Updated Dec 12, 2012 - 10:41 am

Hot Stove wrapup: Zduriencik not likely to give up top pitching prospects

listen Listen: Jack Zduriencik talks about the lack of offseason activity

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik joins "The Hot Stove League Show" and addresses the rumors about the free-agent hitters Seattle has been linked to.

By Shannon Drayer

The first "Hot Stove League Show" of the season is in the books and if you missed, it head to the podcast page to catch the entire broadcast, which featured interviews with Jack Zduriencik and Eric Wedge.

Zduriencik told us that he has been busy on the phones and that discussions continue with both free agents and with teams regarding trades. While there has been a lot of interest shown in the Mariners' young players, he isn't seeing the return he would need to see on the young pitchers in particular to pull the string on a trade. Right now, teams are offering players with one or two years control and Zduriencik is not willing to give up top prospects for that.

Taijuan Walker and the Mariners' other two top pitching prospects have no big-league experience. (AP)

The lack of return is not the only reason we might not see Zduriencik trade his pitching this winter. He spoke at length about maximizing their value, which he believes will not happen until they make it to the big leagues. As for the players already in the big leagues, it didn't sound like he wanted to move them either. I asked him if he had his druthers, would he like to hold onto what he has now and give it another year to grow?

"That is probably not the popular thing to say because I would love to be able to do something right now, love to be able to do it, and maybe we will through free agency," he answered. "There are a lot of factors that go into why a player chooses a certain city to come to and play, but we are going to listen, we will continue to have talks, but at the end, we have a pretty good thing going right now and to throw it away for a short-term fix? I don't believe is going to be the right answer."

As for the free-agent options, Matt Pitman asked what the involvement was with some of the premier names.

"Pretty heavy," Zduriencik said. "I had a lot of discussions this afternoon and morning. I can't make any promises because who knows where some of this will go. As we just saw with the Zack Greinke deal, that's a pretty spectacular contract. It is possible that along the way some player might say, 'Hey, I want to be in Seattle for all the reasons we talked about' and another guy might say, 'I'm taking the biggest contract.' There is not anything you can do about that. We will see what happens."

Wedge echoed a lot of what Zduriencik said about keeping the core of the team, "sticking with the plan and having the discipline and guts to do it," in his words.

"To be a true championship team and sustain that level of championship play you have got to stick to your guns right now," Wedge asserted. "Yeah, you want to add to it and you might even make a trade but that trade has got to make sense and not take away from what you have been doing."

If they are to stick with what they have, I asked Wedge what would happen if the players, Dustin Ackley and Justin Smoak in particular, did not produce. Last year the focus was to get them the experience and to learn at the big-league level. Take their lumps, which they did. How much rope would they have after a year of such experience?

"Less," Wedge answered. "Something might happen this year with one of our guys. The rope is shorter. Every year the rope gets shorter. I am as patient as anyone but the fact of the matter is we are going to become a better club and because of that there are going to be better options than you, so if you are struggling we are going to go get somebody else."

Zduriencik may or may not make an impact move between now and the start of the season. Regardless of what this club starts with in April, however, I think there is a good chance it could look very different in the second half of the year. Wedge will have options at Triple-A with Nick Franklin and Carlos Truinfel pushing for middle infield spots and the versatile Stefen Romero, who played first base in college, could possibly could challenge Smoak if he struggles. If one of the Big 3 makes the club out of spring training, Zduriencik could look to trade pitching during the season.

At some point, trades will be made. Just maybe not this winter. We shall see.

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bigguitarman wrote...

I believe in Z

December 12, 2012 1:08 am

Glad to hear he places such high value on our prospects. I am sick of seeing former Mariners blossom on other teams! Free Agency really seems like the way to go.

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1stmanonmars wrote...

Free agency is NOT the way to go

December 13, 2012 9:24 am

We have money, but not that much money. 90 mil. is not enough to have more than one super star and we already need to extend Felix's contract

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Silver Lake Jake wrote...

Bats!

December 12, 2012 1:14 am

Big fan Shannon, felt it was time to contribute my 2 cents! While my preferred scenario would be to sign Nick Swisher and a stopgap catcher before Zunino is ready? If our FA targets don't pan out, why not take a flyer on Alfonso Soriano? The Cubs are willing to throw in a large chunk of the outrageous money he's owed for the next couple of years, and he's bounced back nicely from his struggles a couple years back. I'd imagine the Cubs wouldn't ask the world for him. Bourn would be nice as well (and Hamilton obviously), but this seems to be a decent fall back option. Speaking of fall back options, if The club isn't able to pull the trigger on any of these players, might we locking up Felix for life(!) come a little sooner than later to satisfy the fanbase? Thanks!

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Marinerman87 wrote...

Looks like 2013 will be a repeat of 2012

December 12, 2012 4:11 am

It's hard to not get impatient because this team has been mostly terrible since 2003 and it looks more and more like next year will be letting the kids take their lumps and if Smoak and Ackley continue to tank and Montero looks like an okay hitter with no speed/bad defense then this team will be pedestrian winning 75-80 games. I know Jack won't make any dumb trades like the ones Bavasi made that crippled to organization but I just want him to get a FA bat or two in here. It doesn't have to be a hamilton but get someone in the outfield who can hit some home runs and be a middle of the order presence. We can't rely on Seager and Jaso being the #3 and 4 hitters on this team. It's getting frustrating and I have had a lot of patience. Things are progressing but at some point they need to start adding on to the 'foundation'.

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Rayvensdad wrote...

Marinerman87...

December 12, 2012 10:06 am

You can't look at 2013 and think it will be the same as 2012, even if all the moves that have been made are all we do. While I'd love to see this team get some big names to help the major league club, we have to remember that the young players on the M's did a lot of growing up last year. They played much better in the second part of last year, and the last two months they were playing predominantly playoff pushing teams. This team is growing, though many of us (including me) are getting impatient, but to expect this upcoming year to be exactly like last year is almost impossible. Seager, Montero, Ackley, and Saunders played the whole season... FOR THE FIRST TIME. This is huge for their development. There is so much that goes into being good in this league... and time is a fixture for it. All of these guys are learning, all of them are taking their lumps, and don't be surprised if many of them take a huge step this upcoming season... and I mean a HUGE step. I can see Seager hitting .300, Ackley getting close to there if healthy, Montero easily hitting over 20 hrs, and yes, I see Smoak having a big year... and this isn't me just praying. We've got Franklin, Zunino, Miller, and Romero in the wings, with the obvious big stud pitching coming up too, so don't get too down.
I want to win as bad as anyone, and I'm tired of losing like all the rest. But if the Mariners were to go out and get a stop gap through a trade and lose some of these young players, I'd be really ticked off. Many of the Free Agents don't want to come here right now, and Jack Z. isn't going to handcuff his future, which is a smart move (though as fans we are easily agitated by it). Stay the course, and I do honestly believe that this organization will have set the standard with the overall talent and growth that is needed by markets like Seattle.
And hey, if it doesn't happen... at least marijuana is legal now!

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Stevil wrote...

Except....

December 12, 2012 1:11 pm

No Figgins, no Olivo, no Kawasaki, and no Robinson. Losing those guys (though we all loved Kawasaki) was a step in the right direction. However, I'm not as optimistic about current prospects (Franklin, Romero, Hultzen, Paxton, etc.) being able to contribute much next year. If there's one thing this team should have learned by now, it's not to rush players -to the team, or out the door.

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Inspector12 wrote...

For the Love of God Do something !!!

December 12, 2012 6:02 am

I get all the things Jack said above about staying with the plan and not giving up on your guys and all that and I agree with it...That being said, we still need a BAT and we need it NOW!!! giving up a few of our kids "who have yet to proove anything" to get a Player who can produce, makes sense..It's not killing your farm system to do that....One really good bat would have a Ripple effect on this lineup in a good way. it the old "protection" theory. A team doesn't want to face your best hitter so they give the guy in front of him better pitches(the short version) which can drastically improve the entire lineup. It becomes contagious, then we could see our labor pay off with the youngsters. To do nothing and say "stay the course?" really? after the last several Years of SUCKAGE? REALLY JACK? COME ON !! Grow a Sack and make the Move...we will be a better team in the long run because of it..Not doing so will lose fan base and support for the team and money as well because of it. yes the kids may be better this year but what if they are not, then what? OH WAIT, we WAIT till next year and "TALK" about getting a hitter and the cycle continues...GET IT DONE THIS YEAR OR GET OUT !! and get someone who will !!

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Lessmith50 wrote...

Why did I know this was going to happen?

December 12, 2012 6:50 am

This comment is why I HATE this team management. I HATE THEM TO THE BONE!
but at the end, we have a pretty good thing going right now and to throw it away for a short term fix?
REALLY? 7 out of 9 years in dead last place. The worst offense in the HISTORY OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL for the past three years. The worst attendance drop in ALL OF THE MAJOR PRO SPORTS. And THE GREAT WIZARD JACKY thinks they have a good thing going.
I MUST BE THE DUMB A55! That is all i can figure out because they have NOTHING Going for them. They WILL lose Felix for NOTHING IN RETURN.
What the great WIZARD JACK means by good thing is they have FOOLS for fans. Fans that will shell out hundreds of $$ per game for a product that is NOT worth of major league money. Fans that only love bobbleheads and garlic fries. The real fans have already bailed on this team. Yet Jack thinks he has a good thing going.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BASEBALL GODS FORCE THIS INEPT NUTLESS OWNERSHIP TO SELL. PLEASE I BEG YOU BASEBALL GODS. PLEASE I AM ON MY KNEES BEGGING YOU.

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Rayvensdad wrote...

Lessmith50...

December 12, 2012 10:17 am

I totally understand your frustration, I feel it as well. But remember, your comment of "7 out of 9 year in dead last place." in reference to the comment "we have a pretty good thing going right now" is misplaced. Only 1 of those years was this entire core as is (obviously being last year). And they made a +8 improvement from the year before, which when accounting for the fact that many of the position players were playing their first full season and THE REST OF THE AL WEST were really good, that +8 is pretty impressive, not to mention they were in a TON of 1 run games, meaning they were close a lot. Continued development will push this team over the top. If you took their +8 and factor that again into next year, then this team will be 83-79, a winning record, but with the growth we should see, the fences in, AND NO Figgins and Olivo, I'd be surprised not to see a +10-15 next year.
Also, the Worst Offense in History does not include last year. Not good at home, yeah, but good on the road... which hopefully the pulled in fences can fix.
Should they go get a big bat through Free Agency? I think they should. The fact that the majority of the team wont cost them real money for at least a few more years means that they can do it. BUT remember the Free Agent must agree to come here, and sometimes not even money will convince some to come to a franchise that is growing. Stay strong, Lessmith50, I feel your pain... I honestly do. I'm on the brink of rooting for the Yankees just so I can remember what it is like to watch a winning team play baseball... and I HATE the Yankees. We will reap the rewards. When? I wish I knew... but I honestly think it will be sooner then you think. And like I said earlier... if it doesn't happen, at least smoking marijuana is legal. Silver lining to everything! :)

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Lessmith50 wrote...

Ravensdad

December 12, 2012 10:42 am

Thank you for talking me off the ledge. I am too young (not really) to just jump now. Its nice to hear a voice of reason when sometimes all i see is RED!
It still hurts to see this group sitting on their hands. Dont you remember all the so call great up and coming so call stars, The little unit, roger salkeld and other from that group that the front office put all their chip in on and refused to move? NOT ONE of those kids panned out. NOT ONE!
It is so hard to see other teams do something and all we get is Jason Bay. GREAT! He just brought that 1.5 million fans that have bailed back in.
As for pot being legal i am a product of the 70's, been there done that a million times and it still doesnt help.

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Lessmith50 wrote...

Shannon what are we to do?

December 12, 2012 7:15 am

I know we had a chat last year about me being so negative and you asked me for patience. I backed off last year after you replied to an email I sent you (again thank you for your valuable time).
I just dont think I can take another year of the same ole same ole. I just kills me to see the ineptness of this franchise. Why do they keep it? What is their motivation? Surely its not to win anything.
I heard the other day Jim Bowden say on the radio that with the new ESPN & other TV deals that every team will have 100 million more in the coffers. I dont know if that is true. But i cannot understand why he would say that publically on the radio. If that is true this franchise has plenty of money. I believe they have plenty of money anyway.
I love this game more than any sport but this group have squeezed ever ounce of passion out of it for me. They dont care one iota about the fans who built their empire for them. WHEN DO WE AS FANS GET TO REAP THE REWARDS?

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Lessmith50 wrote...

The more i read this article....The more it pisses me off

December 12, 2012 7:26 am

Here is another quote that makes me feel like this group thinks we are morons.
It is possible that along the way some player might say, hey I want to be in Seattle for all the reasons we talked about.
Please explain to me like I am a 5 yr old. WHY WOULD ANY TOP FREE AGENT COME TO PLAY IN SEATTLE? WHY?
Surely its not because we play in the nicest weather in the USA (even thought it is drop dead beautiful around here).
Surely its not because this franchise knows how to build a winner. THAT IS A PROVEN FACT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN!
Surely its not because this franchise PAYS more than other teams. See Prince Fielder and every other top free agent including your own (Griffey, ARod, The Big Unit).
Surely its not because this team has a WINNING HISTORY! Any two yr old can count on ONE HAND how many winning seasons this franchise has had in 35 yrs.
Surely its not because this team is loaded with all star talent. HECK its not even loades with bottom of the barrel major league talent. The talent level (except Felix) is AAA AT BEST!
I just dont understand the mentality of this group. Check that.... I do understand. They think EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE FANS ARE MORONS!

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seattle sports fan 13 wrote...

This is B.S.

December 12, 2012 7:42 am

I am 33 and have been a mariners fan since 1986 when my grandfather and dad took me to a mariner vs tigers game. I have loved them ever since! But this is now B.S It has been a decade since a real team has played nightly in Seattle. People like Shannon don't do there jobs and rip into the people in charge like they should. Shannon you wouldn't last one day as an east cost reporter and you know it!!! Your a "Yes Man or Women" who will never put the pressure on the front office like they do in New York or Boston. I could stop watching all sports for a year and still be more informed then you.

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Lessmith50 wrote...

Seattle sports fan 13

December 12, 2012 8:47 am

Shannon is not the problem dude. Dont kill the messenger. She is a bigger fan than you and I are combined and I am 51 and am a die hard baseball fan. I bet if you sat down with her one on one at a local watering hole and she off the record told you how she felt. She would be on the same page you and I are on. How do you think she feels? She has to watch this product EVERY SINGLE DAY! We dont we just turn off the TV or dont go. Its her job its how she feeds her family.
What good would it do for Shannon to rip Jack or Eric or DUMB AND DUMBER (Lincoln & Armstrong). She has to travel with the team on a daily basis. She has to see these guys and work with them day in and day out. What benefit does she get by cutting her own throat (Other than being released from the pain and agony this franchise GIVES US ALL)?
It is NOT her job to chastize this ownership and front office for INEPTNESS! Its guys like Geoff Baker and Steve Kelly and Art Thiel's job to chastise this group. AND THEY DO! But this group DOESNT CARE. Until you get an ownership that CARES. This is a moot point. THEY DONT CARE! It is also our job! The Fans! How? by not buying any more merchandise, NO more tickets. Why dont you picket the front gates at Safeco? I would love to join you with the other 1.5 million fans that has bailed on this worthless franchise. I HATE THIS OWNERSHIP AND FRONT OFFICE TO THE BONE. I believe they take us for granted and fools. They dont care one iota about fielding a winning product. They have proven that year after year after year. All they care about is lining their pockets. GETTING THEIRS!
They are not a good neighbor. They only care about their own interests not what is good for the city. Have you read the new article in todays paper about the new baskeball arena in the Seattle Times about the Mariners continually complaining about the new stadium. PURE SUICIDE! They dont want the stadium because they KNOW FOR SURE that it is a death nail to their business. THEY KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY PUT A CRAP PRODUCT ON THE FIELD EVERY YEAR.
Layoff Shannon she is the messenger and a dam good one at that. ITS NOT HER FAULT!

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Rayvensdad wrote...

???

December 12, 2012 10:25 am

She doesn't put the pressure on the front office??? What do you expect her to do? At the same time, if she would do what you think she'd do... how many interviews do you think she'd get... let alone have a job in the first place? Come on.

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Lessmith50 wrote...

One last rant

December 12, 2012 7:45 am

Wedge maybe a good coach for a crap team. HE IS NO GREAT MANAGER!
I am so sick and tired of his toe the company line stick.
sticking with the plan and having the discipline and guts to do it" in his words. "To be a true championship team and sustain that level of championship play you have got to stick to your guns right now," Wedge asserted. "Yeah, you want to add to it and you might even make a trade but that trade has got to make sense and not take away from what you have been doing."
Just what have you been doing? Other than finishing in last place? Putting up offensive numbers that are the worst in the history of baseball. PATHETIC!
What does he know about assembling a "true championship" team? Were are all his world series rings.If you are so good at it WHY are you managing the worst baseball team in the majors? The way he makes it sound is that he is gods gift of creating world champions. REALLY just SHUT UP and SHOW ME! So tired of this toe the company line JACK AND ERIC! BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP AND DO YOUR SO CALL MAGIC. Both of you guys have ZERO credibilty in my world. I HAVE RAN OUT OF YOUR PRECIOUS PATIENCE!
The plan of this franchise STILL is to do NOTHING but feed the fans BS, raise ticket prices and GET THEIRS when a new TV deal arises. They will continue to run out an inferior product hoping lightning strikes not once, not twice, not even three times but a half dozen times.

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Inspector12 wrote...

Lets Just watch it all happen AGAIN !!!-

December 12, 2012 8:39 am

Been following this team since day one and nothing brings a city or a region together more than a Winning Team on a Playoff Run !! WE THE FANS ARE SICK OF WAITING !!! MAKE A "F%$$&_%$" TRADE OR SIGN A FA. STOP SITTING BACK AND WAITING...Wait 1 yr Fine, 2 yrs dont like it but ok, 3 yrs WHY? but another? NO FREAKIN WAY !! No one is asking for a Marlins type deal where we dump our Roster. Just need a Bat or 2 that can produce. if you love the precious talent Pool Of SUCKAGE we have had for years now, Keep it Im fine with that. then Go get SWISHER or HAMILTON, or WHOEVER. I dont really care just a "human being who can hit a baseball" at more than a .250 clip for this club and drive in runs..Im not normally Mr. negative but this year is different..SICK OF WAITING!!! LOVE THE M's and want them to win badly.. Calling all M's fans that are considering buying tickets.. "DON'T:"..It's the only way they will see the light. when folks continue to stop showing up for games, something will have to happen. STOP WATCHING EVERYBODY!!!!! ELSE GET BETTER and MAKE A FREAKIN MOVE !!!

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Lessmith50 wrote...

Inspector

December 12, 2012 10:52 am

Spot on comment. I will disagree with one comment. I dont believe for one second if there were no fans to show up that management will wake up. They wont! They dont care! That is plain and simple.
The thing that will happen is they will field a 25 million dollar payroll and still make money hand over fist from their tv & radio deals. THEY DONT CARE ABOUT THE PAYING FANS. THEY NEVER HAVE!They care about the smoke and mirror shell games they play. The bobble heads, the stupid trains, the dumb posters and now the biggest TV screen in baseball. IT IS NOT ABOUT WINNING ITS ABOUT MARKETING! They are proven LOSERS at winning and proven WINNERS at Marketing.
It is all about the TV money. They BS the fans to death and are praying the ROOT sports are blind morons like us and will give them boat loads of money for a minor league product. I PRAY that ROOT sports just looks them in the eye and laugh at them and then just walk from the negotiating table. If I am head nuts of Root sports why do I give you more money when the fans are leaving by the SMOAK train loads? Why do you deserve more money for such an inferior product. Usually in the real world the Mariners would be FIRED!

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Inspector12 wrote...

Lessmith50- I agree

December 12, 2012 1:20 pm

I agree with you on your comments. My main point being that if we stop supporting the merchandise the ticket sales and the Concessions they will take a hit and maybe wake up...But I agree they are putting on a good show marketing an inferior product Via TV and other avenues...You are correct in your statements. Lets hope the Movie has a twist at the end and the Good Guy gets the girl after all..

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Chasbo wrote...

Mariners

December 12, 2012 9:31 am

The Seattle Mariners are the movie "Groundhog Day"

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shane5150 wrote...

Amen, Brother

December 12, 2012 1:05 pm

But, we've got JASON BAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Updated Dec 12, 2012 - 10:41 am

Hot Stove wrapup: Zduriencik not likely to give up top pitching prospects

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Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012