Sleepless in Seattle

by Mike Ketchen

From www.thebaseballfix.blogspot.com

Sleepless in Seattle '

I wrote a few days back about Carlos Silva’s impending signing with the Seattle Mariners, and while I knew it was going to be a bad deal then I am even more disgusted by it now. What will follow this next line is a lineup and ace starting pitcher that will only make two thirds of Silva’s salary next year (8.3m total for my team vs. the 12M p/season for Silva)

1B-

2B- Dustin Pedroia - $380k

3B-

SS-

OF-

OF-

OF-

C-

DH-

SP-

As you can see, that is a team that would win a multiple games with relative ease, but the best part of this team is that you could have this whole lineup locked up for at least the first three years of Silva’s deal for roughly the same price, even further with the exception of one to two of these guys you could field this team for all four years!

Now is this an extreme example? Of course it is; no one in baseball is this rich with young cheap and proven talent. But look closer, what else can we learn from the list. Well all of these young players have stories in which they had to be given a shot by there organization. Last year when Dustin Pedroia was hitting below .200, Sox fans wanted him sent down and let Alex Cora play everyday, well he went on to win rookie of the year. Hanley Ramirez, who is arguably the best offensive SS in the game now, was considered to need more seasoning in the minors and of being somewhat lazy when the Florida Marlins traded for him. Travis Hafner: he was a throw for the great Einar Diaz? Do you see the trend yet. All of these guy’s needed a shot and while most players who get this shot will fail, you still need to give them the shot. Because even if they do fail, you are not paying forty eight million to watch them fail. Which is exactly what the Mariners just did with Carlos Silva. He has peaked, he does not get swing and misses, he does not baffle lineups with a dominant sinker. All he does is what a number 5 starter does. Take the ball every fifth day and occasionally get you through seven innings. Very sound investing indeed.

Felix Hernandez - $420k Travis Hafner - $4M Jared Saltalamacchia - 380k Delmon Young-$1.3M Chris Young-$380K B.J. Upton - $386k Hanley Ramirez-$380K Ryan Braun-$380k Prince Fielder - $380k