SUNDAY: Kuo is "close to a decision on a landing place" for the 2012 season, agent Alan Chang told Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter). Chang also confirmed that the Mariners are one of the teams that have shown "a lot of interest" in the left-hander (Twitter link).
SATURDAY: The Mariners are "looking closely" at Hong-Chih Kuo, reports Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times (on Twitter). It's unclear if they're close to a deal. Last week we heard that three West Coast teams were eyeing the southpaw, including his former team, the Dodgers.
Kuo, 30, was non-tendered earlier this offseason after allowing 49 baserunners and 29 runs in 27 innings last season. He was arguably the game's best reliever in 2010 though, allowing just 29 hits and eight runs (1.20 ERA) in 60 innings, striking out 73 (11.0 K/9) and walking just 18 (2.7 BB/9). Left-handed batters had no chance against him that season, hitting just .095/.159/.111 with 28 strikeouts in 69 plate appearances. Kuo has had five elbow operations – including two Tommy John surgeries – and battled anxiety problems in 2011.
Seattle has already signed lefty reliever George Sherrill earlier this offseason.
NYBravosFan10
look closely elsewhere
TDKnies
Worth a shot. He was borderline untouchable just two years ago, and if he starts the year off well then that might be enough to convince another team to part with a little something in a trade for him. If he repeats 2011, all you did was waste like 1% of your team’s total payroll. Maybe closer to 2% in the Mariners’ case.
cdlewey
I doubt that they’re going to pay him 2 million
Ethanator99
I know that he has had multiple surgeries, that he has had anxiety issues, and that he was awful last year. But I really can’t believe that he hasn’t been signed yet. He truly can be great
Willjhull
Who
Wilsonl
Maybe if you read the title you would know.
Willjhull
Who, as in who cares.
Wilsonl
Maybe you should type out the full meaning then.
thegrayrace
No, Hu is with the Cleveland Indians on a minor league contract…
BlueSkyLA
What? Where?
cdlewey
Doesn’t he play first base?
Caballo14
I wish the Yankees would try and go for Kuo on a minor league contract. IF healthy the man can can shut down lefties, but then again he would prob take Marte’s spot on the DL along side Feliciano *facepalm*
Wes Whitenack
Would be nice to get him on a minor league deal. He was great before this year.
rfffr
If he wants to open a restaurant in Taiwan let him. It might be better for his anxiety
thegrayrace
I don’t know. Have you watched Kitchen Nightmares?
Ian_Smell
Enhance… enhance…. enhance….
lefty177
just print the damn picture!
WonderboyRooney10
Relievers are volatile but 2010 just cannot be a fluke. That is extreme dominance. Im surprised the interest in him is so minimal and yet Broxton gets 4MM and Frank Francisco gets 12MM. If he is even in the ballpark of his 2010 form hes going to be a bargain
Wes Whitenack
Not to mention he was great in 2008 and pretty good in ’09 as well.
thegrayrace
I don’t get it, either. As a Dodger fan who has watched both Kuo and Broxton extensively over the past few years, I’d much rather take a chance on Kuo.
BlueSkyLA
Kuo seems worth a low-risk contract for somebody, but the problem with the Dodgers giving him one is that the team is already thin in the left hand relief department. If they’re going to stock the minor leagues with lefties it seems wiser to find one who isn’t a boom or bust type.
Tony Matias
Sure… bring him aboard. What have us M’s fans got to lose? :/
roberty
Rebuilding teams can never have too many lefty relievers. Buy low now, sell high at the trade deadline.
omavricko
Oh man is this gonna be the first signing of ours that isn’t a ex mariner!!!!
Lefty
Mariners Looking Closely At Hong-Chih Kuo. I guess Jack Z and his advisers are “Near Sighted”.
Jorge Yazpik
Montero, Iwakuma, Millwood, Guillen, Sherrill, Jaso, Kawasaki, Hong Chih Kuo, Noesi, Wells, Furbush, Ruffin, Seager, Ackley, Carp, Beavan, Wilhelmsen , Kelley, Hultzen, Paxton, Trayvon Robinson….
21 players who weren’t part of the team at the begining of last season…
Jack Z is trying, and if you look at prospects, we have a top-5 system, impressive work so far…
Edgar4evar
“Welcome to Seattle, Mr. Kuo. I hear you’ve had anxiety problems. This is Sunshine. She’ll introduce you to our hemp community. And this is Helga. She’ll keep you away from our coffee shops.”
LordBanana
Sunshine? In Seattle?
MarinersFan24
Seattle Mariners take on Asian ballplayers: “Gotta catch ’em all!”
Alex Nelson 2
Kuo better be a batter… .300 30 homers … Seriously tho. What the hell are the Mariners doing.. No offense again will lose 80-90 games
m4r1n3r
They are trying to maximize their chances of winning close games.
Alex Nelson 2
Potential is quite different than execution. If the young guns play mediocre ball it’s a 80 loss season. I think at best they can be .500. Texas and Anaheim are stacked. Will be a long long time before Mariners are in 1st. They needed that big bat.