The Other Mariners Midseason Master Plan

[Pharmabro]

It’s a fine plan. I agree that we need a new DH, and whether that comes through trade, or internally through promotion I don’t care. I do think the penny conscious M’s would eat Ref’s contract at this point (or by the trade deadline) to make it happen.

Castillo has value has a potential multi-inning reliever. Have him tick up the stuff a bit and at least try to retain some value in what has turned into a rough contract. This also keeps him on the team... in case of an injury... you can stretch him in AAA for a couple starts and get him back in the rotation. Maybe he finds something in the bullpen that he take take into having confidence as a starter... who knows.

Castillo is not going anywhere. He has one more year after this one on his contract with ~ $45MM left. There is no way on god's green earth that they are going to relegate him to a bullpen role, even as a long reliever. He will piggyback, at best. What we, as fans, would want to see happen, and what will actually happen are light years apart. He has more than 5 years of service, so he can't be optioned to AAA (unless he agrees to it). And no one is going to want him, unless the M's eat contract and throw in prospects - which they won't. We are all delusional if we think that will happen.

Look at what the M's did with King Felix. It was obvious that he was a hollow shell of his former self the last 2 years of his contract. But the M's did not trade him - they tried coaching him, they tried working with pitch movement rather than velo, they strategically managed his workload, and only once did they send him to the bullpen (where his pitched 4 innings for Paxton in a single game and then got moved back into the rotation). So all of these fantasy trade proposals where the M's eat $20MM and throw in 3 prospects to land an Alex Bregman are pure fantasy - never gonna happen. He will stay in the starting rotation unless he gets hit by a bus. Who know - maybe he is more coachable than King Felix ever was.

And for the record - I agree with GL_Storm. I have long thought Miller is the best trade chip from the starting rotation. I have been worried about the bone spur in his throwing arm, and that it will land him on the IL for a long time sooner rather than later. Trade him now while he is healthy and has trade value. But even then, I doubt that's some Mariners management would ever want to do.

I agree with most of what you said here but Felix was and M at 19 and was a franchise icon. The Rock is a hired gun a trade and extend for big money guy who has hit a rocky road this year. This is a team that expects to contend. Look at JP, “I’ll play 3rd to help the team” I think Colt>JP on decisive SS side. ButJP is solid with the bat 113 OPS+ this year and last. So if Castillo thinks he is bigger than the team he is not. If they could have 2 starters throw 4 to 5 in gas a piece? That would basically be asking each guy to go maybe 2 times through the lineup. To me, it looks like it could be a decent plan to deal with 6 starters. Instead of making a 6 man and altering all 6 you take 2 an opener and a closer. Just my .02$

[Big_Maple]

I agree with most of what you said here but Felix was and M at 19 and was a franchise icon. The Rock is a hired gun a trade and extend for big money guy who has hit a rocky road this year. This is a team that expects to contend. Look at JP, “I’ll play 3rd to help the team” I think Colt>JP on decisive SS side. ButJP is solid with the bat 113 OPS+ this year and last. So if Castillo thinks he is bigger than the team he is not. If they could have 2 starters throw 4 to 5 in gas a piece? That would basically be asking each guy to go maybe 2 times through the lineup. To me, it looks like it could be a decent plan to deal with 6 starters. Instead of making a 6 man and altering all 6 you take 2 an opener and a closer. Just my .02$

We have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to our pitching. Have too many options is a good problem to have.

[Seattle or Bust]

It’s a fine plan. I agree that we need a new DH, and whether that comes through trade, or internally through promotion I don’t care. I do think the penny conscious M’s would eat Ref’s contract at this point (or by the trade deadline) to make it happen.

Castillo has value has a potential multi-inning reliever. Have him tick up the stuff a bit and at least try to retain some value in what has turned into a rough contract. This also keeps him on the team... in case of an injury... you can stretch him in AAA for a couple starts and get him back in the rotation. Maybe he finds something in the bullpen that he take take into having confidence as a starter... who knows.

Castillo is not going anywhere. He has one more year after this one on his contract with ~ $45MM left. There is no way on god's green earth that they are going to relegate him to a bullpen role, even as a long reliever. He will piggyback, at best. What we, as fans, would want to see happen, and what will actually happen are light years apart. He has more than 5 years of service, so he can't be optioned to AAA (unless he agrees to it). And no one is going to want him, unless the M's eat contract and throw in prospects - which they won't. We are all delusional if we think that will happen.

Look at what the M's did with King Felix. It was obvious that he was a hollow shell of his former self the last 2 years of his contract. But the M's did not trade him - they tried coaching him, they tried working with pitch movement rather than velo, they strategically managed his workload, and only once did they send him to the bullpen (where his pitched 4 innings for Paxton in a single game and then got moved back into the rotation). So all of these fantasy trade proposals where the M's eat $20MM and throw in 3 prospects to land an Alex Bregman are pure fantasy - never gonna happen. He will stay in the starting rotation unless he gets hit by a bus. Who know - maybe he is more coachable than King Felix ever was.

And for the record - I agree with GL_Storm. I have long thought Miller is the best trade chip from the starting rotation. I have been worried about the bone spur in his throwing arm, and that it will land him on the IL for a long time sooner rather than later. Trade him now while he is healthy and has trade value. But even then, I doubt that's some Mariners management would ever want to do.

I agree with most of what you said here but Felix was and M at 19 and was a franchise icon. The Rock is a hired gun a trade and extend for big money guy who has hit a rocky road this year. This is a team that expects to contend. Look at JP, “I’ll play 3rd to help the team” I think Colt>JP on decisive SS side. ButJP is solid with the bat 113 OPS+ this year and last. So if Castillo thinks he is bigger than the team he is not. If they could have 2 starters throw 4 to 5 in gas a piece? That would basically be asking each guy to go maybe 2 times through the lineup. To me, it looks like it could be a decent plan to deal with 6 starters. Instead of making a 6 man and altering all 6 you take 2 an opener and a closer. Just my .02$

Fine with me. But I think you have to make it clear that performance wins.

Just like you anoint a pitcher the "opening day starter" you also have to define your rotation out of respect to competition and performance. Being a "starter" means something.

If you want to piggyback Miller and Castillo fine... but Miller needs to be named the starter and Castillo the follower in his starts.

[D-train]

So you disagree with Dan when he said starting Castillo was more "Equitable" and thus the right decision?