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July 30, 2024 15 mins
Daniel Kramer, covers the Seattle Mariners via MLB.com joins the show. Daniel assesses the three trades the M's have completed, his reaction to the Mariners acquiring outfielder Randy Arozarena, are they done making deals, and much more. 


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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Daniel Kraner MLB dot Com beat writer for the Mariners,
joins us, as he does every day at this time
on the Beacon Plumbing every week at this time on
the Beacon Plumbing hotline. Daniel, thanks for joining us. Lots
happened with this team since we talked to you last
big picture. Did they get better? Did they stay the same?
How would you assess the three trades to augment the

(00:20):
full pen in the lineup? Yeah, I don't.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Think there's any other way than that you can describe
what they've done over the past three four or five
days really since his road trip started, than that they
did get better. Now, did they go get the you know,
the biggest fish out there if he is even available. No,
but it doesn't sound like that is really potentially going
to be in the cards at this point. But I

(00:45):
don't think you can look at the acquisitions of especially
Randy Rose Arena and what he already has shown you
what he can do at the play, and then you
bring in a guy like Justin Turner, who might not
be the flashiest name out there, and you know he
certainly probably isn't what he was five six, seven years
ago with the Dodgers, but he still gives you a

(01:05):
quality at bat. He makes a ton of contact. Above all,
he doesn't really strike out. So that's something that they
badly need. And you know, one thing that I think
jumped off the page immediately after the news was breaking
yesterday and then Scott Servis reiterated this when we talked
to him a pregame was just that you know, Turner

(01:27):
could potentially come in there and bring us veteran voice
and one that has won consistently. He's got eighty six
games of postseason experience, he's been in the league forever,
he knows hitting, and from all of the conversations we
had with folks yesterday because this is where he played

(01:51):
last year, that you know, he's a great presence in
that regard, not just with you know, teammates and players,
but you know, to deal with in terms of the
media as well. So, uh, you know, he's only going
to be here for two months, so you wonder how
how loud that voice will carry, and you know he's
he's still got to get acclimated with with everybody, uh

(02:13):
new environment. But I think that that could sneakily be
you know, an under under the radar attribute that this team,
you know, kind of needs if you if you look
at it, it's it's a really young clubhouse. Yes, they
did get to the postseason two years ago, but you know,
other than that experience, a lot of these guys have

(02:34):
really tasted in October, at least in a state sustained rate,
certainly not like Turner did with the Dodgers. So uh,
I think that that could, you know, wind up being
something that really benefits this group. You know, a guy
who's who's come in, who's done it, and you know
players who see that and no guys who have an

(02:55):
established track record tend to gravitate towards those types of
guys We've seen in the past with Gino Suarez, with
Carlos Santana, Robbie Ray. I mean, they've missed that type
of presence this year, and I'm really curious to see
how Turner meshes in that regard.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
Daniel Kramer Mariners, be right at MLB dot com, joining
us on the Beacon Plumbing Hotline. He's in Boston where
the Mariners are playing the Red Sox in a three
game series at Fenway Park. Is justin Turner there, and
if so, do you expect him in the lineup and
where tonight.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
Yeah, he is here. There was speculation that because the
Blue Jays were playing in Baltimore that could he rush
and get up here and somehow come off the bench
late in the game last.

Speaker 1 (03:40):
Night that right, you hit the team one day, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
I think he did. He didn't land at Logan International
Airport around ninth thirty, so it was you know, maybe
in the cards, but no, they they kind of put
that one to rest right away. But I don't dissipate
that he will be into Night's lineup, probably higher up
in the order, and curious to see if they throw

(04:08):
him right out onto the field and have him play
in first base, because it sounds like Scott Servis doesn't
really have any trepidation to do so, even though Turner
has only played I think five games there this season
and sixteen in the field total. He's primarily been Toronto's
designated hitter, and I think you'll see him DH a
bunch two for the Mariners, but you know they're looking

(04:31):
at him kind of working in that first base DH
hybrid as they you know, typically do when they play matchups,
and I don't think it'll be like any sort of
straight platoon or anything like he's going to be an
everyday fixture in their lineup, but it'll probably like flip
flop between those two spots. And you know, he was
obviously a long time third baseman two. I think they

(04:53):
could use him there in a pinch, but I don't
see him seeing regular action at that position.

Speaker 1 (05:01):
Thing with the trades, when the Mariners traded for Randy,
what was your reaction and how do you see him
fitting and finding a role with this Mariner's offense moving forward?

Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, you know, anytime a big name moves I think
there's a you know, a certain adrenaline rush that comes
with it, especially since it was into the wee hours
after you know, we had arrived in Chicago and getting
word that something big was going to happen. You know,
it makes for an exciting time of the year, which
this part of the schedule always is. As for his

(05:35):
fit and the transaction itself, I wasn't super shocked about
that part of it, just because you know, Jerry Depoto,
justin Hollander and the folks over in Tampa have a
long track record of you know, making significant, notable trades.
I think this was their sixteenth together, which is far

(05:57):
and away the most between any single team since he
took over after the twenty fifteen season, and the fact
that the Rays being where they're at in the standings
kind of flirting with five hundred in a very competitive
American League East. You talk about a team that typically
always is reactionary to where they are, and you know,

(06:20):
having kind of blunt self assessments in that regard, it
was no shock to see that they were going to
sell at this stage of the season. You know, just
give him where they're at, and then you look at
the roster and you know what they have. They had
a lot of pieces that would fit, you know, the
twenty six man group Uppier in Seattle. You know, Randy

(06:43):
was clearly one of them, because they were looking for
a corner, corner outfield bat that could bring some stump.
Janny Diaz is a first baseman over there who personally
I thought for a long time might be the best
fit among the Rays group, and he's reportedly available, though
you know, from the conversations I've had, it's it doesn't

(07:04):
sound like there's been as much traction with him in
trade negotiations, and I think the addition of Turner kind
of solidifies where they stand it at first base. And
then you know another guy was Eastoc Baradys who got
moved to the Cubs. You know, an all star third
baseman this year can also play the first and uh,
you know, from what I heard, the Mariners had had

(07:27):
considered it, but you know, negotiations didn't get very deep,
uh into you know, potentially acquiring him. So long winded
answer to say that, you know, these teams really matched
up really well on paper just for you know, needs
and especially when you when you get to the stage
of the season and it seem like Tampa is looking

(07:49):
to sell. You kind of had the foresight and anticipation
that they would really line up and to you know,
to get a guy like Randy. It's already shown that
he's kind of brought a boost. The homer he hit
last night is you know, pretty trademark for what he
can bring. And then you know, behind the scenes in

(08:12):
the clubhouse, there's a certain swagger about him. You know,
his first round of BP when we were in Chicago,
it was it was kind of electric in a way
because he gets up there and you know, his teammates
are coming around introducing themselves and then they want to
watch and I think he hit ten homers in a
three or four round of batting practice there, and you know,

(08:34):
it's just like really really loud off the bat, and
so there's just kind of an extra you know, Scott's
talked about it. It's kind of like jolt or juice
that they've had on this road trip just by all
the acquisitions they've made. And you know, from my vantage point,
I think, you know, it does kind of check out
in that regard. The vibe around this team is significantly

(08:57):
different than it was just one week ago, when you know,
things were spiraling and they were in the middle of
the terrible homestand that included a three game sweep to
the lowly Angels that just you know, I know, last
night's loss was pretty tough, especially since it was such
a runaway. But you know, other than that, there does
just feel like a different vibe in dynamic in that

(09:19):
clubhouse based on the confidence that they're getting from the
front office to really make an aggressive run at this thing.

Speaker 1 (09:26):
From Boston. This is Daniel Kramer, MLB dot com beat
writer with the Mariners in Beantown, joining us on as
he does every Tuesday on the Beacon Plumbing hotline, Daniel,
are they done or do you anticipate another move, maybe
even not a huge move, but wanted to augment the bullpen,
perhaps maybe another bat Or are they done before three pm? Devine?

Speaker 2 (09:46):
I don't think they're done in terms of negotiation, negotiating
and being really aggressive out there and making phone calls.
I think that will take us all the way to
six pm here three pm back home. Whether or not
they can actually like pull off another trade is kind
of another, I guess conversation, just because you know, it's tough,

(10:08):
Like you've seen the returns that some of these leavers
are getting out there on the market, and I don't
necessarily know if they're willing to go like deep or
towards the top of their farm system to get another
arm in the bullpen, but you know, maybe if you can,
you know, find another way to add in that regard,

(10:31):
I do think they would like to for sure. You know,
the the addition of Jimmy Garcia was great and they
really like what he brings. But you can never have
enough relief arms, So I think that that's an area
that they would like to address here in the next
couple hours if they can, And you know, again, it
kind of ties up to how they match up with

(10:52):
other trade partners and you know who's available. You're already
starting to see a ton of flurry of transactions here
this afternoon between other contenders, and I'm sure that they're
in a sick of all those calls, you know, as
to whether or not they add another bat. I'm certain
that they would be open to doing so, but I
could also see them, you know, being comfortable with the

(11:13):
two guys that they brought in and kind of addressing
the specific needs that they felt like they needed to address.
So we'll see with this front office, and you know
how busy they've been on this road trip alone. I think,
you know, a case could be made that they've been
arguably the most active team in this year's trade deadline market.
So I wouldn't put anything past them. And you know,

(11:36):
I'm constantly going to be manning the phones on my
own as well until we get to six o'clock and
then we can kind of all a breath of fresh
air and move on.

Speaker 1 (11:48):
Daniel Kramer from Boston The life of a Major League
beat writer on MLB Trading Deadline Day, joining us on
ninety three point three KJR fan Daniel, you mentioned the
vibe of the team is quote completely different than it
was last year and or last week. Excuse me at
this time with the Angels series and a Rose Arena
coming in and the electric the juice that he provides alone,

(12:09):
not to mention Justin Turner, not to mention Jimmy Garcia,
and the bullpen has potentially now the eighth inning bridge.
They need to get to Munos in the ninth. Have
they done enough? Do you think these three moves are
going to put them in position to win the West
more so than it was even a week ago.

Speaker 2 (12:27):
I think they're definitely in a better position than they
were a week ago. And whether it's enough to really
solidify and push them over the top, We'll have to
kind of wait and see. I will say, like what
Randy has kind of already brought. You know, obviously the amphetic,
emphatic Homer last night really stands out, but just the

(12:49):
quality of is it back and you know, I know
it's been a short sample, just they're really competitive. Even
his strikeouts in Chicago, you know he was getting into
deep full counts and you know, laying off some really
tough pitches and just showing more discipline that they they've
they've missed in a lot of ways, especially as the
strikeout numbers have really piled up. And you know, like

(13:10):
I was saying on Turner, like a contact specialist who
doesn't really have the power that he used to. But
if he's a guy that can be a consistent on
base presence, that's just going to free up the rest
of their lineups and you know, maybe even add a
little bit of confidence in that regard when guys go
up to the plate and they realize that they, you know,
have a guy in scoring position or somebody that they

(13:31):
can rely on to pass the baton too. I do
think like objectively it's a better lineup than it was
a few days ago. You look at the addition of
Jimmy Garcia too, he's arguably the best reliever available on
the market, and just kind of flip flopping him with
Ryan Stanik, who was clearly experiencing his own troubles and

(13:53):
what's been a challenging month or so. So I think
like there's it's look at the addition, it's objectively better,
but whether whether or not they can like ride this
out and hold off Houston to win the West. We'll
have to wait and see it, because it looks like
that's probably going to be the clearest path to the postseason,

(14:16):
you know, given that the wild card race is so crowded,
and you know, the West has kind of been underachieving.
It's it seems pretty just think that if you're going
to be playing in October, you're gonna need to win
the division. So we'll see. But it's it's of like
the moves that they've made, especially, you know, given how

(14:36):
challenging things were, you could have potentially pivoted, and you know,
they stayed. They stayed the course and true to to
wanting to continue to upgrade, and you know, so far
they've successfully been able to pull off a few big
deals that you know, they feel have improved the roster
and potentially could uh, you know, see this thing to
the finish line.

Speaker 1 (14:58):
That's Daniel Kramer from Boston, the Barons beat writer from
LB dot com. You can read all his stories at
MLB dot com and on Twitter x. He's at d
Kramer k R A M E R Underscore d Kramer. Daniel,
thanks for joining us. We may have another trade to
talk to you. About next week, but now you definitely
have a Pennant race to cover. Now enjoy that and

(15:20):
enjoy Boston. Have safe travels all right, Thanks guys,
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