MLB Preview: Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners had a surprising season last year as they were in the heat of the Al West, and Wild Card race up until the final two weeks of the season. The Mariners benefited from a lot of luck last year as they were outscored by their opponents.

Although luck did play a role in their success last season, the Mariners bullpen also contributed to the club winning more games than their run differential would otherwise indicate. JJ Putz emerged as one of the games best closers as he posted a 1.38 ERA and saved 40 games for the Mariners last season.

Now it's time to answer three questions about the 2008 Seattle Mariners.

(1) Are the Mariners officially no longer a small market team?

The Seattle Mariners have long been considered a small market team, but that has changed in recent seasons as they have made a splash in the free agent market. In recent years they have signed Richie Sexson, Adrian Beltre, and Jose Guillen.

Despite those signings the Mariners still have found themselves in the shadows of the Los Angeles Angels and the Oakland A's in recent years. In fact the signing of Sexson has turned out to be a complete disaster, as the former slugger has been hurt, and his bat speed has slowed significiantly during the past two seasons.

The Mariners made headlines this off-season by signing pitcher Carlos Silva from the Minnesota Twins to a 4 year 48 million dollar contract. Silva is really no more than an average pitcher, but this winter there were very few pitchers available in the open market. Silva cashed in on this, and the Mariners are thus stuck paying an average pitcher to a contract that resembles money given to an ace.

Silva will still provide the club much needed stability in the rotation as he has remained injury free for the majority of his career and has logged at least 180 innings during his last three seasons with the Minnesota Twins. The ability to take the mound on a consistent basis has value in itself, and if Silva continues to throw nearly 200 innings per season the contract may turn out to be a bargain as pitching contracts continue to escalate on a yearly basis.

(2) Did the Mariners give up too much to acquire Erik Bedard?

GM Bill Bavasi wanted to put the Mariners in the playoffs, and he felt by acquiring Erik Bedard the team would have enough talent to put them in the playoffs for the first time since 2001. It's not that Bavasi was wrong, but he may have misjudged how close the Mariners were to the Angels last season.

The Mariners lineup still has many questionmarks, and despite having the highest batting average in the league, the team was only 7th in the league in runs scored. The acquisition of Bedard gives the Mariners a dynamic duo at the top of the rotation along with Felix Hernandez. Bedard was a Cy Young candidate before missing the last month and a half of the season with the Orioles.

Bedard and Hernandez will need to stay healthy for the Mariners to have any chance at contending this season. Both pitchers have yet to pitch 200 innings during their brief careers, which always signals a red flag in any organization. If the two pitchers can stay healthy there is no question the Mariners will at least be within striking distance of the Angels this season.

The Angels no longer are as invincible as they once were as the team has lost two fifths of their starting rotation due to injuries for a significiant period of time.

In order to acquire a pitcher with Bedard's talent, the Mariners had to give up something in return. The Mariners didn't just give up anything, they gave up two of their best prospects, and two players with All Star calibar potential. Adam Jones came up late last season for the Mariners, and showed Mariners fans a glimpse of his potential. Jones will be the starting centerfielder for the Orioles this season, and is being discussed as a potential rookie of the year candidate.

The Orioles also received Chris Tillman, whom the Mariners selected two seasons ago and may join the big leagues as soon as this season. In order for the Bedard trade to be judged as a success the Mariners will have to make the playoffs within the next two seasons, as Bedard will likely require a significiant increase in pay when his contract runs out after the 2009 season.

(3) Will the Mariners see an increase in offensive productivity this season?

In order for the team to win this season they will need players like Richie Sexon and Raul Ibanez to have rebound seasons. Sexson saw his batting average decrease by nearly 60 points last season, and his home run total was nearly cut in half. Ibanez who is 36 has become a liabilty defensively, and last year showed a slight sign of losing production at the plate. Ibanez saw his home run total decrease from 33 to 21, and it's highly unlikely he will see his HR total approach 30 this season.

Anytime you are using a former second baseman as a DH your lineup is in need of help, and that's the situation the Mariners find themselves in this season. Vidro had a productive season last year at the plate, as he posted an OBP of 381. The problem for Vidro and the Mariners is that he posted only 6 homeruns, and has never been much of a power hitter. If Vidro posted those numbers as a 2b, then he would be in All Star discussions, but after numerous knee injuries, Vidro just isn't able to play in the field at an acceptable level.

The Mariners in all likelihood will find themselves needing some help from outside the organization at some point this season. Unfortunately after the Erik Bedard trade, they don't have enough prospects to make that trade that could put them over the top this year. The Mariners best chance at contending may lie in the ability of the Angels pitchers to stay healthy, as they will need the Angels to come back to the pack if they are going to have any chance at contending this season