2. Seattle Mariners
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Before making a poor decision to deal pitcher Michael Pineda for catcher Jesus Montero in 2012, the Mariners struck out with selecting catcher Jeff Clement as the third overall pick out of USC in 2005.
The M’s seem to certainly have a thing for highly touted catching prospects. In 2012, Mike Zunino was taken third overall out of the University of Florida and in last years draft, the club selected high school catching product Alex Jackson sixth overall.
Clement, however, will undoubtedly have less of an impact than all of the above names. He debuted in 2007 with Seattle having only nine appearances as a 23 year old. In 2008 he slashed .227/.295/.360 in 230 at-bats. Clement bounced around between the minors and the majors for the next few years, last playing with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2012. In 2013, he hit .220 for the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate, retiring as a player on March 31, 2014. Clement’s -1.2 WAR is hardly worthy of his third overall price tag.
The M’s also drafted RHP Lance Lynn (6-173) in 2005, but he did not sign. RHP Anthony Varvaro (pictured) was taken 353rd overall that year as well. He played poorly for the Mariners in 2010 and was claimed off waivers by the Braves. He’s strung together a pretty nice relief career since then, owning a 2.99 ERA over four seasons in Atlanta. He will play for the Boston Red Sox in 2015.
The 2005 draft totalled 48 selections by the Mariners. Eight of them reached the majors, culminating in a WAR of 9.8. But when it’s pointed out that 8.3 of that number belongs to Lynn who never pitched in the M’s organization, the 2005 draft can be considered a learning experience at best.