Saunders to replace melky?

[SAAviour]

Get your maple boners ready, would replacing the $15 million Melky with the $3 million Saunders be a good move, and what would it take to land him....

 

 

From mlbtr:

In a lengthy and interesting piece, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times looks at the potentially fractured relationship between the Mariners and Michael Saunders following some comments made by GM Jack Zduriencik at an end-of-season press conference. Asked at the time what he felt about Saunders’ future with the team, Zduriencik said, “…It’s up to Michael. … He was playing well, got hurt, came back, got sick, came back again and did some nice things. But I think what Michael has to do and has to answer this to himself, is ‘how do I prepare myself to play as many games through the course of 162 that I can possibly play without being setback by injury.’ … some of these things need to be handled from a maintenance standpoint where he put himself in a position where he’s able to compete through the course of the season.”

 

Divish spoke to Saunders himself, who declined to comment on the situation. Saunders’ agent, Michael McCann, said it was both “shocking” and “very disappointing.” Said McCann: “These comments don’t reflect Michael Saunders’ work habits. They imply that that he’s lackadaisical.” Part of the trouble, Divish writes, is that Saunders had never before had his work ethic or preparation questioned by the Mariners, and to have that done in a public forum was hurtful. Zduriencik clarified that the comments he made could be applied to any player, and he was adamant to Divish that the organization is not planning on moving on from Saunders. However, he has previously identified corner outfield as a potential area to add some offense. Divish speculates on an offseason trade, though he also notes that even if Saunders is pushed to the role of fourth outfielder, his low salary (he should earn less than $3MM via arbitration) would be an acceptable price for that role, especially given his upside. Over the past three seasons, the former top prospect has batted .248/.320/.423 with 39 homers and 38 steals. I should note that Divish’s entire piece is well worth the read, as this brief write-up doesn’t capture nearly all of the quotes and information he compiled.

[NorthOf49]

Go get him AA

[KingKat]

Saunders’ agent, Michael McCann, said it was both “shocking” and “very disappointing.” Said McCann: “These comments don’t reflect Michael Saunders’ work habits. They imply that that he’s lackadaisical.” Part of the trouble, Divish writes, is that Saunders had never before had his work ethic or preparation questioned by the Mariners, and to have that done in a public forum was hurtful.

 

I can never understand why employers wait so long to voice their frustrations with employees they aren't happy with and let them proceed blissfully unaware until finally blindsiding them completely with their complaints (usually at the point that they are let go). It's quite prevalent in corporate culture and it's very lousy leadership.

[jays4life19]

Ive got my lube and maple boner ready!

 

He would be nice since he can play CF. I'd prefer him in CF then a Gose/Pillar platoon.

[BTS]

My god the mariners are an awful org.

[NorthOf49]

He may even be a better player than Melky. Getting Saunders on the cheap to plug into CF or LF is what a smart value-conscious team like the Rays would do.

[jays4life19]

He may even be a better player than Melky. Getting Saunders on the cheap to plug into CF or LF is what a smart value-conscious team like the Rays would do.

 

Maybe we can sign Eric Thames from Korea and see if Seattle is interested again? You just know Jack Z loves him some Chocolate Thunder.

[KingKat]

Saunders seems pretty ideal as a Melky replacement. He's cheaper, younger, more versatile and he has a more balanced skill set.

[KingKat]

He may even be a better player than Melky. Getting Saunders on the cheap to plug into CF or LF is what a smart value-conscious team like the Rays would do.

 

At the very least, he'll provide more value for the money and give the Jays more flexibility both with the roster and the payroll.

[Deadpool]

Anything that keeps Gose/Pillar out of my goddamn centre field next year is a-okay in my books.

[RealAccountant]

At the very least, he'll provide more value for the money and give the Jays more flexibility both with the roster and the payroll.

 

if the flexibility goes towards retaining the likes of Burly, Dickey, and Reyes at their ridiculous salaries then no thank you

[KingKat]

if the flexibility goes towards retaining the likes of Burly, Dickey, and Reyes at their ridiculous salaries then no thank you

 

Uh... wthe Jays are retaining those guy anyways regardless of whether someone like Saunders is brought in.

[jays4life19]

I'm not sure how well we match up with Seattle in a trade. especially if their looking for some pop in a corner outfield bat.

[KingKat]

I'm not sure how well we match up with Seattle in a trade. especially if their looking for some pop in a corner outfield bat.

 

Not a lot of pop to spare. Maybe Lind? He's not really a corner OF but that might not matter to the Mariners.

[BTS]

I'm not sure how well we match up with Seattle in a trade. especially if their looking for some pop in a corner outfield bat.

 

They're going to end up replacing Saunders with a similar bat who plays the OF like Eric Thames.

[RealAccountant]

Not a lot of pop to spare. Maybe Lind? He's not really a corner OF but that might not matter to the Mariners.

 

thats terrible.

 

I dont know much about Saunders but from his numbers, he does not look like he is even going to replace Lind`s part time bat. With Melky gone, now we would have just taken a whole step backwards on our offense,

 

Id rather have Gose plus Lind`s bat

[jays4life19]

Not a lot of pop to spare. Maybe Lind? He's not really a corner OF but that might not matter to the Mariners.

 

Yeah i could see them liking Lind. I wonder if we could expand the deal to try and swap Lawrie for Seager too.

 

Adam Lind, Brett Lawrie + Sanchez? for Saunders and Seager.

[KingKat]

thats terrible.

 

I dont know much about Saunders but from his numbers, he does not look like he is even going to replace Lind`s part time bat. With Melky gone, now we would have just taken a whole step backwards on our offense,

 

Id rather have Gose plus Lind`s bat

 

The idea is to have a better overall team.

[Frenchsoup]

Yeah i could see them liking Lind. I wonder if we could expand the deal to try and swap Lawrie for Seager too.

 

Adam Lind, Brett Lawrie + Sanchez? for Saunders and Seager.

 

I feel like jack Z loves his Canadian boys and would love to get his fat hands on Lawrie. I like the deal above but I'd want a bullpen arm probably .

[glory]

Would the M's move Chris Taylor as well? He'd be a nice long-term option at 2B.

[jays4life19]

Ugh. Beyond lopsided toward the Jays.

 

That's the point when trading with Seattle.

[glory]

Ugh. Just saw Saunders' numbers against lefties. No more platoon players.

[Dr. Dinger]

The really amazing thing here is that Jack Z is still a major league GM.

[ElNik2013]

Seems like Rasmus 2.0.

[Dr. Dinger]

And winning.

 

Sure, if winning means a 446-526 record and no playoff appearances.

[Dr. Dinger]

What have you done for me lately? "Such and such a team used to be good." And nary a f*** was given.

 

I really don't know what that's supposed to mean, kinda seems like you dodged the point entirely. On top of being an ignorant and futile GM, Jack Z has saddled the Mariners with what will soon be one of the worst contracts in baseball with absolutely nothing to show for it. Troll better.

[ElNik2013]

I really don't know what that's supposed to mean, kinda seems like you dodged the point entirely. On top of being an ignorant and futile GM, Jack Z has saddled the Mariners with what will soon be one of the worst contracts in baseball with absolutely nothing to show for it. Troll better.

 

 

There's no way you can put the blame on the GM for the contract given to Cano. That's just too large an amount of money for the team president and owners not to have been fully behind. If/when this contract blows up in their face, ownership will have to start the blame game by standing in front of their mirror and pointing the finger at it.

[Angrioter]

JackZ is an idiot.

 

btw

 

AA "It's not fair to assume that the Blue Jays and Melky Cabreara haven't had exchanges of contract proposals"

[Dr. Dinger]

You can't blame a player personnel decision on the GM? Of course you can. Ownership approval applies to every major contract, it's still the GM who proposed it and signed it.

[ElNik2013]

You can't blame a player personnel decision on the GM? Of course you can. Ownership approval applies to every major contract, it's still the GM who proposed it and signed it.

 

 

It's a $240M contract, it's not the same as any "player personnel decision". Let's just say it's a bad organizational decision and the blame should be spread around. I just think a smart owner would tell his GM to GTFO at the mere suggestion of such a contract, especially when they reportedly outbid themselves. The team president was involved in negotiations as well. Not saying he's a good GM by any means.