When handing out minor league contracts/spring invites this winter, it seems the Seattle Mariners decided to go with the “throw everything at the wall and see what sticks” approach. Not that that was a bad idea after the MLB team sagged in 2010; in fact, it’s quite an inspired decision for Seattle to bide their time until they can develop internally again.
Of course, since there were so many notable camp invitees, I’ve got to work overtime on this installment of the NRI breakdowns, bringing you quick looks at a whopping seventeen players.
C Josh Bard—It’s hard to believe Bard was a stud in 2006, because he’s barely topped the Mendoza Line each of the past three seasons. He’ll be 33 the day before Opening Day, and is essentially a replacement-level catcher at this point, hitting the odd home run and handling the pitching staff solidly while putting up paltry batting averages and caught-stealing percentages.
RHP Denny Bautista—Bautista continues to bounce from team to team. He posted 44 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings with San Francisco last year, but also walked 27, which doesn’t really cut it. The extreme flyballer should fit well in Safeco Field, and he’s the sort of flyer the Mariners should be taking, as the 30-year-old has gradually become a passable reliever. He’s got electric stuff, so if the Mariners can teach him to locate, it could have a huge payoff. He’s certainly worth the camp invite, anyway.
RHP Blake Beavan—Beavan is the anti-Bautista–he throws strikes with a very pedestrian assortment and hopes for the best. Similar to current Mariner starter Doug Fister, he’s a hulking righty who just pounds the zone with 87-91 mph sinkers, mixing in the occasional curve or change for effect. Acquired in the Cliff Lee trade, he posted a 22/8 K/BB in 40 1/3 innings with Seattle’s Triple-A affiliate, and should be one of the Mariners’ first callups in case of injury or ineffectiveness in the rotation. Just 22, he could evolve into a solid mid-rotation starter, though it would be nice to see him get a strikeout here and there.
LHP Fabio Castro—This tiny lefty swingman gets solid strikeout numbers despite a rather average repertoire. Sitting right at 90 mph with his fastball, Castro also has a solid curveball and changeup. The 26-year-old spent 2010 as a swingman for the Red Sox AAA affiliate, with a 102/50 K/BB in 104 innings. He’s got a career 3.30 MLB ERA (4.52 FIP) in 30 appearances (1 start) for the Rangers and Phillies, with a 32/26 K/BB in 43 2/3 innings. Castro hasn’t seen the big leagues since 2007, and while he’s probably best served as a Triple-A mainstay, he won’t embarrass himself if called upon, particularly in Safeco Field with Seattle’s strong defense behind him.
RHP Manny Delcarmen—This hard thrower lost a good deal of velocity in 2010, and his effectiveness pretty much went with it, as his FIP has backslid from 3.32 in 2008 to 4.62 in 2009 to 5.51 last year. He no longer gets the incredible speed separation between his fastball and changeup that he used to, hurting that pitch’s effectiveness as well. Still, he’s just 30, still throws 93 mph, and has a nice curveball, so Delcarmen, like Bautista, is worth looking at.
OF Jody Gerut—The former Indians semi-star had a big comeback 2008 with San Diego, but has done little since with the Padres and Brewers. His plate discipline has declined, and Gerut is already 33 years old, so he’s not going to get any better. He’s still a decent outfield defender, and some brief minor league time went well, but it’s doubtful that Gerut has much left in the tank. Still, we would’ve said that in 2008 spring training as well, so who knows?
OF Gabe Gross—Like Gerut and Delcarmen, Gross was very productive in 2010 but below replacement level in 2010, so it’s clear the M’s are collecting reclamation projects here. Gross’ usually strong plate discipline took a nosedive in 2010 as he tried to cut down on his strikeouts, so he got Jack Cust-itis–the strikeouts did go down, and the batting average inched up, but the walks and power that made him an interesting player vanished. Hopefully Seattle gets Gross to go back to his old ways (and does the same with Cust, for that matter). At 31, Gross isn’t getting any younger either, and his defense is now merely average after years of excellence.
RHP Charlie Haeger—Haeger and his knuckleball managed to strike out 30 batters in as many innings last year with the Dodgers, but he also allowed 26 walks and four homers–while he may not have deserved an 8.40 ERA, a 5.51 FIP isn’t a ringing endorsement either. The righthander can’t seem to get strikeouts and avoid walks at the same time; at 27, he’s young for a knuckleballer, but it’s anyone’s guess as to when, if ever, he’ll truly master his craft on an MLB level. Heck, R.A. Dickey just did last year, and he’s nine years older than Haeger.
INF Adam Kennedy—Kennedy didn’t build on his excellent 2009 with Oakland, instead spending 2010 hitting a modest .249/.327/.327 with the Nationals. His solid and versatile glove makes him a decent utilityman, since he still draws a few walks, but at this point, he’s not the sort of player a rebuilding team needs to go out of their way to make roster space for. It’s not like Seattle’s bursting with middle infielders, so he could make the team.
OF Ryan Langerhans—In 132 plate appearances last year, Langerhans struck out 51 times–that’s a higher rate than Greg Halman, M’s fans. The 31-year-old still brings plate discipline, gap power, and good defense, but can’t seem to show all three at the same time. Even if he did, his contact issues preclude him from being anything more than depth at this point–he hasn’t hit higher than .241 since 2005.
RHP Yusmeiro Petit—It’s hard to believe that Petit just turned 26 over the offseason, since he’s been on the MLB radar for half a decade. The extreme flyballer did his usual shtick in Triple-A last year, posting an excellent K/BB ratio (3.44) while allowing far too many homers (nine in 59 1/3 innings). Largely a reliever at this point, since he’s failed as a big league starter so many times, Petit’s lack of velocity makes him an unappealing option.
RHP Chris Ray—Between Texas and San Francisco, Ray had a poor year in 2010, with a 31/25 K/BB in 55 2/3 innings. His velocity returned to its pre-injury levels–Ray sat at 94 mph–and he remained deceptive, but Ray is probably just low-leverage filler in the long run unless he can find a way to get batters to swing and miss with some regularity.
LHP Royce Ring—Ring could help Seattle this year. He posted a 1.93 ERA (3.10 FIP) for the Yankees’ AAA affiliate last year, with a 39/11 K/BB in 42 innings. His velocity dropped last year, but it didn’t affect his performance, as Ring was always more about deception and movement anyway. He still doesn’t have anything good offspeed to go with the moving heater, but that’s usually enough against lefties. The 30-year-old could make for a useful situational guy, although the AL isn’t really the best place for those.
LHP Nate Robertson—Robertson has posted sub-5.00 FIPs every full year of his career, but he perhaps more famously put up ERAs above 5.40 in each of the past three seasons, largely due to poor luck stranding runners. Robertson’s 63.3% strand rate 2008-2010 is the second lowest among pitchers with 300 innings in that timespan (the worst is Luke Hochevar). Is it bad luck or problems from the stretch? It’s anyone’s guess, but Robertson didn’t have problems with men on base earlier in his career. The Mariners are taking the chance that it’s just bad luck and will revert in Safeco with a good defense behind him. Heck, Robertson can’t be worse than Ryan Rowland-Smith, right?
INF Luis Rodriguez—Rodriguez is a former light-hitting infielder who suddenly added power in Triple-A last year. A career .243/.316/.323 hitter with the Twins and Padres from 2005-09, Rodriguez busted out in the White Sox system in 2010, hitting .293/.364/.493, bashing 16 homers, striking out just 35 times, and walking 42 in 94 games. The 30-year-old must have had some sort of Ben Zobrist moment, and it’s worth Seattle’s time to find out if he can translate it back to the majors.
OF Mike Wilson—It seems like the 27-year-old Wilson has been a prospect forever. The burly slugger hit .273/.364/.500 in Triple-A last year, his first success at the level. He also cut down on his swing, striking out a career-low 23.4% of the time. Athletic for his hulking size, Wilson stole ten bases in 88 games and plays a solid right field. He’s obviously very old for a prospect, but has some interesting skills and deserves a big league look.
RHP Jamey Wright—An underrated journeyman, Wright can still snap off a pretty curveball at age 36, and he’s been at or above replacement level every year since 2003. His fastball/curveball combination can work well in long relief, although the addition of a cut fastball hasn’t served Wright well. The extreme groundballer could fare well in front of Seattle’s solid defense; while it isn’t worth clearing out roster space for him, Wright could pitch solidly if called upon.