What the off season looks like for the Mariners

Well, technically baseball season isn't over until the final out of this years World Series and a champ is crowned, but for the Mariners the season is over and the 2014 season is already in progress. The Mariners first thing on their 2014 season is to hire a new manager, since Erik Wedge decided to leave. Now what else should the Mariners do besides sign a new manager? Oh yeah that's right two to four new players. Ken Rosenthal predicted that Jacoby Ellsbury will sign with the Mariners in the 2014 off season but here's the thing.......will Chuck and Howard tell Jack Z to spend the money for a player like him? We all know how that might turn out.

Lets go ahead and look at some of the options the Mariners have at a few positions shall we? I'll start off with the catcher position because lets face it Mike Zunino is not going to start every game and he'll need someone to back him up. The 2013 season saw the Mariners use 7 different catchers! Including the useless Greg Blanco. So, who would be a good option for back for the M's next year? Me I think Jesus Sucre has a good shot at it but the Mariners should look at Dioner Navarro, Kurt Suzuki, and Geovony Soto a look as suitable backups. All three have an average age of 30 and all are power and average hitters that can both get hits and drive in runs if needed and hit a home run or ten.

Since Kendrys Morales decided to go into the free agency the Mariners need to take a look at some of these guys at first base. James Loney, Justin Morneau, and Casey Kotchman are all great candidates for both a 1B/DH and all have the ability to hit the ball a long ways and get normal hits. Now, who should the Mariners sign to back up our infield to give someone a day off? Well we have Dustin Ackley to give Nick Franklin a day off but what about Brad Miller and Kyle Seager? Well, Michael Young and Jhonny Peralta are on the market and would make great day off/pinch hitter players. 

Now, with outfielders its a different story cause we have Ackley, Abraham Almonte, and Michael Saunders (Guti is unknown right now) so here's the question; Do the Mariners need a 5th outfielder and who will that 5th outfielder be? 

Well there are some good players out there for sale. There's Chris Young, Rick Ankiel, and Shin-Soo Choo that could be both an excellent 4th and 5th outfielder. Young though I hope wont become a Mariner only because of the way he strikes out. But again all of these players would be great pickups for the team as long as the front office is willing to spend the money. Now finally lets talk pitchers. With Jason Vargas, Tim Lincecum, and John Lester on the market I really think the M's should make the smart investment and sign one of these pitchers to help out Felix, Hisashi, Taijuan, and James in the starting rotation. Since two of the starters are lefties I would think the M's would sign one of the lefties, they might even bring back Vargas who if you remember was a big fan favorite and had his best season before he was traded in the 2013 off season. 

So all of this that I have just got done writing, is everything the Mariners could use in 2014 for a chance at their first playoff appearance in 13 years. But again the question is that will the front office finally spend the money to do that, and if I know the way Howard and Chuch think.........no.