astros at Safeco Field on September 30, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

As the Mariners continue to hang around .500, in an alternate universe, Jerry Dipoto and staff are preparing to burn the franchise down to the foundation. We all know it won’t happen, but here in make believe world, we can do whatever we like. So we now continue with our rebuild project with part 2.

In our last installation, we moved 3 of the biggest trade chips the Mariners had; Kyle Seager, Nelson Cruz, and James Paxton. If you would like a refresher, click right here. But as we continue to look at some of the tradeable chips left on the Mariners 40 man, there appears to be a few possibilities in the bullpen.

But trading middle relievers in the off-season rarely pays as much as in the middle of the season. Guys like David Phelps, for example, will be much more valuable if/when he shows another 2-3 months of dominate bullpen pitching, like he did in 2017 before his string of elbow injuries.

Edwin Diaz is an interesting case. On the one hand, a dominate closer means nothing to a team trying to rebuild. Diaz, with 4 year of control, has perhaps, the highest value remaining on the trade market.

However; perhaps a trip back to the minor leagues to lengthen Diaz out and becoming a starter makes sense for the rebuilding Mariners. Giving away a 23 year old stud doesn’t make a lot of sense on the surface, and the Mariners could wait until they can maximize his trade value.

But for guys like Marc Rzepczynski and Nick Vincent, their isn’t any reason to stick around a rebuilding franchise. So lets explore what the Mariners can get for these older arms.

SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 1: Reliever Marc Rzepczynski /

Move 1: Marc Rzepczynski to Colorado Rockies for Noel Cuevas

The simple fact of the matter is, it is nearly impossible to get a legit prospect for a LOOGY (lefty one out guy), especially when they are making serious money. At $5.5 million for 2018, the Mariners would likely be asked to eat money in any deal. But Rzepczynski still gets groundballs, something that could really benefit the bullpen in Colorado.

The Rockies are a true “up and coming team”, and they have a ton of depth in the outfield, making a 26 year old outfielder with no MLB experience, well… expendable. Enter Noel Cuevas.

Cuevas almost perfectly fits the mold of a “4A” player. He will turn 26 in September, and is enjoying a true breakout season in 2017. He has a similar profile to Mitch Haniger, though Haniger has more pop and a better hit tool, while Cuevas has the edge in the speed department.

Move 2: Nick Vincent to Los Angeles Dodgers for OF Joc Pederson

Most Mariner fans, and fans of baseball in general, would be shocked at how good Nick Vincent has been. He has a career 2.71 ERA with a 140 ERA+ (100 is average) plus a 4.22 K/BB ratio and a 1.05 WHIP. Vincent will be arbitration eligible for the first time this off-season, and is not free agent until after the 2019 season.

All of these factors should make Vincent a premier trade chip for a contending team. 2 things might prevent Vincent from fetching a package similar to other elite relievers. 1. He doesn’t have “closer stuff” and 2. a general lack of interest in a 90 mph fastball.

The Mariners could be better off waiting until the middle of 2018 to ship Vincent, but may as well cash in now to protect against an injury to Vincent.

As for the Mariners return, Joc Pederson is a bit of an enigma. After posting a 2.3bWAR in 2015, Pederson improved in 2016, pulling in a season as a 3.5 bWAR. Pederson used superior defense and a great eye to make people believe Pederson was the next big thing. Unfortunately, Pederson has taken a massive step back in 2017. His platoon split has not improved (.828 OPS v RHP, .595 OPS v LHP) and he struggle to make contact at times. The defense is probably better suited in a corner spot, but can play in CF without an problem.

Despite Pederson’s struggles at times, he still will take his walks, as evidence by his impressive .345 OBP, despite his .222 batting average. He has 30 HR power, and is just 26 years old, with 4 years of club control left.

Wrapup for Part 2

As for bullpen options, those 2 pitchers represent the most veteran arms. Phelps will have little to no value with his elbow issue, and Diaz is worth holding onto for the time being. The rest of the bullpen comes down to young arms who could see an increase in trade value with a good season. Dan Altavilla, Shae Simmons, James Pazos, Emilio Pagan, and Tony Zych are all still controllable arms, and carry value for the 2018 Mariners and beyond.

Next: Mariners complete sweep of Oakland, climb 2 games

In the 3rd installment of this Alternate Universe series, We will look at potential additions via free agency in the world where the Mariners rebuild. Most people overlook the value of free agency for rebuilding teams, as those signings help fuel your farm system for in season trades. Plus, you still have to run out a MLB product for 162 games each season.

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Move 1: Marc Rzepczynski to Colorado Rockies for Noel Cuevas

Move 2: Nick Vincent to Los Angeles Dodgers for OF Joc Pederson

Wrapup for Part 2

Schedule