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When you are offered a #1 or #2 starter you have to listen, even if you were 1st in ERA. So when the Mariners offered John Candelaria for Mike Davis straight up, it was something that I thought long and hard about. Once Bob Tewksbury comes back from his back injury, we are set. But Clark Ullum is 33 and will be a UFA next year. I had planned on having Davis take over in left for Dan Briggs this year, he will be a good player, but I had to do it.
We have 2 more years of Candelaria at $1.5 million a year. I cannot complain about the generosity of our owner. We are still just 14th in salary, but we will rise up that list as we will need to extend players soon, but now we have 6 starters and we still need a catcher.
Enter Lance Parrish. He has 2 years at $900,000 a year, but again, we have the money and he it a perfect fit. Ullom and a prospect for Parrish, done deal. Going into the season, we will go with:
Gene Richards-Silver Slugger winner last year
Steve Sax-Led AL in batting
Fred Lynn-3 time MVP
Bob Horner-1 time MVP averaging 36 HR and .301
Roy Howell-averaging 98 RBI over 162 games
Dan Briggs
Vernon Armstead
Lance Parrish
Alan Trammell
Victor Cruz-Defending Cy Young winner
Ray Fontenot-Won Cy Young 2 years ago
Bert Blyleven-193 wins, Won Cy Young 4 years ago
John Candelaria-at least 13 wins 9 years in a row, only 1 year of ERA+ under 100
Bob Tewskbury-4th in WAR last season
I feel confident
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