Napoli uses Mariners to get deal with Red Sox
December 3rd, 2012 by terrybenishMariners were used as a stalking horse to get an extra year from the Red Sox most likely.
Jack Zduriencik says he wanted him, but that’s not possible so he’s moving on.
Zduriencik has been on MLBTV, he’s on Twitter and talking with reporters and the radio too.
He says he will trade prospects for a bat. The prospects he will trade for the type of bats being talked about: Mike Morse, Garrett Jones or Dave LaRoche, at the end of the day will probably as a group and individually be better than any of those previous players. With the exception of Felix, everybody in the organization is available for thirty plus year old mediocre bats says Jack.
Guys in this non-steroid era that might have a year or so or two years left.
Pause, sigh.
Baseball America has a deal out on Mariner prospects today, written by former USSMariner writer Connor Glassey that lauds where the system is now. At best it’s a compilation, since Glassey is not really a baseball guy nor evaluator in any sense. Fangraph’s consultant Mike Newman has listed the following Mariner prospects as amongst the top five in baseball: 1. Mike Zunino, catcher. 2. Stefen Romero, 1b (Romero best player in org 2012) 3. Nick Franklin 2b. 4. Brad Miller ss. Then there are the three starters everyone has heard about in Danny Hultzen, Jame Paxton and Taijuan Walker and there is Brandon Maurer and Erasmos Ramirez same age but here. Sleeper catcher at A is John Hicks, who is a better catch and throw than Zunino at this point and probably as big a power hitter.
The young guys on the roster now will benefit from the fences coming in as will the prospects mentioned above. Napoli would have walked a lot and hit homers and played first and caught a bit. He is a high end player that despite slumping last year was still good. The year before he was the best player in the American League.
That is the kind of guy you trade prospects for. They won’t trade Smoak and Ackley since nobody really wants those guys at this point as they are exposed. They’ll trade guys that have big upside for mediocrity.
It has been going on for years.
I know that Napoli was a free agent and not available for trade, it was just a point to be made. As a free agent he used the Mariners or his agent did to get another year from the Red Sox.
It is just what needs to be said now. No good free agent will come here this year for a number of reasons already advanced: Goofy ownership, park has been as big as Yellowstone etc.
The fences coming in might change that dynamic, but nobody will know until it is revealed this coming season.
But after this four years of absolute horrific baseball, pain endured so the system would burst forth with players, why in God’s name do you move them for worn out, never were really good players? Based on the last four or five trades, talent leaves and none comes back.
There are all sorts of reasons to criticize the Mariners player development, inability to let go of the dollar label attached to when a kid was picked and let talent rise of its own accord. Rushing guys might be another criticism.
It is almost as if he’s channeling Bill Bavasi…I’m going for a walk.
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December 4th, 2012 at 4:57 am
Just curious – have you ever seen Franklin in his three years in the pros? Or, Romero out of college?
I remember this past spring training watching Franklin give Ackley training on how to turn double plays. The kid has lightning hands and for a switch hitter – he hits over .300 each year on the left side. .280+ average each year is great from both sides.
Led the AA SO league in BA this year… and led or was in top 10 of 2012 AFL categories where his splits were way well over .300. He has proven each year in STATS that he can compete with the guys that are drafted.
Yeah, I am a stat guy, that’s why I would rank a proven pro player like Franklin 1 or 2.
December 4th, 2012 at 8:20 am
Yes to both. I like Franklin at both positions. If David Eckstein can play ss on two world series winning teams, so can Franklin who can hit and defend. Romero reminds me of a former player, Bobby Grich in size alone. Very aggressive hitter and defensively he has good range and his arm is fine, can play 3b or rf with arm.
Brad Miller is talked about quite a bit…as a superior ss to Franklin. He’s two years older than Franklin, Franklin switch hits. Miller probably better ss than Franklin, but suspect his upside is less offensively.
December 4th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Miller had a reputation of errors in College and he had 30+ this year which is not a happy feeling for someone 2 years older. I have always argued that guys in the minors play better competition and have better instructs than College guys.
Franklin is quick and smooth which is a requisite for SS. He looks very effortless which can be deceiving to the average fan. Miller is long legged and has an average arm, maybe suited for 3b or outfield.
While Seattle fans get all hyper about whether to trade or not trade Franklin or Walker, other teams are sitting back licking their chops hoping that Seattle makes a stupid mistake.
Mike Trout would still be in the Minors if Seattle drafted him.
December 4th, 2012 at 8:40 pm
So I think the errors thing for all guys gets under control the more reps. He’s got more range than Franklin. I’m surprised he’s not playing somewhere this winter.
Franklin and Miller both are legitimate prospects and capable of playing, starting and being great contributors at the major league level.
Trading either of them for what’s being talked about now is trying to put lipstick on a pig.
December 4th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Agree. Don’t understand Miller nor Hultzen not getting fall/winter ball orders.
After a concussion and mono (maybe the reason he didn’t look in top form to you?) Franklin still finished the season and then went to the AFL where he was the Rising Star MVP. Keep kicking butt kid.