M's Discussing Contract Extension With Felix

[Rain City]

Ive been pretty disappointed in the off season but id give it a C if felix gets extended.

i like that we improved the MOTO w/out dealing specs. but our pitching has regressed with Vargas not being replaced and fences coming in, add our defensive deficiency and lack of athleticism, i think of chances our being competitive this year are very slim. i think with a really good off season we coulda had realistic expectation to contend w/out mortgaging the future.

[FWBrodie]

Extending Felix is sooo important, it just increases his value as an asset and further cements him as the cornerstone of the franchise.

[seasun62]

I think the right thing to do would be to extend him at fair market value, which IMO, makes him at least one the three highest paid pitchers (probably really deserves to be #1 at least until Verlander extends...as I would expect). Do that, sign Saunders to a one year deal (or one plus one) and hope that Zunino and one of the big three make it up this year. It may be a long shot, but I think it'd be fun as **** to see Walker and Zunino at some point. But seeing any of them would be enough to keep me excited about the year.

The other changes all bring some question to JZ's abilities, but I will maintain my confidence in him (given the limits I believe ownership puts on him) until proven otherwise.

[FWBrodie]

I'd love to see Walker at least in the bullpen by the end of the year. I think Hultzen and Paxton will both be starting for the Mariners by July.

[Iansnightout]

I'd love to see Walker at least in the bullpen by the end of the year. I think Hultzen and Paxton will both be starting for the Mariners by July.

You think Paxton will be in before Walker? I know he's played at higher levels and is older but he seems less polished.

[Seattle4Ever]

Yeah I think Pax beats Walker also.

[FWBrodie]

I just know that Paxton could strikeout big leaguers today. He's got some control problems, but he'd at the very least be a quality bullpen arm. Maybe that's how he gets his feet wet. 95-98 with a knee buckling deuce, man I can't wait. Guess it's up to him to show them he's ready, but I'm a believer. He's a year older than Hultzen too.

Hultzen at AA last year: 75.1 ip, 9.44 k/9, 3.82 bb/9
Paxton at AA last year: 105.1 ip, 9.31 k/9, 4.57 bb/9

[NateyB24]

I just know that Paxton could strikeout big leaguers today. He's got some control problems, but he'd at the very least be a quality bullpen arm. Maybe that's how he gets his feet wet. 95-98 with a knee buckling deuce, man I can't wait. Guess it's up to him to show them he's ready, but I'm a believer. He's a year older than Hultzen too.

Hultzen at AA last year: 75.1 ip, 9.44 k/9, 3.82 bb/9
Paxton at AA last year: 105.1 ip, 9.31 k/9, 4.57 bb/9

I could see that Hultzen is in a higher level right now but bullpen arms usually don't get developed through Triple A they get promoted pretty fast.

From what i have seen from Paxton don't know if he is starter material he can look dominate then after a few innings just lose it badly.

[CamraMaan]

Yeah, I think both Paxton and Hultzen make it to the majors before Walker. If Walker had a more durable frame, I could see him up quicker. But he's not Felix, so I see them being patient and safe with him, stretch his arm out more in a less stressful environment. I think they move Victor Sanchez quicker than Walker... just based on physical durability... I could totally see Sanchez potentially up here within two years. 85 IP last year, 125 this year, 150+ in 2014, with a september call-up in the BP (age 19), then starting 2015 out of spring training. Maybe Walker gets a september call-up as well to throw a bit in the BP this year, then start in 2014.

But either way, we have studs coming to our pitching mounds very soon, so keeping Felix as the long term anchor is a must.

Although I think Maurer will make his presence known before Walker and Sanchez (at least before Sanchez), I think there will be a day when we have Felix, Walker, Hultzen, Paxton, and Sanchez (and maybe Maurer instead of one of the big three if a trade is deemed necessary for offense). But we'll have some studs rounding out the rotation soon!!

[CamraMaan]

I know Ian, tl:dr... its ok.

[FWBrodie]

Sanchez is pretty far away.

[NateyB24]

Yeah, I think both Paxton and Hultzen make it to the majors before Walker. If Walker had a more durable frame, I could see him up quicker. But he's not Felix, so I see them being patient and safe with him, stretch his arm out more in a less stressful environment. I think they move Victor Sanchez quicker than Walker... just based on physical durability... I could totally see Sanchez potentially up here within two years. 85 IP last year, 125 this year, 150+ in 2014, with a september call-up in the BP (age 19), then starting 2015 out of spring training. Maybe Walker gets a september call-up as well to throw a bit in the BP this year, then start in 2014.

But either way, we have studs coming to our pitching mounds very soon, so keeping Felix as the long term anchor is a must.

Although I think Maurer will make his presence known before Walker and Sanchez (at least before Sanchez), I think there will be a day when we have Felix, Walker, Hultzen, Paxton, and Sanchez (and maybe Maurer instead of one of the big three if a trade is deemed necessary for offense). But we'll have some studs rounding out the rotation soon!!

Yea i agree probably won't see Walker this season but it wouldn't surprise me he fast tracked himself to Double A.

[CamraMaan]

Sanchez is pretty far away.

Tis true, but from what I've read scouts think he's got the frame to handle a bigger workload quicker, and hence move quicker considering his age. Still think Walker gets here first, just that Sanchez gets here at a younger age.

Yea i agree probably won't see Walker this season but it wouldn't surprise me he fast tracked himself to Double A.

Oh I wouldn't doubt that Walker starts in AA and doesn't take long to get to AAA. Whether or not he can prove himself enough there to get a september call-up is the question. And on second thought, no, I think they shut him down to protect his arm at the end of this MiLB season. But I can totally see him battling for a spot in the rotation in ST 2014, kinda like Pineda, assuming he does well this year.

[CamraMaan]

Funny side note... so I mentioned a while back that when I went to Mexico (Mazatlan) I met some minor league guys who played for the Mazatlan team. Well I asked them (among other questions) which system gave them the most fits... three of the four guys immediately said the Jackson team was crazy good, not really knowing it was a Mariners farm team. The other guy didn't play against Jackson. But for those three (all position players) it was a no-brainer... Jackson was disgustingly good.

Take it for what you will. We had all three of Hultzon, Paxton and Walker pitch there last year. But they did note that it wasn't just the pitching... it was simply a dominant team for that level.

[jej]

^Maurer was there too. That was a dirty rotation