The Seattle Mariners never seemed a probable team to contend this year. These were coming off a 61-win season last year that was not really a succe s from a losing standpoint, as they blew a chance at the first overall draft pick within
Rakeem Nunez-Roches Jersey the final two games of the season. New M Jack Zduriencik spent the wintertime overhauling the teams inept defense and bringing in as numerous inexpensive relievers and veteran hitters as he may find.
For a while, it worked. Racing to a 15-10 start, the Mariners at one point stood atop the AL West by
Demarcus Robinson Jersey 3.5 games coupled with a PECOTA-predicted chance of postseason play over 40%, at that time, the highest within the AL West. Since that peak though, the Mariners bats go silent and also the bullpen fell apart on the way to a 6-16 stretch that left them seven games back from the Texas Rangers. Their latest two wins against Baltimore po se s the Mariners playoff odds back up to around 15%, but still it appears likely that theyll be sellers before July is up.
Lucky on their behalf, there is a lot to market. In the
Matt Cassel Jerseyrotation, Erik Bedard is the big candidate, but Jarrod Washburn and the 3.22 ERA (maintained by an improved 3.59 FIP) also needs to tempt a pitching-starved team. In the bullpen, David Aardsmas eight saves and a pair of.13 ERA may also likely find a buyer. So far as the bats go, Endy Chavez holds down center field which coupled with his .283 batting average might have him venturing out of town. Adrian Beltre is the obvious trade candidate, and that he seems to be breaking from his early season slump.
Another po sible bat that could be dealt is Ru sell Branyan who, given his
Jarvis Jenkins Jersey first chance to play regularly, has responded magnificently and would likely garner some interest. The question then would be if Branyan and Zdurencik would have some loyalty to one another enough that Branyan sticks around in Seattle.
Either way, with a host of actual talent up for graps form July whenever they fall far enough back, plus picks 2, 27, 33 and 51 in the upcoming June draft, the Mariner farm system is about to get one giant boost upwards.
