First off, I don’t think it takes expert analysis to realize the Mariners probably won’t be competing in 2011.
However, baseball is a funny game. The same Mariners that lost more games than anyone expected in 2010 could make a quick turnaround as soon as 2012—possibly sooner.
When I talk about competing, I mean exactly that: competing. I don’t think the Mariners have a great chance to win the division this next season, but there’s reason to believe that the core they have and a mediocre AL West could have them hang around in the hunt for a while if the ball bounces their way more often than not.
We saw it in 2007 and 2009. A team expected to be bad hung in there late into the season. That doesn’t mean we should view those results and be optimistic that it can happen again, but perhaps with a few moves they can increase the probability just a little.
If those moves don’t, well, at least it sets them up for their real run at contention coming in the next few years.
Here are 10 moves the Mariners could make during the course of this season to improve the club now and in the future.