Rebuilding? [Updated]
by Jon Shields ~ September 3rd, 2008
For weeks I’ve been writing that we probably won’t know the direction of the Seattle Mariners until a new GM is selected after the season concludes, but USS Mariner came across an article in which team President Chuck Armstrong is quoted by the LA Times, giving us all a good idea:
“It’s not going to be a quick fix, because we’re going to have to grind through some of these contracts we’ve obligated ourselves to. Our attendance is going to go down in connection with our performance, and as chief operating officer here it’s my job to be fiscally and financially responsible, so you’re not going to see the Mariners go out and commit high dollars to free agents. We want to get back as quickly as we can, but we want to build something that will endure. If you don’t build a strong foundation in a market our size, you’re going to have some volatile swings in your record.”
If you were hoping for a Mark Teixiera or Rafael Furcal signing, prepare to be disappointed. It will probably be in the franchise’s best interest if they skip out on the big offseason bidding wars and start shipping off players, but it will obviously be a frustrating process for most fans.
Things can always change, however. If the ownership changes hands this offseason, as it’s been rumored at times, strategy can always flipflop.
So, would you rather rebuild, try an impossible reload, or something in between?
Update, Friday morning: Geoff Baker has confirmed with Armstrong his desire to stay away from the big free agents and rebuild. Armstrong mentioned Mark Teixiera and CC Sabathia by name as players Seattle won’t be pursuing.
Whether you’re encouraged or discouraged by this, it is nice to see the team committing to something. Let’s see if they can stay the course.
12 Responses to Rebuilding? [Updated]
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1 September 3rd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
You know my opinion from our numerous AIM chats. But, for le public, I will rant.
I would rather go out and sign younger players, although valuable and top talent, on top of rebuilding/reloading. I want to go out and sign Teixeira (really, only to block the Angels), or go out and get Furcal, while at the same time trading Betancourt. We don’t need to sign pitching. Right now, 4 of the 5 rotation slots are pretty much filled in 09 by Felix, Bedard, Morrow, and Rowland-Smith.
We’ll see though.
2 September 4th, 2008 at 8:15 am
That’s assuming we find a way to deal with having Batista, Silva, and Washburn on the roster. It doesn’t seem like Lee wants to trade any of them, so hopefully we get a new GM who is able to deal a couple of these guys for whatever we can get.
In reference to this post, I think we should try to rebuild. We have seen what trying to sign a few veterans in the offseason has done to this team and I think it’s time to go in a new direction.
3 September 4th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I agree with Dustin i would like to do something in between, going young, but still grabbing some free agents (Tex) though i doubt he would want to come to Seattle
4 September 4th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
That’s the whole problem. It would be great to grap up youngish stars on long contracts to fill the spots that the oranization is weakest in (1B - Teixiera, SS - Furcal) and rebuild from there in hopes of being ready to compete before their contracts expire, but how does Seattle draw them in?
Seattle already has a hard time bringing in top-tier free agents while they were winning ballgames, so how are we supposed to bring in guys now that they’re the worst team in the league? There is only one way that I can think of, and that is to outbid the competition. Not exactly the smartest way to rebuild and cut payroll, is it?
5 September 4th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
That’s the whole problem. It would be great to grap up youngish stars on long contracts to fill the spots that the oranization is weakest in (1B - Teixiera, SS - Furcal) and rebuild from there in hopes of being ready to compete before their contracts expire, but how does Seattle draw them in?
Seattle already has a hard time bringing in top-tier free agents while they were winning ballgames, so how are we supposed to bring in guys now that they’re the worst team in the league? There is only one way that I can think of, and that is to outbid the competition. Not exactly the smartest way to rebuild and cut payroll, is it?
That said, I still wouldn’t be surprised if the organization puts out an offer to Teixiera, despite what Armstrong said.
6 September 4th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Cut payroll and sign GOOD free agents to money are two separate ideas. If you are going to go longterm on a guy, at least spend money on the right guy. Furcal/Teixeira/even Sabathia all qualify in that area.
I am sick of the word rebuilding. In all honesty, what team has completely rebuilt, bottom up, and been successful? Find me an example, because most teams throw out the world “rebuild”, but never fully delve into the philosophy.
7 September 4th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I, for one, am willing to endure a legitimate rebuilding phase. We don’t have a team cohesive enough to contend even if we sign two or three free agents. We need to make sacrifices, such as:
1. Trade any and all players over age 26 over the next two years. This includes Ichiro, Putz, Beltre, Bedard, maybe even Jose Lopez. Turn these players into as many blue chip prospects as possible.
2. Let the kids play, starting in 2010. As long as they’re ready, Tui, Saunders, Balentin, Halman… get em in there.
3. Draft early and often. Since we’ll have no veteran presence, we’ll surely stink, (at least we’ll do it cheaply!). This should equate to top five draft picks, maybe a few #1 picks.
4. Plan on contending as early as 2012, but more realistically in 2013. With a foundation of young talent in the farm system and at the major league level, the Mariners should be age 29 and under and ready to rock and roll.
Guys like Truinfel, Aumont, Pineda, Ramirez, Tui, Saunders, Halman, Clement, Balentin, Moore and company should be contributing, as well as all the players we’ll acquire through trades and drafting.
THEN we sign legitimate free agents to fill holes.
8 September 4th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
The A’s have had various successful rebuilding phases in recent years, and the Rays have done a great job rebuilding since the 2005 season. Those are the two teams that jump immediately to mind for me.
9 September 4th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
The Indians also had a complete successful rebuild. They overhauled their whole team.
10 September 4th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
^Speaking of which, the GM responsible for the Cleveland Indians successful rebuild, John Hart, is interested in the job and should be getting an interview with the team.
11 September 4th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
The Oakland A’s never completely rebuilding… Every other year or so, they sell their older players at high values and receive young players. Once those young players are 3 years or more experienced in the MLB (or so) they repeat the process. There is never a complete rebuild like the one we’re talking about.
The Rays, I’ll buy that. They have a good ownership though…
12 September 5th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Billy Beane is building the perfect beast in Oakland. The A’s have been down for but a few years since their Hudson, Mulder, Zito hayday. Poor Billy doesn’t have the spending resources that Bavasi did, so he’s in the unenviable position of having to move successful players for youth until it all comes together. It might be just around the corner.
Fortunately for Ms fans, we get to spend the dough once our foundation is constructed. I wish we could get Billy Beane.