I posted at least a month back that I'd like to see Raul end his career here. He's likely make a great dh.

HOpefully with Bavasi gone (see Jose Guillen), we'll get it done.

Getting younger is not a bad thing for this organization. If we can sneak him through waivers, I would try to trade him this season (assuming we can get more in value than the two draft picks we would receive as compensation if Ibanez left via free agency).

It seems wasteful and disingenuous to spend top dollar for an aging DH (who could still be productive for a couple of years) for a team that will surely struggle during that time whether or not Ibanez is on the roster.

Ibanez has always been a "class" player. He's one of my favorite Mariners. I always thought he was slighted by Piniella as a Rookie by never getting enough playing time to prove what he could do. I believe he hit the first home run in newly constructed Safeco Field.

But, Ibanez cannot help the M's win next year. If he were dealt for two or three good prospects, that would help the M's more. That's what the A's would do (ie: Billy Beane). Painful as it is, it's better to deal someone a year or two early if you need to fill many holes, than wait a year two late (like Kenji Johjima).

The M's have no business carrying 3 catchers on a 25 man roster, unless they cut back to a 10 man pitching staff. Having 3 catchers just eliminates any defensive manuevers late in the game, pinch running, extra inning changes, pinch hitting, etc.

Maybe he can move into the front office or something, or, go back to Japan as I said before.

And speaking of Carlos Silva, he is not the greatest pitcher, but he's under contract. And while with the team, I would think the M's would like to help him improve or be the best he can. In last nights game, the damage was done early. However, he started to get into a groove, a rythm. He gave up no runs in the 4th, 5th and 6th inning. Why not help him build confidence by letting him go as long as he can, as long as he is effective? Maybe he goes the 7th and 8th as well. If he gives up a couple hits, or a walk, then take him out. But give him the opportunity to play while is performing well.

It's like they can't wait to get a pitcher out of there when he passes that 100 mark.

@ dave8557,

The Mariners are not going to "Deal" Raul. He is a free agent at the end of this season. We get nothing if he leaves, other than to not have to pay his salary.

Whether or not we sign him to a new contract needs to depend on how much money he is going to be worth in Free Agency. If we can get him for a reasonable price we should jump at that. There are only 9 positions to play in any given name. Raul is a decent left fielder, and a great hitter. Putting someone 'younger' in his place is not going to help the team win.

The only reason *not* to sign him is because you either want to spend that money on a different player at a different position, and you think you can improve over all doing so.

Obviously all we can do is make him a reasonable offer. I have doubts about him acceptin any deal to come back to Seattle. With all of the chaos in the organization, not knowing who is going to be GM, Manager, and even some questions about ownership, combined with the existing messes that the previous GM left behin, and the fact that his family, including school aged kids live in Florida, I think he's going to want to find a team closer to home. He does not have a permanent residence in Seattle.

Also, the 3 catcher situation is not permanent. Joh needs to get his act together or he's going to end up playing as Clement's backup next season. The M's have Rob Johnson in Tacoma who is coming back from shoulder surgery. The writing is on the wall for Jaime Burke. I don't think he has a future on the M's major league roster after this season. Next year will be Johjima, and either Clement if he doesn't totally blow up the remainder of this season, or Rob Johnson.

My big questions for next year are who is going to play Center Field, First Base, and the way things are going with our middle infielders, I wouldn't be surprised to see some change there.

We have a *lot* of holes to fill. We can't fill all of them with 'prospects'. We have to acquire some power at the traditional positions (1B and LF), assuming we keep Beltre at 3B, and Ichiro stays in RF, we need a hard hitting CF and 1B or we are not going to be any better next year than we are this year offensively.

Jim_H,

I disagree with you a little bit.

About Ibanez, the Mariners will get two draft picks (at the end of the 1st round) if he does leave via free agency at the end of the year since he is considered an A level free agent. If he is able to pass through waivers, the Mariners would be able to deal him to another team (by the end of August) for a couple of prospects. (One hopes that those players would be better than the draft picks that the Ms would receive just by waiting for him to leave.)

Overall, I think that this team does need to get younger and hungrier. Ibanez is an above average hitter but will likely not be able to help this team once it is ready to truly compete again. The same thing applies to Beltre and Ichiro.

You're right about Burke being gone next year. Nice guy, good backup, but older and with no hope of ever becoming the starter. In addition we have three young catchers in the organization that will be ready to play soon (Clement, Johnson, and 1st round pick Adam Moore in AA). My guess is that it will be Clement and Johnson next year, with Johjima DHing and maybe playing some first base while serving as the 3rd catcher. Maybe we'll all be surprised and ownership will agree to eat his contract but I doubt it.

My main disagreement with you is that I do believe we have to fill many of those holes that you mention (CF, 1B, LF, 3B) with prospects. We could get some of those pieces by trading veterans (overpriced in some cases) on the downside of their career (Beltre, Ichiro, Ichiro) or by trading positions where we are a bit overstocked for the near future (ie. there are three young, talented catcher in the organization). In addition there are a few prospects in the minor leagues that will be ready in the next 1-3 years (Tuiasassopo at 3B is starting to show that he can hit AAA pitching but is at least a year out, Truienfel in A ball and others at High Desert from what I hear).

This team will probably get worse before it gets better. In the end, if management and fans are patient we will be better for it.

Hey Wabubba and Jim H, good comments. I have to side with Wabubba though. The organization has to be built with prospects. The more you get, the better the odds of hitting on one or two. Ibanez will be 38 next year. Can he still produce at the current pace? It would have been best if he was dealt back in May when it was apparant the team wasn't going anywhere. You can't tell me there are several teams in the pennant race who wouldn't love to have his bat down the stretch. But now its probably too late.

I also agree with Wabbuba about Ichiro. He has value now. He's a glorified singles hitter now. He was very good for a five year stretch. And he may be productive for a couple more years. But will he help this team win next year as opposed to getting three or four good prospects for him?

And your right about Burke. He's as good as gone. However I disagree with your comment that this is a temporary situation. In the context of a baseball season, a couple weeks would be temporary. But the M's have had 3 catchers for more than half the season. That is not temporary. That is a logjam that needs clearing, or start reducing the pitching staff size.

In my mind the keepers on this current team are: Felix Hernandez, Brandon Morrow, Mark Lowe, JJ Putz, RR Smith, Jeff Clement, Balentine, and LaHair. Players on the fence are Ichiro, Washburn, Lopez, Beltre, and Bettencourt. And I'm assuming Ibanez won't be back. The rest of the roster is fodder.

Maybe the three of us should apply for the GM job when the season is over.

Leave raul alone,let him play as long as he can WITH THE MARINERS...he keeps all the players motivated and he is AWESOME!!!!! As for JOHJAMA PA LEEEES !!!!!!! And Silva,who ever said he was a great pitcher ,well they were blind sided by his past performances somewhere else.Cause he is not that great to me.I don't paticularly care for a lot of change,if it ain't broke don't fix it.Raul will be fine.I miss Sexon.And Beltre,Lopez and Betancourt need to stay right where they are ...with the mariners.I like the young catcher.He's good and can be great one day.Our pitching staff needs to be shook up a bit.