As if it wasn't bad enough to finish with the second-worst record in baseball, the Mariners are managing to start the off-season with the team's trademark ineptitude. The Mariners are in the market for a new general manager. Candidates have been targeted, interviewed, vetted and now, nothing.According to the SeattleTimes:
The team's list has been reduced to Kim Ng, assistant GM of the Dodgers; Jerry DiPoto, director of player personnel for the Diamondbacks; Tony LaCava, assistant GM of the Blue Jays; and Jack Zduriencik, the Brewers' VP for player personnel.Not a peep from the team. They've dragged their feet for so long that they might not be able to announce a new GM until the end of the World Series, due to Major League Baseball's rules against making news during the Fall Classic.
What awaits the new GM?
1) A new manager - A new GM will want their own manager not some leftover from the previous failed administration. Best to get cracking before all the good candidates are elsewhere.
2) Beltre - He's in the last year of his deal. He still has SOME value and a new GM may look to deal him for a few prospects.
3) Raul - Do you break the bank to try to resign him in the free agency market? I say no. I love Raul. He's a good player and a good guy, but he's 36 and this team needs to get younger.
4) Bedard - Do you offer him arbitration? I think yes. Sure, he was a total stinker last year, but he is due for free agency after next season, which means he will AT LEAST try.
That's only four major decisions, but please take your time, think it over, and let us know whenever the time is right. In the meantime, I will bleed to death from a thousand paper cuts.
UPDATE - The Associated Press is now reporting that the Mariners have selected Milwaukee Brewers executive Jack Zduriencik as their new general manager. Here's the write-up from when he was named Baseball America Executive of the Year in 2007.
3 comments:
I like that he won Executive of the Year. It's hard to argue with the young talent on the Brewers, but ideally you'd want someone younger than 57. Why is he getting his first shot at GM now?
Moisture Fetch - I never had you pegged as an ageist.
I'm just saying that anyone who I graduated from high school with is too old to be a first-time GM. What if he breaks his hip?
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