Jack Zduriencik’s goal as general manager of the Seattle Mariners has never changed.
Not through the team’s surprisingly pleasant 85-victory season in 2009, and not even through the turbulence of the 2010 season despite the Mariners’ 101 losses.
Zduriencik wants a competitive big-le
ague team now, but not at the expense of the future. Previous regimes had done that, gutting the minor league system of players in trades that didn’t pay off at the big-league level.
That’s never been Zduriencik’s plan in his two years as GM.
“A few years ago when I took this job
, one of things I said we would do, we would create a foundation that would sustain itself for years to come,” he said.
Considered one of baseball’s weakest minor-league systems before Zduriencik was hired, the Mariners are now rated about mid-pack among baseball’s 30 organizations in t
he strength of their system.
The Mariners’ nine minor-league affiliates had the most successful season in franchise history in 2009 with eight teams advancing to postseason play and all of them combining for 490 victories, more than any other American League organization.
More important, there are prospects they believe will become solid major leaguers, if not stars.
Second baseman Dustin Ackley is the closest to the big leagues, expected to be called up this year. Deeper in the system are shortstop Nick Franklin, third baseman Alex Liddi and a trio of power-hitting outfielders — Greg Halman, Carlos Peguero and Johermyn Chavez.
“I’m pretty happy with how things have gone,” Zduriencik said. “We’ve gotten a few accolades on the strength of our minor league system. With some of the lumps and bumps we’ve taken, we’ve continued to acquire talent and not take away from the big picture of the ballclub.”
Here’s a position-by-position look at the Mariners, from their starters at the major league level to those who give them depth in the minor leagues.
CATCHER
Major league starter
Miguel Olivo: After trying the double-edged sword of two young catchers last year with Rob Johnson and Adam Moore, the Mariners turned to the veteran Olivo this offseason. They signed him to a two-year, $7 million free agent contract, hoping he stabilizes a position that’s been in flux since Dan Wilson retired. Olivo brings a potentially better bat, but defensively he could be an adventure _ he set league highs in passed balls four of the past five years.
Major league backup
Adam Moore: The 26-year-old let his hitting struggles in previous big-league stints affect him mentally. However, Moore has been one of the Mariners’ best hitters at spring training and says he’s as confident as ever going into the regular season. Manager Eric Wedge said Moore also has made improvements defensively.
Coming soon
Nobody, and that became a sticky issue in spring training when Olivo went down March 5 because of a groin injury. Olivo began catching in games last week and appears to be OK. If not, then their next options would be Josh Bard or Chris Gimenez, two veterans invited to spring training as non-roster players.
Also in the system
Steven Baron, a 20-year-old who the Mariners selected in the supplemental round of the 2009 draft, hasn’t played beyond the Class A level (including 53 games last year with the Everett AquaSox) and remains years away from the majors.
Trevor Coleman, the Mariners’ ninth-round pick in 2009, batted .216 in 81 games at Class A High Desert.
Christian Carmichael, their 10th-round pick in 2010, caught 10 games and batted .100 at rookie-level Peoria.
FIRST BASE
Major league starter
Justin Smoak: The 24-year-old will get every chance this season to live up to his billing as the player the Mariners demanded from the Texas Rangers in the Cliff Lee trade last July 9. He’ll likely bat fifth in the order and the Mariners will need to be patient with a player who experienced the emotional extremes of the game last year. Smoak struggled terribly after the trade and, three weeks later, was optioned to Class AAA Tacoma. He loosened up and batted .271 with seven home runs in helping the Rainiers win the Pacific Coast League championship, and returned to the Mariners in late September to bat .340 with three homers and nine RBI in 14 games.
Also in the system
Rich Poythress, a second-round draft pick in 2009, won the Mariners’ minor league player of the year award in 2010 after he hit 31 home runs and led the California League with 130 RBI. He also opened a lot of eyes at spring training when he hit two home runs off Erik Bedard in a minor-league game this month. After a year in the California League, where lofty offensive numbers are common, Poythress will face a stiffer test this year in the Southern League at Class AA Jackson.
Mike Carp, a left-handed hitter with good power and plate discipline, has played 34 games with the Mariners the past two seasons, but never got consistent playing time or displayed what made him such a good hitter in the minors. He hit 29 home runs and drove in 76 runs last year at Class AAA Tacoma. However, with the Mariners committed to Smoak, Carp appears set for another year in the shadow of the big leagues.
Johan Limonta had 14 homers and 83 RBI at Class AA West Tennessee (now Jackson).
Ji-Man Choi won the Arizona League batting title with a .378 average at rookie-level Peoria.
SECOND BASE
Major league starter
Jack Wilson: He’s a natural shortstop who will start at second base for the first time in his career after the Mariners spent most of spring training alternating him and Brendan Ryan between the two positions. Many believe Wilson’s time at second could be temporary because (1) minor league prospect Dustin Ackley is nearly ready for the major leagues and (2) Wilson is possible trade material in the final year of a Mariners contract that’s paying him $5 million.
Coming soon
Dustin Ackley has made a nice conversion to second base after being drafted as an outfielder with the second overall pick in 2009. Ackley progressed quickly through the minor league system and finished last season at Class AAA Tacoma, where he batted .274 with five home runs and 23 RBI in 52 games. Most scouts say he’s ready for the big-leagues as a hitter but needs more time at second base. If the Mariners wait until June to call him up, they can delay his arbitration eligibility by a year.
Also in the system
Kyle Seager, the “other” player from North Carolina in the 2009 draft besides Ackley, won the California League batting title last year with a .345 average at Class A High Desert, hitting 14 homers and driving in 74 runs. The Mariners love his all-around game _ he had a .419 on-base percentage and .503 slugging percentage, stole 13 bases and has the quickness and range to play well on the infield. Like others who’ve starred at High Desert, Seager probably will move up to Class AA Jackson and face tougher competition in the Southern League.
THIRD BASE
Major league starter
Chone Figgins: He’s back in his natural position after a difficult 2010 season at second base with the Mariners. Figgins, long a catalyst atop the Angels’ batting order, struggled much of last season while hitting second behind Ichiro Suzuki. However, he batted .286 after the All-Star break (.235 before the break) and flirted with a .400 average much of spring training. Most of all, he seemed more comfortable batting behind Suzuki.
Coming soon
Matt Mangini starred last year at Class AAA Tacoma, with 18 homers, 63 RBI and a .313 average. His play in the field has been questioned to the point where some see his future at first base. However, a quad injury midway through last season limited his mobility and affected his footwork. The quad troubled Mangini last September in his callup to the Mariners, and he went to spring training feeling healthy and eager to show his true self. Instead, he hurt the quad again and played in only six exhibition games.
Also in the system
Alex Liddi could be at least a year away, but he opened a lot of eyes at spring training, especially with the bat when he hit grand slams in consecutive games. Liddi batted .281 with 15 homers and 92 RBI last year at Class AA West Tennessee. He’ll need to refine his play in the field, but Liddi has made nothing but a positive impression.
Mario Martinez hit 12 home runs and drove in 66 in 118 games last year at Class A Clinton. Baseball America named him the top defensive third baseman in the Midwest League.
SHORTSTOP
Major league starter
Brendan Ryan: Considered one of the National League’s best defensive shortstops during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals, Ryan came to the Mariners in an offseason trade and won the job over Jack Wilson. Ryan batted only .223 last year, saying he never felt comfortable after having wrist surgery just before the season. He continued to struggle with the bat at spring training, going into the final weekend of camp batting .200.
Coming soon
Nick Franklin may be a few years away, but there seems little doubt that he’ll be playing in the majors. The Mariners drafted him with the 27th overall pick in 2009, and last year he batted .281, hit 23 homers, drove in 65 runs and was named Class A Clinton’s top offensive player last year.
Also in the system
Carlos Triunfel was considered a can’t-miss prospect when the Mariners signed him as a teen-ager in 2006, but he has slid into the shadows of other prospects the past two years. A broken leg in 2009 has been the major factor. It cost him nearly all of that season and, last year in his first full season back from the injury, Triufel batted .257 with seven homers and 42 RBI at Class AA West Tennessee. The Mariners were extremely pleased with that, simply because he was able to play a full season after such a significant injury.
LEFT FIELD
Major league starter
Milton Bradley: The Mariners are hoping to ride Bradley while he’s hot with the bat and healthy in both mind and body. Troubled last season by a knee injury that required surgery and in January by his arrest for allegedly making threats against a woman, Bradley has been one of the Mariners’ top performers at spring training. When he’s on his game, Bradley can be an important presence in the Mariners’ batting order, where he’ll probably bat third.
Spring training began with Bradley and Michael Saunders competing for the left-field job. Saunders may wind up in center field because of the continued stomach problems that Franklin Gutierrez is facing. And, if something happens to Bradley, Saunders can easily slide into the left-field slot.
CENTER FIELD
Major league starter
Franklin Gutierrez: After a breakout season in 2009, Gutierrez won an American League Gold Glove but struggled through a 2010 season when he slumped at the plate (batting .245) and battled stomach issues that cost him playing time late in the season. Tests the past month revealed Gutierrez has a slow digestive system, and he missed games the past week because of a recurrence of the stomach problems. He may start the season on the disabled list.
RIGHT FIELD
Major league starter
Ichiro Suzuki: He goes into his 11th season with the Mariners having never changed from what makes him such an effective — and historic — leadoff hitter. Suzuki looks to produce his 11th straight 200-hit season, and with four more hits he’ll tie Edgar Martinez’s franchise record of 2,247 hits. He also will likely set records for hits in the first 11 seasons of a career (2,254 by Paul Waner from 1926-36) and most hits during any 11-season span (2,293). Another season with an average of .300 or better and 25 steals would be Suzuki’s 11th straight, tying him for second on baseball’s all-time list with Honus Wagner. Ty Cobb is the leader with 13 straight seasons.
Coming soon
The Mariners believe Greg Halman could have a breakout year after showing tremendous promise through his minor-league career with his powerful bat. He hit 33 home runs and drove in 80 last year at Class AAA Tacoma but he also struck out 169 times.
Matt Tuiasosopo, who played left field and first base at spring training, will be a phone call away if he doesn’t make the opening-day roster.
Other outfielders in the system
Carlos Peguero is the headliner of a group of big young outfielders. He’s 6-5, 247 and led the Southern League last year with 23 home runs at Class AA West Tennessee.
Johermyn Chavez is a 6-3, 220-pounder who hit 32 home runs and drove in 96 runs at Class A High Desert. The Mariners love not only his bat but also his defense, saying he has one of the strongest arms in the system. The Mariners got Chavez last winter from the Blue Jays in the Brandon Morrow trade.
Nate Tenbrink batted .377 in 44 games last year at Class A High Desert, then .274 at West Tennessee after a harrowing welcome to the Class AA level. He was hit in the head by a fastball in one of his first games after being promoted. Tenbrink also played 21 games at third base last year at High Desert.
Mike Wilson begins his 10th year with the Mariners after a decent 2010 season when he combined for 25 home runs and 78 RBI at West Tennessee and Tacoma.
Joe Dunigan, a fifth-round draft pick in 2007, struggled with a back injury last season, when he batted .210 but hit 10 homers at Class AA West Tennessee. Two years ago, he hit 30 home runs and drove in 104 at Class A High Desert.
Denny Almonte, the Mariners’ second-round draft pick in 2007, hit 22 home runs and drove in 76 runs at Class A High Desert.
James Jones, their fourth-round pick in 2009, had 12 homers and 65 RBI last year at Class A Clinton.
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