Team Snapshot - Seattle Mariners

I will go out on a limb and say that Seattle will do better next year than this past season's 67-95 record. There I said it!

The team shed under-performing Richie Sexson last season and this off-season they shed often injured closer JJ Putz and never-lived-up-to-expectations Jeremy Reed. They also lost Raul Ibanez who signed a 3-year $30 million deal with the Phillies.

C - Jeff Clement is the better option but Kenji Johjima presents unique issues in marketing (the Mariners have a very large Japanese following not to mention their Japanese ownership). Besides - the Mariners are paying Johjima too much not to play him (3-years $24 million). The King Solomon-like solution may be to move Clement to 1st base.

1st - Russell Branyan is not even a short-term solution never mind long term. My guess is that either Jeff Clement is moved to 1st or a free agent is signed. Adam Dunn could be a good fit here. Dunn could play some 1st, some OF and some DH while Clement could split his time between C and 1st.

2nd - Jose Lopez should be entrenched here. Carlos Triunfel is the Mariners top prospect and will probably take over 2nd in a couple of years.

SS - Yunieski Betancourt is the answer here but an upgrade for offense could go a long way in helping the team win more games.

3rd - Although there have been some trade rumors - I'd look for Adrian Beltre to stay with the M's and put up some good numbers in his free agent year (just like he did with the Dodgers). Beltre still has a great glove and I'd look for a 25 HR / 100 RBI season. Beltre had recent surgery on his thumb and if he stays healthy - then I see him being productive.

RF - Ichiro!

CF - Franklin Gutierrez should get the starting job after being traded for from the Indians. Prospect Greg Halman could be a mid-season option if he performs well early at AA or AAA. Endy Chavez is the wild card here but I expect him to be no better than a 4th outfielder.

LF - Here's the big hole in the Mariner's line-up. Losing Raul Ibanez hurts and that's why Adam Dunn would make good sense as a free agent signing. A trade for Yankee's Hideki Matsui would also work very well both on the field and off for PR purposes. Wladimir Balentien right now is the starting LF and he could be a star in the making but that's what was being said about Jeremy Reed not too long ago.

Starting Pitching - The team doctor and the trainer may be the co-MVP's for the Mariners if they can keep the pitching staff healthy. King Felix Hernandez, Eric Bedard, and Jarrod Washburn should be a solid 1-2-3 IF they can all stay healthy (Washburn solid in the innings eating sense only). The wild card here is Brandon Morrow who could be a number 2 starter or who could be a closer. If he is put into the rotation and is successful then the Mariners could challenge for the AL West (assuming they get some offensive production out of LF - literally and figuratively). The 5th starter could be Aaron Heilman, Carlos Sliver or a player to be named later. If the M's were to go after a Derek Lowe then they really could propel themselves into the AL West mix.

Bullpen - Who will be the closer for the M's? Tyler Walker looks like the front-runner. Brandon Morrow or Aaron Heilman are also options. The Mariners actually have a pretty full bullpen and they could send one or two relievers out for a trade (the Yankees can always use bullpen depth and Hideki Matsui would look good in the OF/DH role for the M's).

The M's lost over $18 million in salary between Raul Ibanez, JJ Putz and Jose Vidro. Some of that money will be lost in arbitration to salary increases to Felix Hernandez and Eric Bedard. There should be plenty left over for at least one major free agent signing such as Adam Dunn, Derek Lowe or a Bobby Abreu. The M's really should spend this money seeing how they already have the salary savings from jettisoning Richie Sexson.