Mariners Make Another Solid Move

Quick changes happen all the time in sports. From one year to the next a team can rise from last place to first, or free fall from the top all the way to the bottom.

In 2008 the Mariners were finishing up a dreadful 61-101 season and became the first team in MLB history to lose 100 games with a $100 million payroll.

What a difference a year makes. After cleaning house and bringing in a new GM, Jack Zduriencik, and manager, Don Wakamatsu, the Mariners finished 2009 with a much improved 85-77 record, and the best ERA in the American League.

Zduriencik hoped to capitalize on last season's success, and entering the 2010 offseason, the Mariners had a lot of roles to fill and a lot of questions to answer. So far, Zduriencik has filled those roles, and answered those questions. He continues a solid off season with the news that the Mariners signed free agent pitcher Erik Bedard to a one year deal.

After the injury plagued couple years Bedard spent with the Mariners, one may think that this is a bad move. Instead it's just the opposite. The Orioles absolutely robbed the Mariners when they traded Bedard for outfielder Adam Jones and pitchers George Sherrill and Chris Tillman. All the M's got in return for their best prospect and their top young pitcher was having to pay Bedard $14.75 million for two seasons during which he won 11 games in 30 starts.

Now, with a need for starting pitching, the M's have brought Bedard back, hoping he can return from injury and perform like he did when he was an All Star. Either way it's a safe move. If he comes and performs well behind Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee when he returns, that's great, and if not, it's only a one year deal this time around.

In his short time as GM of the Mariners Zduriencik has arguably made the best moves of anyone in baseball. Let's take a look at a few of them:

-He brought back Ken Griffey Jr. to the team last year which greatly helped the clubhouse and provided the team with veteran leadership. Griffey should be healthy this year and hopefully will contribute a bit extra with his bat.

-Last season he signed Russell Branyan to a cheap, one year contract, and in return he led the Mariners with 31 home runs. Talk about bang for your buck.

-He traded for reliever David Aardsma in January, and after Brendan Morrow's struggles, he emerged as the closer and posted fantastic numbers. He had 38 saves and 2.52 ERA, on his way to being named an All-Star.

-He also signed center fielder Franklin Guitierrez's contract for four years. Guitierrez was a center piece in the J.J. Putz trade, and also is one of the best defensive outfielders in the game.

-Stealing some thunder from their AL West rival Angels, the Mariners signed Chone Figgins to a four year deal.With Ichiro the Mariners now have a solid top of the order, and also now have two of the best leadoff hitters in the game on their team. Figgins has a fantastic glove, and knows how to steal a base or two.

-In the biggest move of all he acquired former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee in the huge three team trade with Toronto and Philadelphia. Adding an ace like Lee to pair with Hernandez makes the Mariners have the best 1-2 punch of any team in baseball.

-Speaking of Hernandez, Zduriencik made sure King Felix holds court in Seattle for the next five years, locking him up to a big, but not totally extravagant contract.

Zduriencik has made some other moves as well, including bringing in verterans like Eric Byrnes, Ryan Garko and Brandon League. If only one among those makes a considerable contribution, the Mariners could eclipse the uneven Rangers and sagging Angels in the AL West.

Either way, after being out the playoff conversation for years, the Mariners have finally found their way back. Lets hope things just don't look good on paper, and they look good on Opening Day.