Mariners Have a Busy Monday

The Seattle Mariners hired two coaches and signed a catcher to make it a busy first day of the week. Of course, this will be a short week because of Thanksgiving; however, the Mariners general manager could be busy right up to eating dinner on Thursday.

On Monday the Mariners announced they added former Mariner pitcher Mike Hampton as bullpen coach. I find it nice that the Mariners hired someone that the general manager is familiar with since Hampton was a pitching coach in the Angel’s minor league organization and he has a lot of pitching experience having a sixteen year career in the major leagues beginning with the Mariners. He pitched one year for the Mariners when he was traded to the Houston Astros for Eric Anthony in another terrible trade by the Mariners. Now after all these years he is back to the Mariners as bullpen coach. In a way it is a nice advantage because now the Mariners now have two pitching coaches in a way having already signed Mel Stottlemyre Jr as pitching coach. Stottlemyre is son of former Yankee great and Mariner pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Sr. Mel Jr wanted to be closer to his father who is battling cancer and he formerly was with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Also, the Mariners signed Chris Iannetta to a one year contract with an option for a second year. He was the starting catcher for the Angel’s last season so Dipoto is familiar with him and he had a disappointing 2015 season so the Mariners hope he can recover this coming season along with returning catcher Mike Zunino who was sent down to triple A Tacoma at the end of August and never returned when players were able to be called up in September. The signing of Iannetta allows the Mariners to have a veteran catcher and to allow Zunino to take his time to recover. How Zunino position works depends on how he does in spring training. It is possible that he could start the season in triple A. This allows the Mariners to have a veteran catcher who has major league starting catching experience instead of backups like the last two years who were disappointments as well. Yes I consider this an upgrade at the catching position for now.

The next work for the Mariners will be for the Mariners to acquire another outfielder with some athleticism and speed to play in right field. Most likely he will share time with Nelson Cruz in right field along with designated. Also, if this outfielder can play some centerfield to give new acquired centerfielder Leonys Martin from the Texas Rangers only a few days earlier some rest along with Cruz not having to play in the outfield every day.

I am sure we will see some work with the Mariners when it comes to improving their bullpen as well in the weeks ahead. So far it has been a good job by Dipoto improving the Mariners. Like we will say things are not completed yet. Go Mariners!