So, it is 20 games into the MLB season and much to my surprise the Seattle Mariners kind of suck. Well, I guess they really haven't been relevant since 2008. The AAA team does have more than one interesting player though.
Let's see what to talk about... is it the Mariners lack of player development (that produced no tangible major leaguers?) No, I am not sure that is really true (though they had a bunch of bad draft picks, injuries and trades, especially in the Bavasi era). Let's see if I think that is true... Since 2003 (10 years) here are some of the better position players to come through the Mariners system. I guess it is sort of true (though it seems the team has kind of focused on pitching). The Bavasi years were kind of brutal.
I will exclude role players like Greg Dobbs, Willie Bloomquist, Mike Carp and Matt Tuisosopo. I may also exclude Yuniesky Betancourt and Jose Lopez (who had at least one decent season). Wladimir Balentein is a star in Japan (so I guess that goes for something). Mike Morse and Jeremy Reed are also excluded (coming from the White Sox organization). Likewise Justin Smoak and Jesus Montero came from outside the system. Then there are a few players at the AAA level who could theoretically amount to something. Then there are potential role players at AAA (like Alex Liddi).
Update: There are 11 current M's former "prospects" on major league rosters in 2013 (not including Raul Ibanez, Ichiro Suzuki, Muniori Kawasaki). By the end of the season there will be more.
* Shin-Soo Choo (2005, I liked his mix of AVG, speed and power)
* Adam Jones (2006)
* Asdrubal Cabrera
The jury is still out on these
* Michael Saunders (2009)
* Dustin Ackley (2011) - I view him as Jeremy Reed 2.0 (not a good thing, I doubt that the eye/contact thing are really skills he has - or skills at all). If he could also play outfield, that would make him a little more valuable in my opinion.
* Kyle Seager (2011) - a role player on a decent team
Players in the minors I find interesting (for some reason)
* Nick Franklin (I like him much better than Ackley)
* Mike Zunino: maybe the M's best hope at catcher since Dan Wilson
* Carlos Triunfel (still young-ish)
* Stephen Romero
* Brad Miller
* Francisco Martinez (I like the speed profile - if he becomes a good defensive CF, that would be better)
* Julio Morban
So, if I were another team what current players would I possibly want from the Mariners (assuming that certain players, like ones whose last name begin with a Z, are untouchable...
* Nick Franklin: ok, he is probably my second favorite player I've seen in Tacoma (after Shin-Soo Choo).
* Carlos Triunfel: he's been around the Mariners system for what feels like forever, but has had some injury issues crop up. He has a really strong arm (accuracy not so much). He is young enough that maybe things will still "click" for him.
* Justin Smoak: weird, huh. Although he runs like he is in quick sand (and hasn't had recent success), I would be interested in him. I am kind of curious if he could hit any better if he gave up switch hitting for a season or two (and just focused on one side - probably left handed). He never really has had a power profile, so I wonder if there is any kind of tinkering that could be done to convert it to a more line drive stroke. An uppercut swing with his skills would not be a great thing. Unfortunately for him, he hasn't really had success outside of AA.
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