Around this time of year, as Spring Training (finally) approaches, I like to check out the lists of remaining free agents, just to see who’s still kicking around that might be useful to a team. This year, there’s the usual mix of journeymen, malcontents, and aging players hanging on for one last shot at glory. There were, however, a few players that stood out as guys that could contribute to teams, and more specifically the Mariners.
Before we get to that, though, let me shoot something down before it ever comes up: Jarrod Washburn. There were stories about how the M’s should re-sign him all last winter, and even in to Spring Training. As you may recall, Jon and I got a little tired of it. Unfortunately, as we get in to Spring Training and people notice that Washburn isn’t in camp anywhere, and in fact remains unsigned, there will almost certainly be a few people saying “Hey, the Mariners should sign Washburn and put him in the rotation! I wanna see the Dolphin again!”
Here’s the thing, though. Washburn is 36 now, and turns 37 in August. When last seen, he was shut down by the Tigers after just eight starts following his trade there because he was pitching so poorly. That was in 2009, and he never pitched in 2010 after not receiving what he deemed an acceptable offer, and refusing to consider minor league deals. Even his best career season, when he posted a 4.62 xFIP all the way back in 2002 with the Angels, can only be described as thoroughly mediocre. What reason do we have to think that he’d out-perform Jason Vargas or David Pauley or Erik Bedard? Heck, Chaz Roe might be a better option at this stage.
Then there’s the fact that he supposedly will again not accept a minor league contract. I can see how that phone call would go now:
Jarrod: Yes, I really do want a major league contract. I feel like I’m worth it with what I’ve done in my career.
GM: …
Jarrod: Uh… hello? Is anyone there? Hello? Dang AT&T, always dropping my calls…
GM: Sorry, had to hit the mute button for a minute, I was, uh, coughing. Yeah, that’s it, coughing.
Besides the fact that it’s a silly idea, signing Washburn to a major-league deal means that a member of the currently-full 40-man roster would have to be designated for assignment in order to sign him. I’m not sure that there’s anyone on the 40-man right now that I would take Washburn over.
Now then, on to players who are actually useful:
Willy Aybar 1B/2B/3B
I admit, I was a little shocked to see Aybar’s name on the unsigned list. Aybar had a bit of a down 2010 season, but has been a valuable utility man throughout his career, and that value is only boosted by the fact that he can hit for power from both sides of the plate. He’s no defensive dynamo, but he can be a valuable contributor for any ballclub.
For the Mariners, he would primarily be a back-up at the infield corners, vying for the role with Matt Mangini and Matt Tuiasosopo. That would be an interesting bat to watch unfold during Spring Training, as each of the three have an edge on the other two: Mangini probably has the best bat, Tui can play the corner OF spots reasonably, and Aybar can play 2B reasonably in a pinch, and has a track record of success in a utility role. I would be all for an Aybar signing.
Jeremy Bonderman RHP
Bonderman was once a young starting pitcher of note, but then had a horrid start to his 2008 season. That season was cut short after just 12 starts by surgery to his throwing shoulder to correct Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (a condition stemming from too much pressure on nerves in your shoulder, causing pain, numbness, and weakness in the arm). 2009 was unkind to Bonderman as well, making just one poor start in June before going back on the DL with shoulder soreness, and he wouldn’t pitch in a game again until August. He finally saw the majors again in September, but was ineffective in seven relief appearances.
2010 saw him make 29 starts, but with mixed results. His xFIP was a reasonable 4.72 (reasonable considering that he hadn’t pitched a full season since 2008 and had shoulder surgery in the meantime), but his strikeout rate was down to 5.89 per nine innings, after being north of seven strikeouts per nine innings in three of his five pro seasons before the injury. On the plus side, though, his walk rate was in line with career norms, and his fastball didn’t lose as much as you might expect it to (down to 89.8 MPH on average last year, from roughly 91 MPH pre-injury).
Bonderman is exactly the type of pitcher you want to gamble on with a minor-league deal: he has the chance to be a solid contributor to your rotation if he’s healthy and right, and if not, he hardly cost you a thing.
John Maine RHP
Maine was once one of the top prospects in the Mets organization, and as recently as 2008 was considered a solid major-league starter. However, a series of shoulder injuries took a toll on him, and to say that the shine has worn off is to experiment in understatement. Maine’s right shoulder has undergone two surgeries (one in 2008 to remove a bone spur, one in 2010 to remove some debris), and his command just hasn’t been the same since the first one. Still, he’s a worthy gamble on a minor-league deal to see if he can be healthy and even somewhat effective, much like Bonderman.
Elijah Dukes OF
Just kidding.
Joe Inglett 2B/OF
Inglett would be another name to add to the utility pile. Primarily a second baseman and left fielder so far in his career, Inglett has the defensive skills to at least be useful at third base as well. He’s not much more than a slap hitter, but as a left-handed batter who can draw a walk, he at least fits the Jack Zduriencik mold we’ve seen so far. I wouldn’t expect much from Inglett performance-wise, but if nothing else he could fill that “extreme emergency depth” role that Chris Woodward held last season and wait around in Tacoma.
Chris Coste C
This would be more of a minor league depth move, because the upper levels of the organization are bare of catching talent right now. That said, if things got bad at the position at the major-league level due to injuries or lack of performance, the M’s could do a lot worse than Coste. He’s not much of a hitter, but he’s solid behind the dish despite his advancing years (he just turned 37 last week), and is regarded as a guy who works with his pitchers very well. As long as he does better than Rob Johnson, he’s OK in my book.
Will the Mariners sign any of these players? Maybe, maybe not. Even if they did, there’s no guarantee that they would make the team, and even if they did, that they would help the team in any appreciable way. Still, if the cards fall right, these are players that could contribute to a ballclub, and these five players in particular can help fill current needs for the Mariners. Hopefully they don’t wind up being needed, but it’d still be nice to see one or two of them brought in and given a shot.
Original Story:
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