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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maqman wrote...

Get a grip guys

December 12, 2012 10:08 am

if you're not happy following the M's go follow the Yankees, Giants, Texas or the Mongolian National Wrestling Federation. You won't be missed.

511755

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Lessmith50 wrote...

maqman

December 12, 2012 10:54 am

Yea we wont be missed because the Mariners are BANKING on fools like you to continue to pay for a garbage product.
THIS IS PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. ITS ALL ABOUT WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS. This is not HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS. People who pay exorbant amounts of money for a product should get something other that trash for your investment. WE have a right to complain. Afterall who in the HECK built that stadium for them?

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dfb1 wrote...

Z and Wedge are kidding themselves

December 12, 2012 10:13 am

The Mariners don't have the capital with the fan base to be patient anymore. The M's have the fastest drop in attendance in all of professional sports, if they don't address fan base hopelessness it will be too late when they eventually do get things fixed...if they ever do. I'm a little frustrated with the Seattle media because they don't seem to be willing to hold the M's feet to the fire face to face. They'll write tough columns or blogs but no one will ask the hard questions directly

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Lessmith50 wrote...

dfb1

December 12, 2012 11:11 am

I agree 100% WHY is DUMB and DUMBER getting free passes every year. THEY are the ones that run this franchise. When is Howard the DUCK Lincoln going to Man up and be held accountable for his ineptness. After all he stood right at the podium a few years back and said "Everyone is going to be held accountable including Me". I believe that was around 5 yrs ago.
One other thing that just sends me over the edge is all the blame laid on Bill Bavasi. I DONT BLAME HIM AT ALL. He was doing everything to save his job. I lay the blame squarely on Howard Lincoln and Chuck Armstrong. THEY HIRED BAVASI! They signed off on EVERY transaction Bavasi pulled off. Yet all i hear is how bad Bavasi set this franchise back. YOUR ALL WRONG. The people who set this back are OWNERSHIP AND THE FRONT OFFICE, PERIOD! They HIRED HIM! If they knew anything about baseball they would have made a better hire. I believe that. If they knew anything about baseball they would have NIXED the Bedard trade. They would NOT have signed off on SILVA! Do you think for one minute that Nolan Ryan allows Bavasi that much leeway? I highly doubt it. WHY? Because Nolan KNOW the game of Baseball. Howard know the Marketing world of NINTENDO.

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Dan1 wrote...

With this roster

December 12, 2012 10:53 am

The M's will be out of the race by mid June and battling the Astro's to see stays out of the cellar at the end of the season.

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outsider wrote...

hope

December 13, 2012 7:07 am

Hopefully, management will stay with 'the plan' whatever it is. At least there persumably is one which certanly didn't exists with Bavasi. While the pressurre to 'win' is ever present, giving away the future and consistently signing has been free agents or trading for .240 'sluggers' is not the answer. Give the young guys at least three years to develop which is what it took for Sin Choo, Morse, and others.

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Ed Altizer wrote...

OK....what if????

December 12, 2012 11:20 am

So many negative comments who can't "see the forest for the trees". Now just for fun imagine...WHAT IF...the young players with all the potential we've heard about over the past 2 - 4 years finally realized that potential and put it all together. WHAT IF...Smoak hit the 35 - 40 HRs of which he is capable. WHAT IF...Ackley gets it and hits over .300. WHAT IF...Seager improves over a very good 2012. And Montero, Saunders, Gutierrez, etc., etc. Yes, it may not happen. But WHAT IF....it did!! What a great year it would be to be a Mariner fan.

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Lessmith50 wrote...

ed

December 12, 2012 3:16 pm

You know about what ifs. What if an astroid hits us tommorrow and we are all dead. I bet vegas will give you better odds on an astroid hit. Than all the AA kids blossoming into all stars. What if??

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john_s wrote...

Howie n Armstrong

December 12, 2012 11:38 am

Are cancers to this team and this team will not win with them in charge HOWARD FOR THE GOOD OF THE TEAM PLEASE SELL THE TEAM! ARMSTRONG FOR THE GOOD OF THE TEAM PLEASE QUIT!!!!

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Stevil wrote...

Three Things....

December 12, 2012 11:57 am

First, I'm seriously wondering if Chuck and Howard are still restricting contracts to four years or less. If they are, it shouldn't be a surprise if we can't land Swisher, or anyone else worth a bdamn. Second, Triunfel hasn't shown anything to suggest he's close to being major-league ready. To suggest he might have a shot next season, is comical. Third, Romero had limited time at 1B in college, and hasn't played any first since (no stats saying so anyway), so I wouldn't pencil him in as a sure-thing for 1B if Smoak fails. Having said that, I'm not opposed to the idea of a little playing time there for Romero to see if he could pick it up. I've wondered about him seeing time in left as well. But Romero has yet to play a game above AA. Expecting great things soon, probably isn't realistic.

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sambra27 wrote...

Compare to other teams

December 12, 2012 12:08 pm

Compare the dismal performances of the mariners with, say, the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays went several uears straight finishing worst than the bottom of the barrel, and they are in the AL East. The were able to build through the Farm system, and they are a team who is only capable of signing players to either one year deal or to a large contract extension when are new to the league (Longoria, Matt Moore). That team has a very good foundation. The Mariners are building that same foundation.

That being said, why not just try and sign swisher to a three year deal? I like Swisher WAY more than Hamilton! Significantly cheaper, plays more of the field, has pop, is a good clubhouse guy and will be a good personality for the team and city. This way we have extra money to sign Felix to a contract extension since he is the unquestioned face of the franchise. If swisher signs you can play him at right, left, first, or DH
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This is a lineup I could get behind:

Ackley - 4

Saunders - 8

Montero - 2

Swisher - 9

Seager - 5

Smoak - 3

Jaso - DH

Bay - 7

Ryan - 6

Good mix of lefties and righties in that lineup, and once Nick Franklin is ready, trade Brendan Ryan and slot Franklin into the lineup in the 9 spot

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sambra27 wrote...

another thing for M's fans

December 12, 2012 12:19 pm

Look at last years A's team as a shining example of how a lackluster team can have alot of success and how quickly a fan base an get behind them. I live in Sacramento so I am very close to A's sports radio. You all should have heard how much they were lamenting the team at the beginning of last season, and how quickly that changed when the team started to string together wins. There was NOTHING special about that team last season. They had no stars on pitching or hitting, yet they were able to have alot of success. We could see very good things happen in 2013.

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shane5150 wrote...

You can get behind this line-up...

December 12, 2012 1:15 pm

...and the M's will get behind the rest of the AL West! Ackley appears to be a bust. Saunders is out of chances. Montero could be OK. Swisher is not going to come here ( you actually have to pay top free agents ). Seager is probably at the top of his game (is that good enough?). Smoak is a complete Joke (thanks, Jackie Z!). Jaso is a utility player at best. Ryan bats about .150. Yeah, where do I get tickets?

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sambra27 wrote...

shane5150

December 13, 2012 9:09 am

How can you even come close to calling Ackley a bust? He has had basically one full season in the majors. Yes, last season was horrible for him considering we drafted to be a low strikeout, decent pop, line-drive, on base guy, but it was only one season. Look at the season Jason Heyward had this season and remember it took him 2 seasons, somewhat riddled by injury, to get there.

With Smoak: were you also complaining when we traded Cliff Lee for him? Smoak was widely regarded as a 30-hr, Mark Texeira-esque prospect, and we got him for basically nothing. Yes, we had to trade Cliff Lee, but we owed Lee basically nothing, were out of playoff contention, and would not have been able to afford him in the offseason. If Smoak does not realize his potential this season, then yes he is a bust and it will be time to cut him loose.

How is Saunders out of chances? Was he not one of the teams greatest offensive weapons last season? And he is a fantastic defender. Tell me how he is now out of chances
.
Montero has one season with the M's. One. He is young and will be a great hitter. It would surprise no scout in the league if he hit 20-25 homers and batted .280 to .300. His only red flag is his defense, but that's why we drafted Zunino.

How can you possibly be negative on Seager if what we got from him is the top of his game? So 20 homeruns, 86 rbis and 13 steals, with the most clutch 2-out, RiSP hitting in the majors wasn't good enough from a guy who nobody expected to be a starter last season?

Can't really argue with you on Ryan, except for the fact that, except for the fact that he doesn't bat "about .150" and is actually a career .240 hitter. Not anything to be desired, but certainly not as dismal as you make it sound

And finally, we have the money to pay Swisher, that's not the issue. The issue is he has to "want" to come here...

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WShadow206 wrote...

I WOULD..

December 12, 2012 1:50 pm

wait till trade deadline where someone could b desperate n pull trigger but if there offer isnt what were looking for now im waiting n counting on my youth to produce. We Have the King so we just need some solid young arms in that rotation our bullpen solid with youth. and obviously we needa hit but do we all think that these young hitters we got are going to produce this yr an yrs to come this is there time....OUR TIME! Im feeling our offense this yr just bcs of experience u can get at big league level as these players have theyve struggled at times but this is the time now! ha lego!

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Newton wrote...

Jack doing what he does best.

December 12, 2012 6:43 pm

Selling snow to the Eskimos telling them its new and improved snow. Ya Jack tell me another story.

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ronzilla wrote...

If I walked past the M's ownership sittin' on the dock of the bay:

December 13, 2012 1:54 am

I'd walk up behind them and kick them into the toxic water. And the left-lane drivers too.
"Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out!"

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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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