Mariners sign Jarrod Washburn

[ChWRoCk2]

Yahoo Sports (Source)

 

Washburn, Mariners agree to $37.5 million, four-year contract

 

 

By GREGG BELL, AP Sports Writer

December 20, 2005

 

SEATTLE (AP) -- The Seattle Mariners found the starting pitcher they've been looking for this offseason, and Jarrod Washburn got the multiyear contract he's always wanted.

 

Washburn agreed to a $37.5 million, four-year deal with the Mariners on Monday, leaving the AL West champion Los Angeles Angels for a team coming off consecutive last-place finishes.

 

"Jarrod is a proven major league winner who immediately makes us better in the starting rotation," Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi said.

 

And apparently, so ends a spending spree the Mariners hope will return them to the top of the division.

 

Last month, they signed Japanese catcher Kenji Johjima to a $16.5 million, three-year deal. Two weeks ago, they brought back 43-year-old starter Jamie Moyer for one year and $5.5 million. And they also added former White Sox designated hitter Carl Everett for one season at $4 million.

 

Now comes Washburn. He gets a hefty sum for a pitcher who has just one season with more than 11 wins.

 

"The market is what it is," Bavasi said.

 

But the GM also said he was satisfied with what Seattle has accomplished since the season ended -- sort of.

 

"At the start of this offseason, our goals were to acquire a high-quality starting pitcher, add offense, re-sign Jamie Moyer and, ideally, upgrade our catching," he said. "Today's announcement marks the final -- and perhaps most important -- in that offseason list."

 

For Washburn, it is the first multiyear contract the self-described Wisconsin farm boy has had in the major leagues.

 

"It's something I've always been working for," he said. "But I'm from a small town in northwest Wisconsin. It doesn't cost a lot to live there. I drive a pickup truck."

 

Washburn acknowledged this was a good winter to be a free-agent pitcher.

 

"Yeah, I did think about that," he said with a grin.

 

The Mariners approached agent Scott Boras about acquiring Washburn or Kevin Millwood. But when Boras insisted Millwood would sign only a five-year deal, Washburn became the target.

 

The left-hander went 8-8 with a 3.20 ERA in 29 starts for Los Angeles last season. He is 75-57 with a 3.93 ERA during his eight-year career, all with the Angels.

 

He joins a team that has lost 192 games over the past two seasons. But Washburn is confident the Mariners will rebound because of quality players such as Ichiro Suzuki, Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson.

 

"There's no question in my mind this team is going to be good," Washburn said.

 

His best season came when he went 18-6 during the Angels' 2002 run to the World Series championship. This October, he started Game 2 of the AL championship series against the Chicago White Sox after recovering from strep throat. He allowed an unearned run and four hits in 4 2-3 innings. His illness forced him to miss a scheduled start in the previous round against the New York Yankees.

 

Besides Washburn and Moyer, the Mariners have 19-year-old phenom Felix Hernandez, who went 4-4 with a 2.67 ERA as a rookie last season. Called up to the majors on Aug. 4, he struck out 77 and walked 23.

 

The Mariners, who lost 93 games this year and 99 in 2004, must decide by Tuesday night's deadline whether to offer contracts to Gil Meche and Ryan Franklin, two other members of their rotation. Both are eligible for arbitration.

 

Bavasi would not say what will happen. But -- for what it's worth -- a team letter sent to season-ticket holders Monday listed Meche on the roster and omitted Franklin.

Edited December 20, 2005 by ChWRoCk2

[ZoomSlowik]

That sounds semi-reasonable in this market. Washburn is actually much more established than a good chunk of the guys getting this kind of money, and he has some playoff experience. For his career he is almost 20 games over .500 and has a career ERA of 3.93 in the AL. He's a pretty decent #3 starter, although he's gone downhill a bit since his excellent 2002 season. Makes you wonder what guys will be getting next year when some real pitchers are on the market like Pettitte, Schmidt, Mulder, Zito, and our two guys. Will the salaries keep escalating or will they calm down a bit because there is more talent available? Somewhere in between sounds about right. I can't imagine too many pitchers getting $12 mil or more per year.

[ChWRoCk2]

That sounds semi-reasonable in this market. Washburn is actually much more established than a good chunk of the guys getting this kind of money, and he has some playoff experience. For his career he is almost 20 games over .500 and has a career ERA of 3.93 in the AL. He's a pretty decent #3 starter, although he's gone downhill a bit since his excellent 2002 season. Makes you wonder what guys will be getting next year when some real pitchers are on the market like Pettitte, Schmidt, Mulder, Zito, and our two guys. Will the salaries keep escalating or will they calm down a bit because there is more talent available? Somewhere in between sounds about right. I can't imagine too many pitchers getting $12 mil or more per year.

Good point, washburn deserves the money he had an awesome year

 

He definitely helps this mariners team who needed pitching, mariners seem like they are going to try to make a run at the playoffs this year with some of the additions they have made, new catcher from japan, carl everett, a lefty bat that they desperately needed

 

their rotation should now be:

 

Moyer, if he didnt retire

Washburn

Pineiro

Hernandez

Franklin

 

Maybe madritsch can also fill one of the spots and meche (if not traded)

 

 

THey still could use another starter, because their staff is still a little weak but their hitting should make up for it

Edited December 20, 2005 by ChWRoCk2

[S720]

That sounds semi-reasonable in this market. Washburn is actually much more established than a good chunk of the guys getting this kind of money, and he has some playoff experience. For his career he is almost 20 games over .500 and has a career ERA of 3.93 in the AL. He's a pretty decent #3 starter, although he's gone downhill a bit since his excellent 2002 season. Makes you wonder what guys will be getting next year when some real pitchers are on the market like Pettitte, Schmidt, Mulder, Zito, and our two guys. Will the salaries keep escalating or will they calm down a bit because there is more talent available? Somewhere in between sounds about right. I can't imagine too many pitchers getting $12 mil or more per year.

 

If Washburn gets $9.375 mil, how much do you think the White Sox should pay Contreras? Pitchers are becoming so expensive now!

[ZoomSlowik]

Good point, washburn deserves the money he had an awesome year

 

He definitely helps this mariners team who needed pitching, mariners seem like they are going to try to make a run at the playoffs this year with some of the additions they have made, new catcher from japan, carl everett, a lefty bat that they desperately needed

 

their rotation should now be:

 

Moyer, if he didnt retire

Washburn

Pineiro

Hernandez

Franklin

 

THey still could use another starter, because their staff is still a little weak but their hitting should make up for it

 

King Felix is the key to their rotation. That kid looks like an absolute stud, somewhat like Mark Prior when he came up. If he has the kind of year people think he can have, he ends up being their ace, making that a much stronger rotation. Moyer and Washburn are then serviceable middle of the rotation guys, and if Piniero gets anywhere close to his old self that's a fairly good rotation.

[ZoomSlowik]

If Washburn gets $9.375 mil, how much do you think the White Sox should pay Contreras?  Pitchers are becoming so expensive now!

 

Somewhere around the same, probably a little less. Contreras has had a much more checkered past and is several years older. If he keeps pitching like he did in the second half however, at the end of the year he could get a 3 year deal for A.J. Burnett type money.

[ChWRoCk2]

King Felix is the key to their rotation. That kid looks like an absolute stud, somewhat like Mark Prior when he came up. If he has the kind of year people think he can have, he ends up being their ace, making that a much stronger rotation. Moyer and Washburn are then serviceable middle of the rotation guys, and if Piniero gets anywhere close to his old self that's a fairly good rotation.

Yeah I really like Hernandez, awesome pitcher, they have a couple good young pitchers in their system.

 

Angels have lost some pitchers this year, paul byrd and now washburn. Now all they really have is colon lackey and santana who is another good young player I like besides hernandez, this division should come down to the mariners oakland and angels but who knows.

Edited December 20, 2005 by ChWRoCk2

[White Sox Josh]

Nice Signing for the Mariners. I always thought Washburn was underrated. He is the better pitcher in comparison to Burnett or anybody else on this market with the exception of Milwood.

[Kyyle23]

Nice Signing for the Mariners.  I always thought Washburn was underrated.  He is the better pitcher in comparison to Burnett or anybody else on this market with the exception of Milwood.

 

Yes, but how do you feel about Rex Grossman?

 

 

sorry for the threadjack lol