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Seattle Mariners: FanSided Mock Off-Season Day Three

By Colby Patnode

SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 29: As confetti rains down, fans make their way into the stadium before a game on opening day between the Cleveland Indians and the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on March 29, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 29: As confetti rains down, fans make their way into the stadium before a game on opening day between the Cleveland Indians and the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on March 29, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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It was a long, intense 3 days that was also a lot of fun. We wrapped up our tenure as Seattle Mariners GM’s by trying to go big game hunting in free agency and the trade market.

In case you missed what has happened in our off-season simulation, you can read about some of our moves by clicking right here. But needless to say, the Mariners have been one of the busiest teams in the simulation, as we expect to be the case in the real off-season.

Entering Day 3, we had made already made 6 trades and signed 1 free agent. Of course, we could have called that a wrap and still been one of the most active GM’s. But come on guys, where is the fun in that?

Instead, we went bargain shopping in free agency to try and fill our remaining needs at catcher, second base/ first base, the bullpen and left field. Here is what we left the final day of the simulation with.

Sign Jed Lowrie, 3 years $30 million

OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 30: Jed Lowrie #8 of the Oakland Athletics hits an rbi single scoring Marcus Semien #10 against the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the eighth inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on August 30, 2018, in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 30: Jed Lowrie #8 of the Oakland Athletics hits an rbi single scoring Marcus Semien #10 against the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the eighth inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on August 30, 2018, in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

So this signing was not a part of our original plan. In all honesty, we really thought that Robinson Cano would be our second baseman, and Carlos Santana would share 1B/DH duties with Jose Martinez. But after our trade for Santana stalled out, we took a peek into the free agent market, and found what we thought to be good value.

In fact, if Lowrie is 80% of what he was in 2017 and 2018 over the course of this contract, it is a bargain. After slashing .267/.353/.448 with 23 home runs in 2018, you would think Lowrie would have a more robust market. Especially when you consider his 11.5% BB rate and well below average strikeout rate.

But at 34-years-old, the market in our simulation for Lowrie was almost non-existent. By snagging Lowrie for the price we did, we also eliminated the need to get a true utility man. Lowrie plays a decent second base and got some time at 3B in 2018 without managing to completely embarrass himself.

He has experience at SS as well and can cover the spot for a few innings if anything happened to Segura in game. Lowrie is a great blend of versatility, control the zone abilities, pop, and veteran presence to add to this team after the loss of Nelson Cruz. But at the end of the day, he is simply our new second baseman, sending Robinson Cano to first.

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