Analyzing Bill Bavasi's Moves

There has been much talk about Bill Bavasi and whether he should get a contract extension. It has been discussed on many blogs and websites including Locked on Sports and USS Mariner. I want to give my take and break down Bavasi’s major moves since he took over as GM on November 7, 2003. Only free agent signings and trades will be discussed. Promotions from within the organization and free-agents allowed to leave will be left out of the discussion because both are influenced heavily by outside elements.

2004 Season –
Signed: Scott Spiezio, Rich Aurilia, Raul Ibanez, Eddie Guardado

Traded:
At Trading Deadline (TD), traded Freddy Garcia and Ben Davis to White Sox for Miguel Olivo, Jeremy Reed, and Mike Morse.

The Speizio and Aurilia moves were horrible. They were suspect from the beginning with Aurilia coming over from the National League and Speizio not the consistent bat and glove you would like at 3rd base. Both were eventually cut, Aurilia in 2004 and Speizio after an injury-plagued start to 2005.

Raul Ibanez was a nice addition. At the time of the deal I was not sold on the move. He had had success in KC, but I viewed him as a 1-year wonder that wasn’t ever going to put the numbers he did in 2003 again. Thankfully I was wrong and he has been a solid contributor since his arrival. Guardado was supposed to be the setup guy for Kazuhiro Sasaki until Sasaki abruptly retired before the season. Eddie was a good closer until his injury and demise in 2006.

Again, at the time I did not like the Garcia trade. I believed the Mariners could have resigned him (he signed a 3-yr. extension with Chicago within 2 weeks of being traded) but decided that he was not a part of their future. The deal looked decent at the time as Reed was believed to be the centerfielder of the future and Olivo a solid catching prospect. Unfortunately, both never materialized as Olivo was traded and Reed is currently rotting away in Tacoma.

Overall, 2004 was not a good start to the Bill Bavasi era. He traded away the team’s #1 starter for essentially nothing and signed two position players that were never comfortable hitting at Safeco Field. Ibanez was a nice addition and prevented this offseason from being a total waste.

2005 Season –
Signed: Adrian Beltre, Richie Sexson

These two signing were a huge move by Bavasi and the Mariners. They realized that the fans would not be happy with another losing season and that in order to get back to the top they would have to make a big free agent splash. The thought was right and I was glad to see them spending money, but the two moves haven’t lead to any playoff berths for the M’s. I liked both moves at the time and, in fact, I still like them. This may not be the view of most Mariner fans but I think they have been good additions.

Beltre’s defense is phenomenal and his bat is starting to heat up. Sexson has produced solid hitting numbers the first two years, 2005: .263 average, 39 HR, 121 RBI; 2006: .264 average, 34 HR, 107 RBI. Baseball Reference: Richie Sexson 2007 has been a struggle, but you can only hope that his hot bat of the last week will stay hot the rest of the season.

Overall, I think two solid moves by Bavasi. He has turned the corner from his horrible start in 2004.

2006 Season –
Signed: Kenji Johjima, Jarrod Washburn, Carl Everett, Matt Lawton

Traded: TD trade of Shin-Soo Choo for Ben Broussard
August trade of Jamie Moyer to Philadelphia for 2 minor leaguers.

2006 was a split decision for Bavasi in free agent signings. Everett and Lawton were so bad and desperate that I don’t even want to talk about them. All I will say is that the moves looked like the moves of someone doing anything to save his job. Signing Johjima and Washburn were nice additions. I think he over paid for Washburn, but he is a solid #3 and think about where the M’s would be without him this year. Johjima is a great signing. After a 2005 season that saw 6 catchers behind the plate, Kenji has been a rock back there ever since. I believe that he may also be the DH of the future because he is a decent hitter and the M’s have a couple young catching prospects in the minor leagues.

Getting Ben Broussard was a great deal. Choo had no position with the team and Broussard is a great bat off the bench and can play 1st or the outfield. Moyer was not part of the team’s future and deserved the chance to play with a contender. The M’s gave him that opportunity although they didn’t really get anything in return.

Overall, I would say that 2006 was another building block for 2007. The bad moves of Everett and Lawton did not cost the team too much as both were gone by the end of the season. Washburn, Johjima, and Broussard are all contributing members to the 2007 team that is competing for a playoff spot.

2007 Season –
Signed: Jose Guillen, Miguel Batista, Jeff Weaver

Traded: Rafael Soriano to Atlanta for Horacio Ramirez
Emilo Fruto and Chris Snelling to Washington for Jose Vidro

2007 was where Bavasi made his best moves. I was very suspect of Jose Guillen when the M’s signed him. I knew his past clubhouse and managerial problems and didn’t think that’s what the team needed. I was wrong and he has been the most consistent bat in the middle of the lineup. I was actually more excited about the Jose Vidro trade. I was not a big fan of Snelling simply for the fact that he was always injured. Vidro had been an All-Star 2nd baseman and I believed he would have a high OBP. Vidro has had an up-and-down year, but he’s hitting an upswing at the right time. With Ibanez, Ichiro, Gullien, and Jones there was not a spot for Snelling in the OF anyway.

Batista and Weaver looked like quality major league starters that weren’t going to blow you away, but also weren’t going to cost you games either. Other then Weaver’s start to the year both have been just that. Allowing Pinero and Meche to leave via free agency, a smart move, Bavasi needed to find 2 starters to replace them. He did a good job getting these two. The problem with the starting five is Ramirez. The guy is a joke who can’t win on the road. I know Soriano isn’t having an outstanding year, Baseball Reference: Rafael Soriano but Ramirez is just plain bad. He may be the worst move Bavasi has made and he could cost the M’s a playoff berth.

Overall for 2007 I give Bavasi a B+. He picked up 2 quality starters and 2 bats that are contributing in the everyday lineup. The only things holding him back from getting an A is the Ramirez deal and not making a deadline deal to get a 5th starter.

As a sidenote: Another thing Bavasi did this year that was crucial was locking up Ichiro, Lopez, and Betancourt to long-term deals. Obviously, Ichiro’s is the biggest but getting the middle of your infield taken care shows you are committed to your players.

Would I give Bill Bavasi a contract extension? Yes, I would. He has proven that he can effectively take an aging, declining club, add a few free agents, develop the farm system and make key trades to get this team back in the playoff talk. There is no reason to abandon ship now. Give him an opportunity to see this thing out, make some more additions this offseason and I fully expect the M’s to be tied or in 1st place for all of 2008.