What Exactly Have Those Angels and Mariners Done?

Mariners

While some people enjoy a little time off this time of year, Mariners President of Baseball Opperations and General Manager Jack Zduriencik is hard at work improving his franchise. He started the early signing speedster Chone Figgins from the rival Angels, and advanced with authority by trading for Cy-Young winner Cliff Lee. The Chone Figgins signing is huge because he is indicative of things to come for the Mariners. He fits the Jack Z’s regime ideals of versatility and hitting for average. Figgins, likely to be slotted at behind Ichiro, batting 2nd, will help the M’s because as struggled to fill this role last season, even slotting 250 hitting Russell Branyan in this spot to try and find a solution. Figgins attained a career high in walks last year, notching 101. The Mariners leader in walks was Griffey, with 63, and outside of that the team doesn’t have very many patient hitters. While he doesn’t provide much power, Figgins adds tremendous speed and good bat control behind Ichiro that could manufacture runs and good RBI opportunities for the middle of the lineup. He maintains strong defense in the infield. He will also provide an additional leadership type role in the clubhouse. Lastly his addition means a subsequent subtraction from the rival American League West Champion LA Angels.

The Cliff Lee deal is very intriguing in that in instantly give the M’s the best 1-2 punch in baseball, and one of the better all-around staffs depending on how the off-season unfolds. A Hernandez, Lee, Rowland Smith, Snell, Morrow rotation is tough to beat with the potential upside of the Snell and Morrow. Rick Adair should enjoy himself.
U.S.S. Mariners take is that one season of Cliff Lee is worth $25 million.  If he leaves as a free agent after next season, the M's will be compensated with a couple of draft picks worth at least $5 million. The three prospects the M's are supposedly sending to Toronto are worth $13 million. Lee's salary next season is $8 million. This take seems to make the Mariners winners in that they are giving up 13 million in potential worth for 22 million in value. The Mariners are not giving up too much to acquire the ace in dealing Phillipe Aumont, Tyson Gillies, and Juan Ramirez. All are considered good not great prospects; Keith Law describes all as “second-tier.”  Aumont was a 2008 1st round pick that has participated for the Canadian National team. He has great potential, but a recent hip injury has had some scouts questioning if he can become a top of the line starter. Aumont likely seems headed to the bullpen in Philly.  Tyson Gillies is a very quick outfield prospect. He participated in last year’s Futures game. Gillies, also a Canada native, will join Aumont on the Phillies. He could be a leadoff hitter eventually, but he is a double-A talent.  Juan Ramirez is a young pitcher with electric stuff, but his questionable control and lanky build could likely move him to the bullpen eventually.  It remains unlikely that the Mariners will be able to extend Cliff Lee at the end of the season, and in this case they likely will receive 2 1st round picks for him. If Lee is extended this move could have implication on a deal for Felix Hernandez. It remains to be seen whether it is a similar extension, or a similar trade

As vastly as the Mariners have improved from the end of the season, and a year ago they still seem like they are a major deal away. The Mariners seem to be pushing to be the favorite in a down A.L. West, while hoping to prove to young ace Felix Hernandez that they are serious about being contenders in years to come. It is interesting that the Mariners, who seemed to have interest in former Angels free agent starter John Lackey, made this deal shortly after Lackey signed with the Red Sox. It is difficult to tell if the Mariners truly had interest in Lackey, or just feigned interest and ensured that Lackey, who projects as an average #2 starter or great #3 starter, would be moved outside the division.

The next move seems to be in my opinion a Jose Lopez trade. While Lopez has been the 3rd best player on the Mariners over the past 3 seasons, his glove work and range at second base do not seem like a fit for the revamped Mariners. The Mariners have moved him to 1st base in some games, and have also mentioned the possibility of moving Figgins to 2nd base as well. However, this I believes worsens the value of Lopez as he would not be a premiere bat at 1st base. This combined with the fact that he is 2 years away from free agency (usually the best time to recoup value) and he is right handed bat with pop in a left handed park, could mean that Lopez has seen his last days in Seattle. While Lopez is a good bat, he is not a force in the middle of the lineup as power has been lacking in the Seattle offense. The organization is also looking to get athetic Matt Tuiassosopo more playing time on the big league level, and 2nd overall pick Dustin Ackley will likely see time by 2011. It wouldn’t surprise me if Lopez and others package (Morrow, relievers, Halman).

Angels
The Angels have lost Chone Figgins and starter John Lackey and will likely allow Vlad Guerrero to walk (something the free swinger hates doing). This isn’t all bad though it seems like the Angels will continue to reload and rebuild the farm. Brandon Wood is a power bat prospect that will likely replace Figgins at 3rd Base. They will also receive 1st round draft picks for both Figgins and Lackey.
Meanwhile, in free agency they added Yankees Hideki Matsui who will likely usurp DH from Vlad Guerrero. They also re-signed Matsui’s former Yankees teammate Bobby Abreu, to help protect Kendry Morales in the order.

Even with the loss of Lackey, the pitching rotation remains a strength of the Halos, anchored by Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana, Scott Kazmir, and Joe Saunders. The 5th spot would have gone to Nick Adenhart before his untimely death, but it will likely be up for competition with 2nd year player Matt Palmer (11-2, 3.93) being the favorite.
The major questions remaining now, will be how will the Angels respond with the loss of 2 veteran leaders? And is there enough team speed or will the Angels try to alter their game plan? A loss of Figgins could move Erick Aybar to leadoff and/or increase playing time for Reggie Willits.