Episode 93: Is Blake Snell Still Possible For The Mariners?

[00:00:00] Welcome to episode number 93 of the Marine Layer podcast.

[00:00:05] The Blake Snell rumors have resurfaced.

[00:00:07] Do the Mariners actually have a chance at them?

[00:00:09] We'll see what they would have to do

[00:00:11] to actually make a deal with Blake Snell happen.

[00:00:14] We'll close out the show with Speak Your Mind.

[00:00:17] This show's brought to you by our friends

[00:00:18] over at Pagachas Pub 85.

[00:00:20] That's Pagachas Pub 85 in Kirkland,

[00:00:22] our favorite place to go hang out.

[00:00:24] You know winter season's all about sports.

[00:00:26] There's football going on, NFL playoffs, rolling. We welcome you to this episode of the Marine Layer podcast part of the Just been little whisperings here, little whisperings there. And it's been pretty stagnant. But I want to go back to our Wednesday episode and a good point Scott Braun made and reiterate at this to start this podcast episode.

[00:03:02] Like Scott Borsch's clients are essentially holding what is left of the free agent market,

[00:04:02] reported that the Yankees have offered Blake Snell a contract, right? That was reported by John Heyman, who, where does he get his scoops from?

[00:04:06] Directly with Scott Boris.

[00:04:07] Cause those guys are friends and usually from the New York based teams.

[00:04:11] Cause he's got heavy ties in New York and to both of those ball clubs.

[00:04:14] We know John Heyman doesn't have ties to the Mariners.

[00:04:17] I think half the reason he hates the Mariners is because

[00:04:19] they won't give him any sources.

[00:04:21] The Mariners in general don't leak things out.

[00:04:23] We've talked about that at length.

[00:04:24] So if there's a contract on the table out of Seattle for Blake Snell,

[00:05:24] a lot of people. I mean, he is a very notable person in the Major League Baseball content community. So I think he knows some people from the amount of time he spends talking

[00:05:31] about baseball. And he said something very interesting this week that wasn't direct

[00:05:35] reporting, but made it seem like the Mariners could have an offer out to Blake Snell. Let's

[00:05:41] hear what it sounded like on on his podcast, because I don't think I could do it justice

[00:05:44] of the tone Jared Karabas've heard. That's literally the best news we have heard from a non-Blake Snell camp this offseason about this, about this potential pairing by far. And it makes me fucking excited. Oh, it fires me up, especially because it comes from Carabas who, side note, I know

[00:07:03] you said maybe some of you know, Dallas Braden says, I don't think Seattle is ready to slash wants to make that push. And when I hear push, I feel like that means market rate for a top tier starting pitcher. We were just worried coming into this offseason. I don't know if

[00:08:22] Jerry de Poto wants to spend 3028 to $30 million on a pitcher.

[00:09:24] people found this and it was like, Oh, is this real? Could this really be happening? Karavis did respond to some people and he said, look, I'm not guaranteeing it, but there's

[00:09:28] validity to this. So he's doubling down, which makes me think the Mariners are still in on

[00:09:34] Blake Snell and we know Blake Snell is still in on the Mariners because if it's up to him,

[00:09:39] oh, he's playing in Seattle.

[00:09:41] Man, that Mike Torico thing was a long time ago, wasn't it? So they're sitting at about $118 million, which puts them $27 million below that mark. Blake Snell at a $28 million contract could not be signed right now because it doesn't give you flexibility throughout the season. So something would need to happen. The Mariners, I'm guessing,

[00:11:00] need to shed somewhere between $10 to $12 teams that just need a fifth starter going into the 2024 season, that's what you pitch. You say, Hey, take on Descolafani's money.

[00:12:23] You can have them.

[00:12:24] That's the trade.

[00:13:21] I'm with you. I'm like, I would just give him away.

[00:13:22] As long as someone's willing to take on the $12 million.

[00:13:26] Hey, you need a starter.

[00:13:28] Blake Snell can happen for us if you just take this away.

[00:13:31] Great.

[00:13:32] Perfect.

[00:13:33] We don't need anything back.

[00:13:34] It works out great for Anthony Desclafani because when he hits free agency next year,

[00:13:39] instead of being a swing man pitching 70 innings out of the bullpen this year, he instead could there. So if you signed Blake Snell and Trey Deskolfani, you're still six starters deep between Luis, Kirby, Snell, Logan Gilbert, Brian Woo, Bryce Miller, and then if you want to throw in a seventh with Emerson Hancock. They're still extremely deep in their starting rotation. But in terms of what they do as a result, I don't know.

[00:15:00] Do you think Miller or Woo would still get traded if they signed Snell?

[00:15:03] I'm not to talk and make a deal here. A negotiating tactic out of the Seattle Mariners that costs them 120 to $130 million would

[00:16:22] be quite the turn of events in Seattle's offseason.

[00:16:25] And you know what?

[00:16:26] I would applaud them endlessly for it.

[00:16:28] Let me say that. giving away those guys anyways, judging the quotes we got from Jerry, if they were willing to give away those guys, I feel like the trade would have happened. It feels like it's more likely it would have happened. And we would perhaps be getting some different messaging. Teams can always change their mind. And again, we really will never know. But if the raised

[00:17:43] desperation level goes up, like it has to, even if they can't afford Snell, the Mariners circle back to the Heston Kursk dad's the Kobe males with Jordan Westberg's of the Baltimore system. And then maybe something potentially gets worked out, it's possible. So maybe that is what they're slingshotting here. And Jerry calls Michael is and says, Hey, I know you don't want to give up the world for two years of Dylan cease, but would you want to give up the world for six years of one of my guys?

[00:19:02] Six is better than two.

[00:19:04] Right. And the Mariners would Brian Wu out in the bullpen to begin 2024, have them throw three to four innings a week, and then maybe by May or so, they'll say, okay, now let's put you back in the rotation. And if that's the case, then you can't really afford to trade one of those guys, because then it turns into Desklefani starting or forcing Emerson Hancock into starting, and

[00:20:24] maybe the Mariners don't have an issue with starting pitching. It was

[00:21:40] like Jerry said at the end of the year when he was asked about like back in

[00:21:43] October about trading one of the young. And he did great for the Dodgers and he had no issue with it. And then eventually when there's space for him in the rotation, they slid him right into the rotation. And he took off unfortunately, he's been hurt for the last couple of years hasn't gotten to throw all that much. But when he's been in the rotation, he's been very, very, very

[00:23:01] good. And you hope that the best way to's who he is as a pitcher. So stuff wise, sure. I will note those first four all 200 inning guys. I would be shocked if Brian moves 200 innings this year. He's going to be like 150 max. Yeah, not even shocked.

[00:24:20] He's not throwing 200 in.

[00:24:21] Sorry, you're right.

[00:24:22] I should say in terms of stuff, he could be that type of guy.

[00:24:25] Like his ERA could be in the low threes by the end of year two $118 million. Ditch Desclafani, you give away all of his money. That brings you down to $106 million and then you sign Blake Snell. Let's say Blake Snell signs his projected MLB trade rumors deal of seven years, $200 million.

[00:25:41] I don't know if the murders go seven years, but that's what jump-started this whole rebuild. They missed the playoffs that year and they knew it was an aging roster. So if you have money to spend in season, then you can keep adding to get better. Look, if Luis Urias works out at third base and he's really a 2-2.5 win player, awesome.

[00:27:04] But if you get to the trade deadline, you feel like you're to if there is that kind of player out there that can push you to the playoffs It needs to be available. I I thought this was done. I thought Blake's no was cooked I thought the idea was out the window unrealistic Mariners are cheap never gonna happen But the more we talked through this and with karaobis's comments, I'm I'm cautiously optimistic

[00:28:22] I can't believe I'm feeling this way now

[00:29:25] want to be. Do it through pitching. That's your strength already. Your rotation all of a sudden has Blake Snell as your three starter who just won the Cy Young. Well, that's a way to win ball

[00:29:31] games if you're just going to limit opposing offenses to less than two to three runs a night

[00:29:37] or something like that. And remember what I said about hogging all the starting pitching. All of

[00:29:42] your pitching becomes more valuable by acquiring all of it and, you have it. Now imagine that pipe dream of a world where you sign Blake Snell and go get two and a half years of Louise Robert in July. Well, that team can win the World Series. Hmm, I like that. There's another thing I don't think we're thinking about with Blake Snell. I threw out that deal that was projected seven for 200.

[00:31:02] I don't know if we're taking into account

[00:31:05] the flexibility Blake Snell will4 to $5 million for the few years after his contract ends. That's fine. Sign me up. Sign me right up. That works. That or I mean, they could throw some opt outs in there. There should be some

[00:32:22] club options, mutual options, whatever he feels most comfortable with. They need to

[00:32:27] do whatever it takes to get him. days after the season ended. Then all the root sports stuff comes out. Everybody's going nuts, us included. We're losing our minds. Then Shohei signs with the Dodgers. It comes out that he got 700 million bucks and we see, oh the Mariners, they were not even close to getting Ohtani. And then all of a sudden at the very end you look up and down at your roster and you see you've

[00:33:41] added Blake Snell, Mitch Garber, Mitch Hanager, and Luke Rayleigh. So like you said, Cy Young winner That would be unwise. What is necessary is never unwise. What is on your mind this week? We have a lot. We do have a lot. Do people want a quick little update maybe about my first couple days here in New York City? If you're watching on YouTube, you can see that it's not the usual background I usually

[00:35:02] use.

[00:35:03] Well, I guess if you've been watching for the last week, you've noticed I've been in

[00:35:04] different backgrounds.

[00:35:05] But yeah, let's do it.

[00:35:07] Let's do it. Yeah, like there's been ups and downs for the first couple days. Again, it's really only been about 48 hours or so at time of recording since I've been in the new place. But with each day gets a little bit easier and easier. I mean, I haven't started really meeting up with people yet. That'll start next week or so both with friends and with networking people that I'm planning to meet in person with. So once that all kicks off, that'll make it a lot easier.

[00:36:20] But I will say today, it was finally nice out.

[00:36:22] The first two days were not very nice, which kept me cooped up a little bit.

[00:36:26] And I walked around Central Park. So I know we love Joe's. Both you and I have spent taking a considerable amount of trip to Joe's. But my challenge to you is to try as many places that are not Joe's. Like we know what Joe's is. So now the time is to go find the other great spots that we didn't get to go to because that is what I'm jealous about. I want to go find those other spots.

[00:37:40] But I haven't gotten to because we went to Joe's so many times. because that was not really a touristy spot, but Bodega is just a little more dirty, a little more ingrained into the community. Right. It's the New York City staple. I'm trying to remember. If there's not a rat running around it, then it's not a good Bodega. Yeah, exactly. I've got a funny story for people, by the way, and I told it to you the other day.

[00:39:02] But when I went to the store my first day here,

[00:39:05] I got my stuff, I was walking out,

[00:39:07] I passed by some random during the day. I figured I might try to walk around more of the city tomorrow, whether, you know, I was just in Central Park today. Maybe I'll go down to, you know, like we walked the High Line a couple months ago. Maybe I'll do that again or some of the other nice highlights. Yeah. Scenic place around the city. Like I'll have some time and I am planning to see a lot of people while I'm here, but especially in your first

[00:40:22] few days, sometimes you get a lot of time on your own. So because I have that, I was

[00:40:25] like, well, how can I best use that team. This like doesn't look right. This doesn't look like there's control over the roster.

[00:41:40] And I think Jodie Allen agreed.

[00:41:42] And yesterday on Wednesday, also the right decision. I echo all that. Also, forget Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll, which that was surprising enough in the sense of maybe Russ realized,

[00:43:02] oh, grass ain't always greener, is it?

[00:43:04] Maybe that was kind of the, maybe that was in some ways,

[00:44:03] Was it honestly more surprising that Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman were in the same room?

[00:44:04] They were in the same room together and hung out.

[00:44:08] Did you see what got said on Seattle Sports today?

[00:44:13] So the final Pete Carroll show will be airing on Friday morning.

[00:44:18] So by the time this podcast is out, it'll be out.

[00:44:21] But they tweeted out a little clip of it today.

[00:44:24] And you heard Pete talking and saying that, it was time. You can't be a defensive coach and run out of bottom third defense year after year after year. Like that's what was happening at this point. It doesn't mean I'm not going to miss Pete Carroll, the person, the leader, the motivator, the culture builder, all that stuff.

[00:45:41] Like that can't be forgotten.

[00:45:43] It will not be forgotten.

[00:45:44] Pete Carroll is almost definitely going to they still have to pay him. Right. So I think that's how how that works. If he stays,

[00:47:03] I think that's a very good thing for the Seahawks. Yes Yeah, he just I think he is he just is not very good outside the pocket. That's the only thing So that's a sacrifice you might have to make Yeah, I mean look you're not picking one or two. You're not getting Caleb Williams or Drake May So you're gonna accept that so obviously whoever you pick will have some limitations

[00:48:21] But just about what can the new head coach get out of them? the Lions offensive coordinator or Dave Canales who's the Bucks offensive coordinator who are two options but Canales would make more sense than Ben Johnson. Ben Johnson I think is favorite for other jobs. Wouldn't that make sense? I mean Lincoln's quarterback's leaving.'s an opening and the Seahawks said of all of the NFL teams that have jobs open is the best job, period. Yeah, yeah. Well, if you want to segue here, what about the job in New England? Whose roster would you take right now?

[00:51:01] Oh, roster, the Seahawks.

[00:51:02] But I guess like pedigree and reputation might be New England.

[00:51:07] I guess. Just the three, the three coaches, like first with Belichick and Carroll, like two goats, right? Belichick has all the Super Bowl titles, Pete, one in college and one in the NFL, something only three coaches have ever done. One, one a title in both. Incredible stuff. And then Belichick, like, they are two, like opposite bit over a day now and they said from the moment Nick Saban retired that it would take Max 72 hours to name a new head coach. In that span I believe from what I've read Steve Sarkeesian has already said no he was call number one. Call

[00:53:41] number two is Dan Lanning. He made very public today on both Oregon's official I don't know if there's any validity to this at all, but I did see somebody tweet out today Matt Eberfluis and I don't know if that's really much of an upgrade from next day. I'm not saying there's any validity to that, but I did see somebody today tweet that of sometimes the grass isn't always greener. So that's the point. There will be less pressure at Washington. I think that's the only plus. Here's TSA and flying on a big flight. Yeah, you just have your own flight. Now, okay, so that information I remember, that was a crystal ball thing, but I would imagine,

[00:57:42] I'm gonna give Josh paid a shout out,

[00:57:43] because I believe he was the one

[00:57:45] who initially said this, when Mario crystal ball,

[00:57:47] if you remember two years ago, when he was have to recruit, it's easier to recruit Alabama. If you already can get people to buy into your message, you don't have to convince them to come all the way out to Seattle. You're right there in the heart of SEC country, we're all the best players in the country play. And apparently in the past, Alabama's been interested in Ryan Grubb too, who's the Washington OC.

[00:59:00] So I would have to assume if DeBoor takes that job, Grubb is probably going with him,

[00:59:05] which would really just be such a would suck for Husky fans. They would go into the Big 10 being the sixth or seventh best school, maybe?

[01:00:20] Lower?

[01:00:21] They probably wouldn't be set up for a great year next year.

[01:00:24] No. within 24 hours is unprecedented and just appreciate all them for what they were and appreciate the news cycle we get after it. That's a good way to phrase it. I like the way you phrase it. I couldn't have said it any better. So get ready for a new age of football, both college and pro. We'll see what

[01:01:43] happens with Kaitlyn DeBorrer the next time we record Speak Your Mind. I'm sure