Look at First Base For Mariners

                                     
                                          Daniel Vogelbach

I am sure we will see soon what Jerry Dipoto will be doing for trades coming up in the off-season. I am sure he has talked over with a few other ball clubs and has discussed with his management team whether first base is a priority or he may be looking more at shortstop and the outfield.

Looking at his history I expect at least one trade if not more will happen during October. He will look at more transactions in November. Free agency won’t happen until after the World Series though I am sure the Mariner staff is discussing that to.

At first base Daniel Vogelbach the Mariners got in mid-July from the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Mike Montgomery. He played out in Triple A for the Tacoma Rainiers before being called up in September when the roster expanded. The Mariners feel that he is ready to play regular in the major leagues since he has hit pretty good in all the levels of the minor leagues. He is a left handed hitter so the Mariners may look at platooning him at first base so they would look at bringing in a right handed hitter. Adam Lind and Dae-Ho Lee are both free agents. Lind will not be back and Lee could if his asking price is OK. The Mariners will look at a right handed hitter that could play every day if things don’t work out and Vogelbach isn’t ready for the major leagues.

I have heard that the Mariners could be interest in Steve Pearce who played last year for the Baltimore Orioles and is a free agent. He batted .288 in 85 games with thirteen home runs. His batting average was higher than Lee and so was his on-base percentage. What would make him interested to the Mariners is that he could play either left or right field along with second and third base. So he gives more flexibility in the lineup for the Mariners. Although he has been in the major leagues for several years could he be a regular at first base if necessary.

Another choice in house could be Mike Freeman and Stefan Romero who both can play multiple positions as well. D.J. Peterson a former first round draft pick ended his season in Tacoma early because of an injury. Hard to know whether Dipoto thinks he is ready or should spend another year in Tacoma. The thing about Romero is he has been in the Mariners system for several years so Dipoto may think his days are done here. He could be an added piece in any trade the Mariners make. Other words he would be a throw in. It may do him a world of good to go elsewhere.

Next time I will look at the shortstop position since it is the only other infield position that is in question.