The2010 Seattle Mariners season was the34th season in franchise history. The Mariners finished the season with 61 wins and 101 losses. As theTexas Rangers won their first pennant that season, the Mariners became one of only two teams to have never played in the World Series, along with theWashington Nationals.
Most of the 2009 major league coaching staff was retained, with the exception of third base coachBruce Hines.[1]Mike Brumley was named the new third base coach on October 30, 2009.[2] On December 7, the Mariners announced their minor league staff.[3] Eriberto Menchaca, who managed the Class-AClinton LumberKings in 2009, was moved to the rookie-levelPulaski Mariners, Jesus Azuaje was named manager of the rookie-levelPeoria Mariners,Tim Laker was named the manager of the Double-AWest Tenn Diamond Jaxx, andAndy Fox was named hitting coach for the Diamond Jaxx.[3]
Kenji Johjima returned to play professional baseball in Japan after a three-year stint inMLB.
On October 19, 2009,catcherKenji Johjima, the first Japanese-born catcher in Major League Baseball, exercised an opt-out clause in his contract and returned to playing inNippon Professional Baseball.[4] The Mariners also lost theirhome run leader,Russell Branyan, who declined a one-year deal with the Mariners to test the free agent market.[5] Two-timeGold Glove winnerAdrián Beltré opted for free agency on November 5, 2009, and later signed with theBoston Red Sox.[6] The third baseman declined $12 million in arbitration from the Mariners only days after the team signedChone Figgins(see below).[7] Beltre officially parted ways with the Mariners when he signed a one-year, $9 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. PitcherPhillippe Aumont, noted as one of the top prospects in the organization, was sent to the Phillies in the trade for Cliff Lee. Also, pitcherBrandon Morrow was traded to theToronto Blue Jays as well.[8]Carlos Silva, whose time in Seattle was plagued by injury, was traded to theChicago Cubs on December 18.[9]
Chone Figgins signed a four-year contract with the Mariners during the off-season.
Ken Griffey Jr. returned to the Mariners with a one-year deal after a successful 2009 season and large number of Seattle fans asking for "one more year."[12]ShortstopJack Wilson signed a two-year, $10 million deal to remain in Seattle. Wilson was one of the players received from thePittsburgh Pirates at the trading deadline in 2009.[13]
On December 18, 2009, the Mariners traded pitcher Carlos Silva and cash considerations to the Chicago Cubs for outfielderMilton Bradley, particularly noting his offensive capabilities.[9] On December 22, the Mariners traded Brandon Morrow to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcherBrandon League, and a minor league prospect.[8] The Mariners acquired first basemanCasey Kotchman from theBoston Red Sox in exchange for utility playerBill Hall, a player to be named later, and cash considerations. On January 29, 2010, the Mariner signed outfielderEric Byrnes to a one-year, $400,000 contract after he was released by theArizona Diamondbacks.[19] The Mariners signed first basemanRyan Garko to a one-year $550,000 contract on February 1.[20] On February 6, the Mariners re-signed pitcherÉrik Bédard to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, with a mutual option for 2011.[21]
Corey Patterson signed a minor league contract with the Mariners on December 9, 2009.
After theWorld Series, the Mariners cleared five spots from their 40-man roster after infielderBryan LaHair, pitchersCésar Jiménez,Randy Messenger and Marwin Vega were outrighted to the Triple-ATacoma Rainiers, and pitcherJustin Thomas was claimed off waivers by thePittsburgh Pirates.[22] The Mariners added seven new scouts after the season including the West Coast Supervisor Butch Baccala, Southern California scout John Ramey, Northwest scout Joe Ross, Midwest scout Tony Russo, Southwest scout Jess Kapellusch, Atlantic scout Mike Moriarty, and Gulf Coast scout Devitt Moore.[23]
Travis Denker signed a minor league contract with the Mariners in December 2009.
On November 25, the Mariners re-signed minor league pitchersSteve Bray andSteven Shell, and catcher José Yépez.[24] On December 9, the Mariners signed outfielderCorey Patterson to a minor league contract with an invitation tospring training.[25] It was reported byBaseball America that the Mariners signed pitcherLevale Speigner and infielderTravis Denker, and also re-signed pitcherChris Seddon andJosh Wilson to minor league contracts on December 12.[26] On December 16, the Mariners signed 19-year-old Brazilian prospectPedro Okuda to a minor league contract.[27] During the trade for Cliff Lee, the Mariners gave up three prospects including pitchersPhillippe Aumont andJ. C. Ramírez and outfielderTyson Gillies.[28]
On December 22,Baseball America reported that the Mariners re-signed pitcherMike Koplove, and signed pitcherDavid Pauley, and catcherRalph Henriquez Jr.[29] During the trade for Brandon League, the Mariners also acquired minor league outfielderJohermyn Chávez from the Blue Jays.[8] On December 28, the Mariners signed catcherJosh Bard, and re-signed pitcherChad Cordero to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training.[30] The Mariners signed free agent utility playerChris Woodward, who was in their organization during the first half of the 2009 season, to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.[31] On January 13, the Mariners re-signed first basemanBrad Nelson to a minor league contract with and invitation to spring training.[32] Formerly of theMilwaukee Brewers organization,Jesús Colomé signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Mariners on February 10.[33] On February 12, 2010, the Mariners signedMike Sweeney, a player whoMLB.com called a "key clubhouse component from the Mariners' dramatic 2009 turnaround", to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.[34]
Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects: Seattle Mariners[35]
During the offseason,MLB.com ranked Mariners' first round draftDustin Ackley as the 15th best prospect inMinor League Baseball.[36] Ackley was also named the best prospect in the Mariners' organization byBaseball America, followed by outfielderMichael Saunders, catcherAdam Moore, third basemanAlex Liddi, infielderCarlos Triunfel, pitcherMichael Pineda, shortstopNick Franklin, outfielderGreg Halman, pitcherDan Cortes, and corner infielderMario Martínez.[35]Baseball America also ranked players by their specific talents. Ackley was named best hitter for average, Halman was named best hitter for power, and best athlete, outfielderEzequiel Carrera was named both best strike-zone discipline, and fastest base runner, Pineda was named as having the bestfastball, and the best control of pitches, pitcherJosh Fields was named as having the bestcurveball, pitcherSteven Hensley was named as having the bestslider, pitcherNick Hill was named as having the bestchangeup,Steve Baron was named the best defensive catcher, Gabriel Noriega was named the best defensive infielder, Triunfel was named as having the best throwing arm amongst infielders, Saunders was named best defensive outfielder, andJames Jones was named as the having the best throwing arm amongst outfielders.[35]
Five Mariners' players filed for salary arbitration in January 2010.[37] The list of filers included pitchersDavid Aardsma,Félix Hernández, Brandon League andMark Lowe, and first baseman Casey Kotchman.[37] On January 18, Aardsma, Hernández and Lowe signed new contracts with the Mariners, avoiding arbitration.[38][39] Aardsma signed a deal for $2.75 million, and Lowe signed a deal worth $1.15 million.[38] Hernández's five-year deal was worth $80 million.[39] On January 20, the Mariners came to an agreement with League for a one-year $900,000 deal, avoiding arbitration.[40] Kotchman, the last arbitration eligible player on the Mariners roster, agreed to a $3.5 million contract on February 3, avoiding arbitration, and settling all the Mariners' arbitration cases.[41]
Seattle acquired first basemanCasey Kotchman in a trade on January 7.Érik Bédard (pictured with theBaltimore Orioles) was re-signed by the Mariners.On March 17, 2010, the Mariners releasedYusmeiro Petit, however, they signed him to a minor league contract 10 days later.
March 3: Pitchers Kenn Kasparek and Anthony Vasquez assigned to the Mariners.
March 4: Pitchers James Gillheeney and Erasmo Ramirez; shortstop Carlos Triunfel; and Kyle Seager assigned to the Mariners.
March 5: PitchersAndrew Carraway and Michael Pineda; and shortstopJuan Díaz assigned to the Mariners.
March 6: Pitchers Aaron Jensen andSteve Bray; shortstop Nick Franklin; and third basemanAlex Liddi assigned to the Mariners.
March 8: Catchers Ralph Henriquez and Hassiel Jimenez; third baseman Matt Mangini; and outfielders James Jones and Denny Almonte assigned to the Mariners.
March 10: Optioned pitcherRyan Feierabend to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.
March 11: Pitchers Kyle Parker andWes Littleton; and outfielders Maximo Mendez andJohermyn Chávez assigned to the Mariners.
March 12: PitcherAndrew Baldwin assigned to the Mariners.
March 13: Optioned outfielder Greg Halman to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.
Infielder Joseph Dunigan assigned to the Mariners.
March 14: Third baseman Mario Martinez and outfielderCarlos Peguero assigned to the Mariners.
March 16: Optioned pitchers Dan Cortes, Ricky Orta, Edward Paredes and Anthony Varvaro; and infielder Dustin Ackley to the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.
Optioned outfielder Ezequiel Carrera to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.
March 17: Released pitcher Yusmeiro Petit.
March 18: Signed second baseman Travis Denker.
Pitcher Marwin Vega assigned to the Mariners.
Optioned outfielder Michael Saunders to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.
Traded pitcher Miguel Celestino to the Boston Red Sox.
March 20: Infielders Shaver Hansen and Gabriel Noriega; and outfielder Welington Dotel assigned to the Mariners.
March 21: Shortstop Jeffrey Dominguez and outfielder Johan Limonta assigned to the Mariners.
March 22: Outfielder Daniel Carroll assigned to the Mariners.
March 23: Pitcher Steven Richard assigned to the Mariners.
March 24: Catcher Brandon Bantz assigned to the Mariners.
March 25: Pitchers Preston Vancil and Nick Czyz; catcher Blake Ochoa; infielder Edilio Colina; and outfielders Kalian Sams andKuo Hui Lo assigned to the Mariners.
Optioned first baseman Mike Carp to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.
March 27: Pitcher Steven Hensley assigned to the Mariners.
March 29: Pitcher Chris Kirkland assigned to the Mariners.
March 31: Outfielder Corey Patterson filed for free agency.
Pitcher Brian Moran andJames McOwen to the Mariners.
Optioned Luke French to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.
Placed pitcher Érik Bédard on the 15-Day disabled list retroactive to March 26, 2010.
Placed third basemanJack Hannahan on the 15-Day disabled list retroactive to March 26, 2010.
April 1: First baseman Ryan Garko was claimed by theTexas Rangers.
OptionedGarrett Olson to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.
Pitcher Seon Gi Kim assigned to the Mariners.
April 4: Placed pitcher Cliff Lee on the 15-Day disabled list retroactive to March 26, 2010.
Pitcher Yusmeiro Petit and outfielder Corey Patterson assigned to the Mariners.
Called-up Mike Sweeney from the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.
April 5: Catchers José Yépez and Luis Oliveros assigned to the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.
Outfielder Maximo Mendez assigned to the Class-A Advanced High Desert Mavericks.
Outfielder Kalian Sams assigned to the Class-A Clinton LumberKings.
April 7: Pitchers Mike Koplove, Chris Seddon, Steven Shell, Steve Bray, Chad Cordero, Jesús Colomé, David Pauley and Levale Speigner; catchers Eliézer Alfonzo and Josh Bard; and infielders Brad Nelson, Josh Wilson and Chris Woodward assigned to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.
Seattle invited 23 players tospring training including catchersEliézer Alfonzo,Josh Bard, Steven Baron,Luis Oliveros andGuillermo Quiróz, infielders Tommy Everidge, Brad Nelson, Josh Wilson and Chris Woodward, outfielders Corey Patterson andMike Wilson, designated hitter Mike Sweeney, and pitchers Jesús Colomé, Chad Cordero, Josh Fields, Nick Hill, Mike Koplove, David Pauley, Yusmeiro Petit,Mauricio Robles,Chris Seddon, Steven Shell and Levale Speigner.
On February 8, newly acquired pitcher Cliff Lee underwent minor surgery to remove a floating bone spur in his left foot.[42] Lee was expected to be out two-to-three weeks, making him unable to report to spring training at the scheduled time.[42] On March 4,closerDavid Aardsma experienced tightness in hisgroin causing him to miss playing time.[43] Shortstop Jack Wilson suffered from righthamstring tightness after a Mariners' game in early March.[44] On March 19, it was announced that pitcher Cliff Lee could start the season on the disabled list because of a right lower abdominal strain.[45] At the end of spring training, Lee was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the aforementioned reason.[46] On April 3, Mariners' minor leaguer James McOwen dislocated his shoulder while attempting to catch a ball hit byClint Barmes.[47]
On March 10, 2010, the Mariners cut 10 people from their spring roster includingRyan Feierabend, Josh Fields, Steven Shell, Nick Hill, Chris Seddon, Mauricio Robles, Luis Oliveros and Steven Baron.[48] On March 17, the Mariners released pitcher Yusmeiro Petit whom they had claimed off waivers on November 4, 2009.[49] Michael Saunders, an outfielder who played limited time with the Mariners in 2009, was optioned to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on March 18.[50] On March 18, the Mariners traded minor league pitcher Miguel Celestino to the Boston Red Sox to complete the trade for Casey Kotchman.[51] First baseman Mike Carp was assigned to minor league camp on March 25, and was informed that he would start the season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.[52] On March 31, outfielder Corey Patterson opted out of his contract with the Mariners and field for free agency.[53] Also on March 31, the Mariners assigned pitcher Chad Cordero to minor league camp, and optionedLuke French to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.[54]
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = Base on balls; SB = Stolen bases; AVG = Batting average
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV=Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H =Hits; ER = Earned runs allowed; HR= Home Run allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts
^Eddy, Matt (December 22, 2009)."Minor League Transactions".Baseball America.Archived from the original on December 25, 2009. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2010.
^Jim Street (March 31, 2010)."Roster cuts include Cordero".Major League Baseball. seattle.mariners.mlb.com. Archived fromthe original on June 17, 2011. RetrievedApril 4, 2010.
