Young for Marte?

[Michael K.]

but the Mariners obviously have a different opinion.

Yep, that opinion is he costs less and IF he becomes a good hitter they can puff their chest out about how he was home grown.

[Michael K.]

Isn't Marte known to be a little toxic in the clubhouse? Just asking

Something tells me that wouldn't last very long with Cal around.

[GL_Storm]

but the Mariners obviously have a different opinion.

Yep, that opinion is he costs less and IF he becomes a good hitter they can puff their chest out about how he was home grown.

Getting production out of cheaper players is a core part of the strategy. You may not like it, but that's what they're doing. Saying they want to be able to brag about the player being home grown, I guess maybe that could come into it a little bit. But I think the main thing is that they look at the player and what they think he can do for a minimal cost for the next 2-3 seasons, at least until he's Arb 1.

Marte, on the other hand, comes with a cost. Not only would he cost you that cheap asset, but he brings a significant payroll commitment for what will probably be declining production and an increasing defensive liability over the next five seasons. But you could get 1 or 2 really good seasons out of him. That has to be acknowledged.

[Michael K.]

but the Mariners obviously have a different opinion.

Yep, that opinion is he costs less and IF he becomes a good hitter they can puff their chest out about how he was home grown.

Getting production out of cheaper players is a core part of the strategy. You may not like it, but that's what they're doing. Saying they want to be able to brag about the player being home grown, I guess maybe that could come into it a little bit. But I think the main thing is that they look at the player and what they think he can do for a minimal cost for the next 2-3 seasons, at least until he's Arb 1.

Marte, on the other hand, comes with a cost. Not only would he cost you that cheap asset, but he brings a significant payroll commitment for what will probably be declining production and an increasing defensive liability over the next five seasons. But you could get 1 or 2 really good seasons out of him. That has to be acknowledged.

I can't stress this enough. In a sport with no salary cap and billionaire owners? I am not interested in talking about who can be a middle of the road hitter for cheaper than someone else that has proven to be much better. Two playoff appearances since 2001, and Mariner fans and media talk about this team like it's got this never closing window!

That lack of pressure is why these cheap mother fuckers can talk about budgets. How much money have they made since this rebuild started? They didn't spend on salary and made money hand over fist from everything else. Then? They cry about a TV deal issue, that everyone saw coming, and people let them off the hook. I would love to have the kind of money this poor fucking ownership group cries about having.

And now? The Salary is about what it was before the rebuild....which means based on the current value is basically less....and fans like you are OK with that because you buy the line of bullshit they lay out there. They can self impose a budget, but I don't have to accept that is how it works. For the millionth time, ask the Rangers or Dodgers if they want to sell their WS Rings because it cost them too much?

[GL_Storm]

Yep, that opinion is he costs less and IF he becomes a good hitter they can puff their chest out about how he was home grown.

Getting production out of cheaper players is a core part of the strategy. You may not like it, but that's what they're doing. Saying they want to be able to brag about the player being home grown, I guess maybe that could come into it a little bit. But I think the main thing is that they look at the player and what they think he can do for a minimal cost for the next 2-3 seasons, at least until he's Arb 1.

Marte, on the other hand, comes with a cost. Not only would he cost you that cheap asset, but he brings a significant payroll commitment for what will probably be declining production and an increasing defensive liability over the next five seasons. But you could get 1 or 2 really good seasons out of him. That has to be acknowledged.

I can't stress this enough. In a sport with no salary cap and billionaire owners? I am not interested in talking about who can be a middle of the road hitter for cheaper than someone else that has proven to be much better. Two playoff appearances since 2001, and Mariner fans and media talk about this team like it's got this never closing window!

That lack of pressure is why these cheap mother fuckers can talk about budgets. How much money have they made since this rebuild started? They didn't spend on salary and made money hand over fist from everything else. Then? They cry about a TV deal issue, that everyone saw coming, and people let them off the hook. I would love to have the kind of money this poor fucking ownership group cries about having.

And now? The Salary is about what it was before the rebuild....which means based on the current value is basically less....and fans like you are OK with that because you buy the line of bullshit they lay out there. They can self impose a budget, but I don't have to accept that is how it works. For the millionth time, ask the Rangers or Dodgers if they want to sell their WS Rings because it cost them too much?

I don't think lack of pressure from fans comes into it at all. You may not be interested in this or that and that's fine. What I'm saying is this is how they're operating. It's frankly surprising that they even talked to the Diamondbacks about Marte at all.

[bhofferb]

but the Mariners obviously have a different opinion.

Yep, that opinion is he costs less and IF he becomes a good hitter they can puff their chest out about how he was home grown.

Getting production out of cheaper players is a core part of the strategy. You may not like it, but that's what they're doing. Saying they want to be able to brag about the player being home grown, I guess maybe that could come into it a little bit. But I think the main thing is that they look at the player and what they think he can do for a minimal cost for the next 2-3 seasons, at least until he's Arb 1.

Marte, on the other hand, comes with a cost. Not only would he cost you that cheap asset, but he brings a significant payroll commitment for what will probably be declining production and an increasing defensive liability over the next five seasons. But you could get 1 or 2 really good seasons out of him. That has to be acknowledged.

And since the Mariners were a couple innings away from the World Series, doesn't it make more sense to take the steps to add someone ESPN just said was the best second baseman in MLB now and worry about his possible future decline
later? Or should we all be like Jerry and be happy as long as the M's play a few meaningful games in August and have a few prospects that MIGHT contribute some day?

[GL_Storm]

Yep, that opinion is he costs less and IF he becomes a good hitter they can puff their chest out about how he was home grown.

Getting production out of cheaper players is a core part of the strategy. You may not like it, but that's what they're doing. Saying they want to be able to brag about the player being home grown, I guess maybe that could come into it a little bit. But I think the main thing is that they look at the player and what they think he can do for a minimal cost for the next 2-3 seasons, at least until he's Arb 1.

Marte, on the other hand, comes with a cost. Not only would he cost you that cheap asset, but he brings a significant payroll commitment for what will probably be declining production and an increasing defensive liability over the next five seasons. But you could get 1 or 2 really good seasons out of him. That has to be acknowledged.

And since the Mariners were a couple innings away from the World Series, doesn't it make more sense to take the steps to add someone ESPN just said was the best second baseman in MLB now and worry about his possible future decline
later? Or should we all be like Jerry and be happy as long as the M's play a few meaningful games in August and have a few prospects that MIGHT contribute some day?

You have to make your own decision about how to feel about the team. Broadly, I think this front office is allergic to aging players with significant contract commitments. It's a bit surprising to me that they even considered the move and had a conversation with the Diamondbacks about it.

[D-train]

Yep, that opinion is he costs less and IF he becomes a good hitter they can puff their chest out about how he was home grown.

Getting production out of cheaper players is a core part of the strategy. You may not like it, but that's what they're doing. Saying they want to be able to brag about the player being home grown, I guess maybe that could come into it a little bit. But I think the main thing is that they look at the player and what they think he can do for a minimal cost for the next 2-3 seasons, at least until he's Arb 1.

Marte, on the other hand, comes with a cost. Not only would he cost you that cheap asset, but he brings a significant payroll commitment for what will probably be declining production and an increasing defensive liability over the next five seasons. But you could get 1 or 2 really good seasons out of him. That has to be acknowledged.

And since the Mariners were a couple innings away from the World Series, doesn't it make more sense to take the steps to add someone ESPN just said was the best second baseman in MLB now and worry about his possible future decline
later? Or should we all be like Jerry and be happy as long as the M's play a few meaningful games in August and have a few prospects that MIGHT contribute some day?

Meanwhile, Cole Young who is apparently in the best shape of his life is still hitless on the Spring.

[D-train]

Yep, that opinion is he costs less and IF he becomes a good hitter they can puff their chest out about how he was home grown.

Getting production out of cheaper players is a core part of the strategy. You may not like it, but that's what they're doing. Saying they want to be able to brag about the player being home grown, I guess maybe that could come into it a little bit. But I think the main thing is that they look at the player and what they think he can do for a minimal cost for the next 2-3 seasons, at least until he's Arb 1.

Marte, on the other hand, comes with a cost. Not only would he cost you that cheap asset, but he brings a significant payroll commitment for what will probably be declining production and an increasing defensive liability over the next five seasons. But you could get 1 or 2 really good seasons out of him. That has to be acknowledged.

I can't stress this enough. In a sport with no salary cap and billionaire owners? I am not interested in talking about who can be a middle of the road hitter for cheaper than someone else that has proven to be much better. Two playoff appearances since 2001, and Mariner fans and media talk about this team like it's got this never closing window!

That lack of pressure is why these cheap mother fuckers can talk about budgets. How much money have they made since this rebuild started? They didn't spend on salary and made money hand over fist from everything else. Then? They cry about a TV deal issue, that everyone saw coming, and people let them off the hook. I would love to have the kind of money this poor fucking ownership group cries about having.

And now? The Salary is about what it was before the rebuild....which means based on the current value is basically less....and fans like you are OK with that because you buy the line of bullshit they lay out there. They can self impose a budget, but I don't have to accept that is how it works. For the millionth time, ask the Rangers or Dodgers if they want to sell their WS Rings because it cost them too much?

You only forgot that they have saved $309M and counting since the start of the rebuild...

[Michael K.]

And since the Mariners were a couple innings away from the World Series, doesn't it make more sense to take the steps to add someone ESPN just said was the best second baseman in MLB now and worry about his possible future decline
later? Or should we all be like Jerry and be happy as long as the M's play a few meaningful games in August and have a few prospects that MIGHT contribute some day?

THIS. That was the point I was trying to make. Saving a few bucks so that instead of stepping forward and maybe winning a ring? They can continue to struggle to stay in the WildCard and hope to strike Gold at the trade deadline. The track record shows that plan is more likely to result in just missing the playoffs than advancing to the World Series...but we continue to bang on that drum.