However, to the over analyzing eye it might appear that Zduriencik was continuing his quest to right the wrongs of his predecessor. He has completely cleaned house of failed Bavasi players. Former high draft picks like Jeff Clement and Phillippe Aumont were traded away. High paid and underperforming free agents like Carlos Silva were cut or traded. All this got me thinking, about all the bad moves Bavasi made during his tenure and the moves Zduriencik has subsequently had to make to try and undo the damage. I think the worst was probably the Carlos Guillen trade.
In 2003, the Mariners first year GM Bill Bavasi traded up and coming SS Carlos Guillen to the Detroit Tigers for replacement level SS Ramon Santiago and “Not” Juan Gonzalez (thanks to the Seattle Times Larry Stone for the nickname). As you might remember, Carlos Guillen went on to excel in Detroit. He played in three All-Star games. While Ramon Santiago bounced around the Mariners minor leagues for two years before being cut and then re-signed by the Tigers. “Not” Juan Gonzalez remained exactly that. This traded essentially amounted to the Mariners giving the Tigers an All-star SS for nothing.
The only other move that I think might even compare to the Carlos Guillen trade for terribleness is the Erik Bedard trade. That bad trade basically drained the Mariners farm system to acquire a pitcher, who admittedly was lights out when healthy, but spent way too much time on the DL. However, at the time lots of people thought it was a gutsy move and would pay off big for the M’s. I remember thinking that they were close to the playoff and the addition of another ace pitcher would push them over the hump. I that this general optimism at the time of the deal makes it better than the Guillen trade.
In 2003, the Mariners first year GM Bill Bavasi traded up and coming SS Carlos Guillen to the Detroit Tigers for replacement level SS Ramon Santiago and “Not” Juan Gonzalez (thanks to the Seattle Times Larry Stone for the nickname). As you might remember, Carlos Guillen went on to excel in Detroit. He played in three All-Star games. While Ramon Santiago bounced around the Mariners minor leagues for two years before being cut and then re-signed by the Tigers. “Not” Juan Gonzalez remained exactly that. This traded essentially amounted to the Mariners giving the Tigers an All-star SS for nothing.
The only other move that I think might even compare to the Carlos Guillen trade for terribleness is the Erik Bedard trade. That bad trade basically drained the Mariners farm system to acquire a pitcher, who admittedly was lights out when healthy, but spent way too much time on the DL. However, at the time lots of people thought it was a gutsy move and would pay off big for the M’s. I remember thinking that they were close to the playoff and the addition of another ace pitcher would push them over the hump. I that this general optimism at the time of the deal makes it better than the Guillen trade.
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| The Horror! |
Sources: Baseball-Refernce.com, SeattleTimes.com
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