Seattle Mariners: FanSided Offseason Simulation Day 1 Recap

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 29: Mallex Smith #0 of the Seattle Mariners and teammate Dee Gordon #9 celebrate after a game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on September 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 29: Mallex Smith #0 of the Seattle Mariners and teammate Dee Gordon #9 celebrate after a game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on September 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ONTARIO – JULY 28: Aaron Sanchez #41 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts during play against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning during their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on July 28, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – JULY 28: Aaron Sanchez #41 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts during play against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning during their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on July 28, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /

SIGNED AARON SANCHEZ TO TWO-YEAR, $17 MILLION DEAL

The faux general manager of the Houston Astros elected to non-tender the 27-year-old Aaron Sanchez, who was set to make ~$5.6 million through arbitration. We saw the opportunity and decided to jump all over it, taking a chance on a pitcher who’s been a solid middle-of-the-rotation piece aside from last season.

Now, there is some risk tied to Sanchez. After undergoing shoulder surgery a couple months ago, it’s quite possible that Sanchez may miss a good chunk of the 2020 season, if not all of it. That’s why we signed him to a two-year deal, basically in order to maintain his rights heading into 2021. But that will cost a good chunk of money to possibly never see him pitch in a Mariners uniform next season—$8.5 million, to be exact.

Still, he’s an intriguing enough piece to make the risk worth it in our eyes. If he does return to full health before the end of the season, great. If not, Sanchez would be a really solid addition to the back-end of the Mariners’ 2021 rotation, when they aim to finally compete for the postseason again.