Mariners Sign Hart and Acquire Morrison

Corey Hart missed all of the 2013 season due to surgery on both of his knees, but Hart, with healthy knees, has been an All Star in the past. The Mariners jumped on the opportunity to acquire a player who has the potential to perform for cheep. Hart's deal is for one year worth $6 Million gaurenteed salary but it will be similar to Mike Napoli's deal which revolved heavily around incentives. I wouldn't be comfortable with Hart in the outfield with his knee injuries, so I would assume he would find his position at first base. From 2010-2012 Hart averaged 29 home runs and 83 RBIs with a .279 batting average and a .343 on base percentage. Hart will try to help the Mariners succeed in 2014, but their off season is done here.

The Mariners also continued their progress at the Winter Meetings today by acquiring first baseman and outfielder Logan Morrison in exchange for right handed pitcher Carter Capps. Morrison has not found much success in seasons after 2011 battling injuries and hitting just .236 with a .321 on base percentage. Morrison also saw a significant power decrease after 2011 when he hit 23 home runs. Morrison will be 26 years old in 2014, so he is a player hoping for a rebound season. The Mariners got him for cheep so a possibly if Hart fails Morrison will not.

The Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers won the National League central with 96 wins in 2011. In the 2011-2012 off season it looks like The Brewers aren't even going to win the wildcard. they lost Prince fielder to free agency and Ryan Braun has to face a 50 game suspension for a failed test for performing enhancing drugs. The Brewers haven't signed any sluggers besides Aramis Ramirez so there is no one to replace Fielder.

Braun and Fielder used to be the 3-4 bunch for the Brewers combining for 231 RBI's, 71 home runs, a .406 on base percentage, and an OPS+ of 165, which is phenomenal. Now The Brewers have to play 50 games without Braun, the 2011 NL MVP and 162 games without Fielder. The Brewers didn't sign Carlos Pena as a replacement and don't seem to be in the bidding for any of the other remaining possible free agents. A trade might be brewing, but it doesn't seem likely.

The rotation for The Brewers seems pretty stable with Zack Grienke anchoring it. Grienke won 16 games with a 3.86 ERA over 171 innings. The other notable starters are Yovani Gallardo, Shaun Marcum, and Randy Wolf. These three starters combined for 619 innings and a 3.58 ERA. The Brewers have four starters with decent ERA's and can provide a sufficient amount of innings. If they do fail to pitch a decent amount of innings The Brewers have good bullpen. With Axford and Rodriguez in the back end the 8th and 9th innings are almost a given. 


Although the middle of the lineup is significantly weaker, The Brew Crew still has Rickie Weeks and they signed Aramis Ramairez. Weeks hit 20 home runs, had a .350 on base percentage and an OPS+ of 121. Rmairez hit 26 home runs, had a 361 on base percentage, and 136 OPS+. Also Corey Hart hit 26 home runs for The Brewers, but any combination of  these three players will not make up for the combination of Braun and Fielder. 


When Braun returns after his 50 game suspension, The Brewers may be able to compete with The Reds, but they will already be in a hole. with The NL West looking stronger than ever, a wild card also looks out of the equation.