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So what should the front offices of the Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, and all the other clubs in regional sports network purgatory do once they quit? Their owners appear to be using the uncertainty of future TV revenues as an excuse not to spend. That’s my excuse this year.
The uncertainty is real, but the extent to which the affected teams will suffer financially and whether the austerity measures are so justified is debatable. The sport has managed to bounce back after Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts warned of “biblical losses” during the COVID-19 pandemic. I can’t wait for next offseason. Owners are concerned about the potential economic hit from global warming, which makes it too hot for fans to attend games.
just kidding. In a sense.
All a front office can do is operate within the terms set by the owners, and Monday’s trade between the Mariners and Twins did just that. For their own reasons, both clubs are dealing with RSN-related restrictions. However, both clubs still consider themselves favorites. Their front office couldn’t and wasn’t going to pass up this interesting opportunity.
The Twins replaced second baseman Jorge Polanco, whom they considered expendable, with right-handed starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, right-handed reliever Justin Topa, and two minor leaguers (outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez, a top-100 prospect). They ended a largely dormant offseason by trading four players. , right-hander Darren Bowen, upside play). They also received $8 million from the Mariners, resulting in a net savings of approximately $5.5 million.as athletic Dan Hayes reports that President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey will put that money into his 2024 payroll, which could make his earnings even bigger 1-for-4.
Ending his contract with the Mariners could be even more appealing. The website Baseball Trade Values classified the package sent to the Twins as an overpayment, but also noted several conditions. Other outfield candidates were happy about the Gonzalez trade. And perhaps most of all, there is a lack of hitters on the free agent market. Polanco, a switch-hitter who will be under the club’s control for the next two seasons, was a particularly good fit considering the Mariners’ recent struggles finding second basemen.
The Mariners added Polanco, Mitch Garber, Mitch Haniger, Luke Lally, and Luis Urias, who accounted for more than 25 percent of their home runs last season, but still added Eugenio Suárez and Teoscar, who accounted for nearly 35 percent. Did cutting Hernandez and Jared Kelenic actually improve the offense? How many strikeouts did they have? That remains to be seen.
Will a team that fell one game short of making the playoffs last season be in a stronger position if they sign free agent left-hander Blake Snell from the Seattle area? of course. But that’s not the world the Mariners live in because of ownership restrictions.
Fans don’t have to like it. Fans won’t like it. But if the Mariners were going to sign a $30 million player this offseason, that player should have been outfielder Juan Soto, who would have filled a bigger need.
Part of the Mariners’ motivation for trading left-hander Robbie Ray to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for DeSclafani and Haniger was to balance the amount of money spent on hitters and pitchers. Between their commitments to Ray and Luis Castillo and the future salaries of young stars like Logan Gilbert and George Kirby, they leaned too much toward the pitching side.
So they’re shuffling the deck, but not for the first time under president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander. But at least the Mariners appear to have added depth. If Polanco is injured, Dylan Moore and Josh Rojas will be the second options. Rojas can also platoon with Urias in third place. The loss of DeSclafani as a potential sixth starter was offset by the team’s recent signing of right-hander Austin Foss to a one-year, $1.25 million contract.
For all the executives operating in handcuffs this offseason, the job is to find ways to be as competitive as possible. With the signings of Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton and the emergence of a core of exciting young position players, the Twins can’t afford to throw away. The Mariners’ foundation could be even stronger, but they can’t punt.
Consider Seattle’s midfielders. Center fielder Julio Rodriguez is probably one of the 10 best players in the game. Shortstop JP Crawford and catcher Cal Lowry are also top players at their respective positions. Polanco, who averaged just 92 games over the past two seasons, could be a possibility if he stays healthy.
Then there’s pitching. The AthleticEno Sarris on Monday announced his ranking of starting pitchers based on three statistical frameworks. The Mariners had five pitchers in the top 42: Kirby (5th), Castillo (7th), Gilbert (11th), Brian Wu (41st), and Bryce Miller (42nd). Their two top relievers, Andres Munoz and Matt Blasch, are similarly dominant.
“We feel like we’re mid-major elite,” Hollander said. “I feel like our rotation is as good as anyone in baseball and our bullpen backs are as good as anyone in baseball. I feel like we should compete right now to win. I think it’s a very reasonable expectation.”
The problem is, fans know the outlook could be even better, and they know the team should have generated more momentum after reaching the postseason for the first time in 21 years in 2022. . Although the Mariners significantly increased their annual salary in 2023, they were still ranked 18th in the majors on opening day. From 2015 to 2019, it was ranked between 10th and 13th. Their American League West rival, the Texas Rangers, improved significantly last season and won the World Series.
After the Mariners were eliminated the next day on the final day of the season, Lowry asserted ownership, saying: Acquired—big pitcher, big hitter. We have to do that to catch up. ”
If the owner listens, a sublime feeling is created. However, shortly after the regular season ended, cable provider Xfinity announced that it would be moving Root Sports, the Mariners’ regional sports network, to a higher-end package for an additional fee of approximately $20 per month. The Mariners’ ownership, clearly fearful of losing subscribers, tightened its budget while increasing its ownership in Root from 71 percent to 100 percent, further complicating the financial situation. The team’s 2024 salary is estimated at $135 million, $5 million less than at the end of last season.
This is a radical idea that clearly does not take ownership into account. Spend money on Snell, trade for Soto, or sign Cody Bellinger and keep subscribers by putting a better, more interesting product on the field. Then again, that’s not the world the Mariners live in. Their offseason reflects the current world order. The owner’s immediate excuse.
(Top photo: Blaise Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
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