Seattle Mariners 2011-12 Offseason

last updated 4/1/12

SEATTLE MARINERS 2012 
For 2011 Opening Day roster, click HERE. For End-of-Season roster, click HERE.

*Players on the 40-man roster: BOLD.
*Players who are injured: +
*Players who are Out of Options: ## 
*Baseball America '12 pre-season prospect rankings: BLUE #
*Baseball Prospectus '12 pre-season prospect rankings: GREEN #

'MLBDepthCharts Magazine' includes this roster projection feature but includes additional info, such as player age, 2011 level and stats, 2012 salary and contract info in an easy-to-read, printer-friendly pdf file and excel spreadsheet.

*40-man roster total (40)  

*Projected 2012 Payroll: est. $77,422,000, according to MLBDC Magazine

OPENING DAY ROSTER (*indicates left-handed batter **indicates switch-hitter) 
Starting Lineup (Click HERE for last 7 lineups)
1 3B Chone Figgins**
2 2B Dustin Ackley* 
3 RF Ichiro Suzuki*
4 1B Justin Smoak**
5 DH Jesus Montero BA#1
6 LF Mike Carp* ##
7 C Miguel Olivo
8 CF Michael Saunders* 
9 SS Brendan Ryan 

Bench 
C John Jaso*

3B Alex Liddi BA#14 BP#12

IF Munenori Kawasaki*  
IF Kyle Seager*

OF Casper Wells

Starting Rotation
1 RHP Felix Hernandez
2 LHP Jason Vargas ## 
3 RHP Hector Noesi *not on active roster for Japan series
4 RHP Blake Beavan  
5 RHP Kevin Millwood *not on active roster for Japan series

Bullpen 
CL RHP Brandon League
SU RHP Shawn Kelley
SU RHP Tom Wilhelmsen BA#8  
MID RHP Hisashi Iwakuma *not on active roster for Japan series
MID LHP George Sherrill

MID RHP Steve Delabar

MID LHP Lucas Luetge

MID RHP Erasmo Ramirez BA#13 BP#15 

LR LHP Charles Furbush

Disabled List
Position Players 
C Adam Moore + UPDATE 3/27 - placed on 15-Day DL, retroactive to March 24th (fractured bone in wrist)
CF Franklin Gutierrez + UPDATE 3/27 - placed on 15-Day DL, retroactive to March 24th (partial tear of pectoral muscle)

Optioned to Minors
Position Players

3B Francisco Martinez BA#6 BP#7

IF Carlos Triunfel BA#25

OF Johermyn Chavez BA#28   

OF Chih-Hsien Chiang* BA#24 BP#9

OF Carlos Peguero* 

OF Trayvon Robinson**

Pitchers
RHP Yoervis Medina
RHP Chance Ruffin BA#7 BP#10
LHP Danny Hultzen BA#3 BP#2 
LHP Mauricio Robles BA#26  

Major League Free Agents
Position Players 
C Josh Bard** (12/13: signed w/LAD)
IF Adam Kennedy* (11/30: signed w/LAD)
OF Wily Mo Peña (12/2: signed w/Fukuoaka)

Pitchers 
RHP Dan Cortes (1/4: signed w/WAS)
RHP Jamey Wright (2/7: signed w/LAD)

Minor League Free Agents 
Position Players 
C Jose Yepez (11/16: signed w/ATL)
IF Sean Kazmar (1/10: signed w/NYM)

Pitchers 
RHP David Aardsma + (2/22: signed w/NYY)
RHP Chaz Roe
LHP Fabio Castro (1/4: signed w/OAK)
LHP Luke French (1/27: signed w/MIN)
LHP Nate Robertson
LHP Chris Seddon (1/9: signed w/CLE)

Elected Free Agency/Lost off Waivers/Released/Retired/Traded
•C/OF Chris Gimenez UPDATE 2/6 - DFA'd UPDATE 2/14 - cleared waivers and elected free agency UPDATE 2/16 - signed minor league deal with Rays
•IF Carlos Guillen** UPDATE 3/6 - retired
•RHP Shawn Camp UPDATE 3/21- released
•RHP Jose Campos UPDATE 1/13 - traded to Yankees
•RHP Jeff Gray UPDATE 10/31 - lost off waivers to Twins
•RHP Josh Lueke UPDATE 11/27 - traded to Rays
•RHP Michael Pineda UPDATE 1/13 - traded to Yankees
•LHP Hong-Chih Kuo UPDATE 3/19 - released

Deceased
OF Greg Halman UPDATE 11/21 - murdered in his native Netherlands

SEATTLE MARINERS

OFFSEASON PREVIEW posted 9/9/2011

The Mariners were one of the biggest surprises in the 1st half of the season. On July 5th, they were 43-43 and just 2.5 games out in the AL West. A dominant starting pitching staff, led by Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda, was the primary reason. The bullpen also contributed to their winning ways with solid performances by closer Brandon League and setup men David Pauley and Jamey Wright but it wasn't enough, however, to make up for an anemic lineup that failed to score runs on a consistent basis. The team went 6-20 in July and, just like that, the season was over.

In an attempt to improve their struggling offense, they dealt starter Erik Bedard to the Red Sox in a three-way deal that landed them outfield prospects Trayvon Robinson and Chih-Hsien Chiang. They also dealt another very good starting pitcher, Doug Fister, and Pauley to the Tigers for four players, including three (Casper Wells, Charlie Furbush, Chance Ruffin) who are already on the major league roster and figure into the plans for 2012. None of the players acquired figure to have a big impact in 2012 so GM Jack Zduriencik still has quite a bit of work ahead of him if the M's are to compete next season.

Dustin Ackley: All-Star in 2012?

Picture courtesy of Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Let's start with the bad news. Thirty-seven year-old Ichiro Suzuki appears to be on the decline, Chone Figgins has gone from bad to awful in his two years with the team, and Gold Glove centerfielder Franklin Gutierrez finished an injury-shortened season with a .534 OPS. That's three key players owed over $33 million in 2012 and I wouldn't bet on any of the three for next year's 'Comeback Player of the Year' award. Now for the good news. Top prospect Dustin Ackley has arrived and he looks like the real deal. He's their best hitter right now and should continue to be for several years. Luckily, he's not been the lone effective Mariners hitter in the 2nd half. Mike Carp and Kyle Seager, who both struggled in earlier big league stints, have gotten into a groove and proven that they're ready to take on full-time jobs in 2012. If first baseman Justin Smoak can start to live up to his potential as an impact middle-of-the-lineup hitter, the M's would have four solid hitters to build around.

As for the rotation, it sounds like it will be Hernandez, Pineda, and pray for rain the other three days. The loss of Fister and Bedard has left the rotation susceptible on three out of every five days. Jason Vargas (6.56 ERA since All-Star Break), Blake Beavan (4.87 ERA since All-Star Break), Furbush (5.87 ERA since acquisition), and Anthony Vasquez (9.00 ERA in 3 starts) don't exactly strike fear into opposing hitters. Fortunately, I have some more good news. Reinforcements are on the way. Maybe not to start the season, but lefties Danny Hultzen (#2 overall pick in this year's draft) and James Paxton (2.37 ERA, 95 IP, 73 H, 43 BB, 131 K between AA/LoA) could be knocking down the door to the big leagues by mid-season. So the M's will have to find some stopgaps until they arrive. A return by Bedard, who will be a free agent, is not out of the question.

Despite losing former closer David Aardsma to Tommy John surgery that will likely keep him out of action until late-2012, the M's won't have to worry about the 9th inning next season. League has established himself as a shutdown closer and will be 'the man' once again in his last year before reaching free agency. While there are some intriguing arms behind him in the bullpen, the M's lack a proven setup man to bridge the gap to League. Shawn Kelley, who missed most of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery, will be an option, as will Dan Cortes, Josh Lueke, Ruffin, and Tom Wilhelmsen. Adding a veteran or two to the mix should help.

Offseason Needs: Starting Pitcher(s), Setup Man, Corner Outfielder, Middle Infield depth

Potential Position Battles: Robinson vs Saunders vs Wells (LF); Figgins vs Liddi vs Seager (3B)