(Not So Sub-) Mariners

The Seattle Mariners are now two seasons removed from the 61-101 debacle of 2008. 2009 looked a lot prettier in a multitude of ways. It was the first year of service from General Manager Jack Zduriencik, who managed to cut payroll from almost $118 million, down to a $99 million. These are still ridiculous paychecks, but cutting that much fat is a pretty great start from a new GM. Not only that, but the Mariners had some big contracts come off the books this off-season, including Adrian Beltre, Erik Bedard, Miguel Batista, and Kenji Johjima. Which means that coming into 2010, the M's have lots of money to play with. They have already made a splash in the free-agent market signing Chone Figgins, and have made some key trades dating back to late last season, when they picked up Jack Wilson, and Bill Hall, as well as getting Cliff Lee just a week ago from the Phillies. Neither Wilson nor Hall are great bats, but they do provide solid defense to the left side of the infield. Hall will most likely serve a utility role anyway if Figgins ends up the everyday third-base man.
The M's have also managed to dump a terrible contract in Carlos Silva for a slightly better bad contract with Milton Bradley, who they got from the Chicago Cubs just a few days ago. Bradley, at least has an upside with his potentially good average, and awesome OBP, while Silva has only managed to be bad, or hurt while with Seattle. Maybe the change of scenery will do both players some good.
Now, the Mariners do still have some holes, according to a Mike Axisa article I read on www.baseball-reference.com. First base probably being the biggest hole, in my opinion. There is some talk of second-base man Jose Lopez moving over to first, but that doesn't really address the issue properly. There are players like Xavier Nady, who can play outfield and first-base, which would suit their needs, but might not be ideal. Still, he'll probably come fairly cheap, so it couldn't hurt to pick him up. Nick Johnson was a target as well until the Yanks took him off the market.
But since the M's have money to spend, why not do it right and pick up a power first-base man. Ken Griffey Jr. is pretty much the steady DH, but his power is waning, and Bradley's power production is not exactly stellar. So why don't the M's take a chance on Carlos Delgado, a good first-base defender, and a great potential home-run supplier. True, he's coming off a season cut short by injury, but he's now fully healed and rested, and it couldn't hurt to take a gamble on him for say, two years/$15 million. Maybe I'm off on the numbers, but he fits what they need.
They need some bullpen too, and maybe another catcher, but otherwise the Mariners are in great shape, compared to the last few years. If they can get some steady pitching behind aces Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee, then they should be one of the better, if not best rotations in the American League. Kudos to a GM who knows what he's doing. The Mariners have the potential to go very far next year, so keep them on your radar.