Cliff Lee is a literal ace for the Seattle Mariners. Lee takes the mound every five days and opposing hitters take the night off. In 13 starts this season Lee has compiled an 8-3 record with a 2.34 ERA and a ridiculous .95 WHIP. Walking is not an option for hitters facing Lee which is a real problem for them when you consider his .231 batting average against. Makes you wonder why batters even try. He has issued six free passes compared to 89 strikeouts. A pace so torrid that if maintained would crush the all-time record. Ok, ok. You get it, Cliff Lee is a cyborg brought to this earth to obliterate hitter's dreams.
As the July 31st trading deadline approaches, Mariner's GM Jack Zduriencik is holding onto his ace-in-the-hole until the right offer comes calling. Jack Z has the most coveted free agent to be in Lee and must treat incoming trade offers as such. The Mariners must receive at least one MLB ready hitter and a Triple-A star to come away a winner, a foreign feeling to Seattle these days. There are many teams in playoff contention that know if they added a starting pitcher of Lee's caliber it would make their opponents shiver. Potential trading partners with strong farm systems include the Twins, Rangers, Mets, Reds, Rockies and Dodgers who all either lead their division or are in close striking distance of first place as the 2010 season hits the halfway point next week.
Zduriencik has done very well in his first two seasons as Mariners GM. The optimism he built over that time was palpable leading into this season. Success deprived Mariner fans were thirsty for the optimistic Kool-Aid that Zduriencik was serving up after Seattle wallowed through the 2000's with uninspired baseball and badly judged talent during the Bill Bavasi Era. From a talent and payroll perspective I would venture that he single-handedly set back the organization about five years. Anyone replacing that clown would be applauded but thankfully for the Mariners and their fans, Zduriencik is more than a replacement, he's the savior, he's 'Trader Jack'.
The 'Trader Jack' nickname was earned as he essentially swapped inconsistent, flamethrower reliever J.J. Putz for centerfielder Franklin Gutierrez and first baseman Mike Carp. The trade aftermath 18 months later leaves M's pitchers confident and fans smiling. Gutierrez is rated by expert baseball number crunchers as the best defensive centerfielder in baseball which is a pitchers dream when you throw in his partner in crime: the incomparable nine-time Gold Glove winner, Ichiro. Carp is currently developing at Triple-A and is the future at first base while placeholders Russell Branyan and Casey Kotchman fill in nicely till Carp is ready. Putz on the other hand finished 2009 surrendering 17 runs in 29 innings and then the Mets promptly handed him his pink slip. He of course was the mastermind behind acquiring Cliff Lee when he sent the Philadelphia Phillies three prospects: Phillippe Aumont (RHP), Tyson Gillies (OF) and JC Ramirez (RHP). That stab at greatness (Lee) is exactly why the Mariners future is so bright even though the move cleared out some nice talent from their farm system. Plenty of promising talent like Lee's future replacement Luke French, who is dominating Triple-A with 10 wins and a 2.69 ERA, still remains.
In an unexpected lost season, the Mariners need to finish strong, not in the standings but on paper. Whatever Jack Z grabs in the pending blockbuster trade needs to position the team for greatness in 2011. Seattle needs to rebound strong with at least 85 wins next season. Period. The Mariners are sitting at the poker table with an ace in the pocket of a man that knows how to deal.
I call.
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