Important Mariners Decisions Ahead, Part 1

We’ve entered a dead period in baseball transactions, especially with the Mariners wrapping up agreements with arbitration-eligible players like Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard.

The GMZ, Mariners’ general manager Jack Zduriencik, faces difficult decisions. On a day where President Obama’s inaugural address sounded themes of hope and greatness, but also of fortitude and responsibility, the Mariners, with their hopes for greatness, would do well to practice responsibility.

Some major areas of concern/possible action:

Jarrod Washburn
As it stands, the Mariners have six bona fide major league starters, Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard, Carlos Silva, Jarrod Washburn and Brandon Morrow. The Seattle Times’ Geoff Baker details well the M’s botched attempt to deal Washburn to the Twins last August for an actual player. But the aging Washburn, rather than young lefty Rowland-Smith, appears on the team’s (completely unofficial) depth chart on ESPN.com.

Only one reason justifies Washburn’s presence in the rotation ahead of Rowland-Smith: the amount of money the team owes Washburn. However, Rowland-Smith demonstrated in several starts last season that he has the stamina, the makeup and the stuff to be a major-league starter. He’s on the upswing. Washburn is on the downswing. His next contract won’t last longer than a year or two, plus options. For the future, which must be the Mariners’ focus at this point, Rowland-Smith presents the only reasonable decision. It’s unfortunate that the M’s might have to eat Washburn’s contract to make this happen, but it’s their fault for not pulling the trigger last August. Otherwise, if Rowland-Smith begins the season in the bullpen, we’ll be left hoping for an injury if we want to see our favorite Australian in the rotation for a full season, and that’s not a good place to be.

You might wonder why Washburn and Rowland-Smith can’t coexist. With one of those guys and Bedard, the Mariners have two lefties. Three, according to conventional wisdom, is pushing it. Of course, the Mariners seem to have other options for their rotation, which brings me to:

Brandon Morrow
Morrow deserves a spot in the starting rotation. No former first-round pick who nearly no-hit the Yankees, proved dominant as a closer, and who was drafted as a starter should be relegated to the bullpen. The Mariners risk wasting Morrow’s prime developmental years. It’s much more difficult to develop new pitches and a starter’s mentality at age 30 than it is at age 25. Now is the time. As I have written several times on this blog, the closer position isn’t as essential as K-Rod and his adorers would have you believe, especially for a team without any legitimate chance to contend. I have not spoken with ANY Seattle fan who wants to see Morrow in the bullpen next season. This is one area where the organization cannot afford a safe, conservative path.

Here’s my starting rotation:
1. Felix Hernandez
2. Erik Bedard
3. Ryan Rowland-Smith
4. Carlos Silva
5. Brandon Morrow

Part 2, with more on the bullpen and the closer issue, to come soon. Part 3 will examine position players.

~ by ericmonek on January 20, 2009.