Making Sense of the DiPotization of the Mariners Thus Far (12/02/15)

With the trade of Mark Trumbo and C.J. Riefenhauser for Steve Clevenger and the signing of Norichika Aoki, the Mariners’ current-state is as follows:

	Vs. R	Career wRC+ vs R			Vs. L	Career wRC+ vs L
RF	Norichika Aoki	103		RF	Norichika Aoki	118
LF	Seth Smith	122		LF	Franklin Gutierrez	126
2B	Robinson Cano	135		2B	Robinson Cano	109
DH	Nelson Cruz	117		DH	Nelson Cruz	143
3B	Kyle Seager	124		3B	Kyle Seager	99
Ca	Chris Ianetta	92		1B	Jesus Montero	115
1B				Ca	Chris Ianetta	132
SS	Ketel Marte			SS	Ketel Marte
CF	Leonys Martin	89		CF	Leonys Martin	53
2Ca	Steve Clevenger			2Ca	Steve Clevenger
Utl	Chris Taylor			Utl
1B	Jesus Montero	77		COF	Seth Smith	62
LF	Franklin Guitierrez	79		Utl	Chris Taylor

Chris Taylor, Ketel Marte, and Steve Clevenger, do not have sufficient track record to use historical precedent as a projection for 2016. What we do have…appears to be an as-yet incomplete picture.

34 year old Nori Aoki makes an alright RF on a 1-year deal. Has historically played better in RF, where he’ll play this year, than CF or LF but Safeco’s RF isn’t like most other ballparks’ RF. His defense is a solid TBD but, in all likelihood, probably passible and likely an improvement on Cruz’ underrated RF defense.

The Smith/Gutierrez platoon looks pretty slick.

Cano, Cruz, and Seager at the heart of the order is pretty nice.

Ianetta really does lengthen the lineup quite nicely. Clevenger is a much needed backup and fills a huge hole. I like Sugar Jesus and all but Sucre was simply not up to snuff.

Marte’s a big unknown. Taylor as a stop-loss at SS isn’t really ideal because you don’t have a dependable projection for him (kinda the purpose of a stop-loss). Taylor as a UTL can be quite nice indeed.

With Morrison and Trumbo jettisoned, that leaves Montero as one half of a 1B platoon. There is no other player on the 25-man roster that can handle the other end of that platoon. Kivlehan hasn’t shown that much of a split in the minors and he doesn’t have the BB:K ratio that DiPoto is looking for. Sardinas? No. Taylor? Not likely? …Cano? dot dot dot

Vs. L CF – Leonys Martin looks set up to fail against lefthanders from the get-go. Considering he’s also coming off of a down year at the plate, DiPoto must have alternate plans in place in order to field a viable team. As such, because both Gutierrez and Aoki can play CF in a pinch, expect DiPoto to acquire any ol’ outfielder who can hit lefties. Diagramed:

Vs. L – Martin -> Bench, Guti -> CF, Faceless OF w/ good split vs. L -> LF

                                         Aoki -> CF, Cruz -> RF, Faceless OF w/ good split vs. L -> DH

Zobrist would be great. Ryan Raburn would work out okay. 

You want to really, shake things up, watch the Mariners spend dat RSN money on Jason Heyward or trade for Jose Bautista or something crazy.

Bottom line: DiPoto's FAR from done.