First Week of the Off-Season For Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners started the beginning of the off-season making some moves that were expected and then on Sunday night made a trade for catcher Carlos Ruiz with the Dodgers for reliever Vidal Nuno.

The trade for Ruiz has not been yet confirmed by either the Mariners or the Dodgers however I am sure it has been done. Several reliable sources have reported the trade. I am surprised that early last week the Mariners exercised declining the option on catcher Chris Iannetta for $4.5 million and then turn around acquiring Ruiz at the same amount of money. I would have thought the Mariners try to save money for a backup catcher. I wonder if the Mariners are planning to use him more often than they would have used Iannetta. On the other hand it could be a beginning of another move Dipoto plans that may happen in the days ahead. It is possible he could be part of another trade or someone else in the catcher position; just asking no speculation at all.

The trading of Vidal Nuno really doesn’t surprise me at all. He wasn’t used a lot last year especially in the first half of the season. He finished pitching in 55 games with an era of 3.53. Not bad at all but he was the only left handed reliever in the bullpen most of the season. You would have thought he would have pitched more often. Mostly in relief he has pitched long relief but the Mariners did not use him that way. Most of the time he was used at the end of the game and was used sparingly as a left handed specialist; Dipoto mentioned that he was going to go out to find a left handed specialist so Nuno’s days were numbered far as I am concerned.

Early last week the Mariners accepted Seth Smith’s option to stay with the team while Aoki was sent to the Houston Astros through waivers. Most likely Smith will be platooned next season with Franklin Gutierrez if he returns since he is a free agent or someone else who bats right handed. At this point not sure whether he will play in left or right field I surely hope it will be left field since he does have some defensive liability. Left field is better position to have someone play who has defense deficiency. This is especially true in Safeco Field. Depending who the Mariners get to play in right field will decide how much Smith and his partner will play in left field.

If Ben Gamel and Guillermo Heredia are both on the opening day roster for 2017 it is possible they could be platooning in right field however Dipoto doesn’t want to platoon both left and right field once again. There is a good possibility that Heredia could be the platoon player with Seth Smith if they decide not to bring back Gutierrez. In that case Gamel could be the everyday right fielder if the Mariners decide not to pick up another outfielder. Gamel can be the backup to Leonys Martin in centerfield when he needs a rest. Gamel can play a good defensive center field. Another option in the outfield is how much utility player Shawn O’Malley may play out there. This could depend on who the Mariners have playing short stop as well. We know that O’Malley won’t have much playing time at second or third.

I do expect a regular everyday outfielder besides Martin because with the Mariners likely to platoon someone with Daniel Vogelbach at first base the Mariner won’t want to have three positions to platoon. How all things work out at shortstop, first base and the outfield will be interesting during this off-season. Go M’s.