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I have NO IDEA about such things. I heard, for instance, that if we don't sign Fielder, we will have 5 picks among the first 40+ picks, but at least 4 picks if we do sign him, unless I'm mistaken.

If we pick smart, what are our chances of loading up on some talent next draft?

if we don't sign fields, we get an added pick one slot after where we fields picked last year.

i don't have a ton of knowledge about the upcoming draft class, but let's look at it this way: would you rather have seattle cave and throw $2 milli at a college closer picked by a legendary bumblef**k of a GM who reached to fill a need for an supposedly mlb ready player in order to save his job, or let a GM with a good track record w/r/t the draft and an army of progressive-minded baseball minds take a mulligan and draft what makes sense for the team?

zdureinceck has a trimmed payroll, seems to see closers as expendible/fungible assets, a knowledge of draft pick importance, and probably a desire to put his stamp on team through the draft just as he did in milwaukee.

i read the recent about the m's continuing to sign fields, and see similarities to articles written about the m's 'pursuing' ibanez [i.e. we appreciate what he's done and won't publicly disrespect or irritate his fans...but we're saving money and taking that comp pick] and griffey [i.e. we appreciate his local icon status but he's the lowest of priorities] as little more than being diplomatic and keeping the lines of communications open w/ agents.

It's probably only four or five players deep with legitimate impact talent, Strasburg obviously leading the way. If Fields were to re-enter the draft this year, he'd probably go no later than seventh or eighth overall, FWIW.

2009 is going to be a very weak draft class unless some of the borderline HS talent put up monstrous seasons.

Basketball Jesus wrote:It's probably only four or five players deep with legitimate impact talent, Strasburg obviously leading the way. If Fields were to re-enter the draft this year, he'd probably go no later than seventh or eighth overall, FWIW.

2009 is going to be a very weak draft class unless some of the borderline HS talent put up monstrous seasons.

Thanks. Total mystery to me. I don't read much of the secondary baseball resources like I used to.

I guess we should sign Fields. LOL

I hated the pick at the time (still do) but, in light of the Putz trade, this team could use a shutdown late-inning reliever. Fields is probably the cheapest way of going about that, save for throwing a bunch of journeymen against the wall, hoping one of them sticks.

Although I wouldn’t be too bummed if he doesn’t sign…there are a couple of very intriguing players that could fall into the early 20s.

Basketball Jesus wrote:I hated the pick at the time (still do) but, in light of the Putz trade, this team could use a shutdown late-inning reliever. Fields is probably the cheapest way of going about that, save for throwing a bunch of journeymen against the wall, hoping one of them sticks.

Although I wouldn’t be too bummed if he doesn’t sign…there are a couple of very intriguing players that could fall into the early 20s.

So who's the best bat the Mariners can draft? Any multi-toolers with a big bat at the #2 spot that should be raising eyebrows?

Bulltalk wrote:

Basketball Jesus wrote:I hated the pick at the time (still do) but, in light of the Putz trade, this team could use a shutdown late-inning reliever. Fields is probably the cheapest way of going about that, save for throwing a bunch of journeymen against the wall, hoping one of them sticks.

Although I wouldn’t be too bummed if he doesn’t sign…there are a couple of very intriguing players that could fall into the early 20s.

So who's the best bat the Mariners can draft? Any multi-toolers with a big bat at the #2 spot that should be raising eyebrows?

Grant Green, SS, USC

However, don't expect the Mariners to draft him if they don't feel he is BPA.

Grant Green would probably be the BPA, unless the Nats do something stupid like pass on Strasburg because of the price.

I've heard that Alex White has established himself as the #2 prospect in the draft.

BA’s really high on White but…I dunno. I think I’d prefer Green over him. His bat is utterly amazing and he might be able to stick at short. Even if he doesn’t, he has the bat to enable a move to third.

White just seems like your run-of-the-mill dominant pitcher that pops up in almost every draft.

Basketball Jesus wrote:BA’s really high on White but…I dunno. I think I’d prefer Green over him. His bat is utterly amazing and he might be able to stick at short. Even if he doesn’t, he has the bat to enable a move to third.

White just seems like your run-of-the-mill dominant pitcher that pops up in almost every draft.

You mean as in Ryan Anderson? I wonder what he's up to now?

Thanks for the names. I'll hit Google now. I wonder if Aumonte will be ready to compete for a spot in the spring of 2010? Probably not. I'd love to be surprised, though.

It would be nice if we could draft a strong potential 3rd hitter for somewhere down the line at the #2 spot. At least something to feasibly hope for in those terms.

A possible reason for skepticism about Strasberg?

http://www.drivelinemechanics.com/2008/ ... en-strasbu

http://baseball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ ... ound_pick/

Awwww, no! Man, I would prefer a GMZ replacement pick over Fields. There goes one of the pre-2nd round picks we were gonna get.

I dunno, from what I've heard about the late first-round prospects in this year's drafts, I think I'd just as soon have Fields. For all the talk about the lack of quality arms for the bullpen (as opposed to quantity, which they have), by 2010 they can have a pretty promising 1-2 punch in Fields and Shawn Kelley.