FEBRUARY 17, 5:42pm: Cowgill’s signing has also been announced, along with the previously reported deal with Carlos Gonzalez.
11:13am: Seattle has announced its deal with Anderson. Cowgill’s deal has yet to be finalized, it seems.
FEBRUARY 15: The Mariners are nearing agreements with right-hander Cody Anderson and outfielder Collin Cowgill, reports Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times (via Twitter). Once finalized, both players will get invitations to MLB spring training on minor-league pacts, Divish adds.
Anderson, 29, had spent his entire career in the Indians’ organization. He had an impressive run in Cleveland in 2015, working to a 3.05 ERA in 91.1 innings across 15 starts. His 12.1% strikeout rate that season suggested that level of run prevention was a mirage, but he limited walks and airborne contact and looked to have a shot at sticking in the back of Cleveland’s rotation. That never came to fruition, as Anderson was bombed in limited action the following year and was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery in March 2017. That procedure largely wiped out his next two seasons.
While Anderson returned to the mound in 2019, he was mostly limited to minor-league duty in the season’s first half. Another elbow surgery- this time to repair his flexor tendon- last July marked the end of his tenure in Cleveland. Anderson is taking his physical with the Seattle organization today, Divish reports. Assuming all goes well, he may take a shot at cracking a Mariners’ rotation that could also feature injury returnees Kendall Graveman and Taijuan Walker. Alternatively, he could be an option for a Seattle bullpen lacking much certainty.
As for Cowgill, the 34-year-old is hoping to crack the majors for the first time since 2016. He’s largely made the rounds at Triple-A the past half-decade with middling results. Last season, he took 280 plate appearances for the Nationals’ top affiliate and hit .228/.330/.440. In 759 MLB plate appearances over parts of six seasons, Cowgill has compiled a .234/.297/.329 line (79 wRC+).
I’ll always remember Cowgill for that grand slam on opening day for the Mets. I can’t believe he still plays
Hasn’t taken a ML atbat in three years, so “still plays” is a bit of a judgement call.
If the guy takes the field in pro ball think he “still plays” and good bet to probably make more in a year to be that aaaa guy then a random guy who sits behind their keyboard
came here to post about the grand slam too. I remember going to Citi Field on Mother’s Day 2013 and seeing his jersey in the Mets Shop… he was DFA’d approximately 5 weeks later.
I’ll always remember him for bunting a ball into his face
Lew Ford still plays
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ford–001jon
These moves will solidify the M’s chances at winning the pennant.
This is an accurate statement whether or not you meant it to be one.
Lol yeah….
I’m ordering my playoff tickets now! Lol.
As a longtime M’s fan, I like what Dipoto is doing. We needed to restructure. We will be seeing higher profile signings in 2021 and beyond most likely. We have the revenue. And once we perfect a satellite based sign stealing system using local companies Microsoft and T-Mobile, with little vibrating devises implanted under the skin (one vibe for fastball, two vibes for curve, etc), we’ll see you in the playoffs!!!!!!
When Mitch Haniger is considered your best offensive player and the poor guy cannot even get on the field, that’s a sign your organization has a long ways to go before they are competitive. Hopefully some of the rookies come up this year and start to establish a talent base, but I cannot see the M’s competing for a playoff spot until 2023 at the earliest and that depends on what Dipoto or his successor does over the next 2-3 seasons.
I know mitch is widely viewed as the best offensive player, but let’s not forgot about kyle Seager. I like Jerry’s vision and I dont see it doing any harm. It is discouraging from a life long fans perspective, but a good plan is only as good as it is implemented. I think jerry has the conviction to stay the course and I’m excited to see what the future holds.
Not only that when Dipoto “reimagined” I suspect 2023 or 2024 was the real timeline he and ownership had in mind. They had to know better. They could be an ok team earlier but have trouble seeing a real contender until then without serious luck.
I actually think they could be ok as soon as this or next year if the pitching develops a bit but I can’t see a perennial 90+ team for a while without some real luck in the player development side and a willingness to spend money.
Imagine liking Dipoto’s terrible GMing lol stockholm syndrome much?
No to be sarcastic, But you guys have no choice but to liove what your GM Dip$&t is doing. Ever since you guys hired that previous GM from Milwaukee it’s been one rebuild after another. 10-1 JD will change course again in mid July. The Mariners hopefully will reach the post season by the end of Trumps 2nd term. Maybe you guys should trade your M caps for MMGA Caps
Doubt dipoto is running the next good Mariners team.
Of course you feel that way because your meddling owner screwed Dipoto’s plan in LA by signing Pujols to a contract that takes him until he’s the age of a dinosaur and you don’t know who to blame. Meanwhile Eppler getting LAA to 81 wins deserves a parade.
StrikeFour, do you ever post anything insightful or logical? What bad moves has he made lately, acquiring Kelenic and Dunn for aging Cano and his massive contract? Drafting Lewis, White, Gilbert, and Kirby? Unloading Segura and his terrible clubhouse chemistry for a younger, superior defender who has a chance to hit quite well? Flipping unneeded pitchers like Elias for relievers with potential? Trading a guy with 3 IP on the season as a pending FA for a prospect? Seriously, people act like he’s been Ruben Amaro.
This is our first rebuild in like 20 years. Jack Z was bad but I really don’t get why people hate on dipoto. He’s doing exactly what he’s said he was going to do
Why the hell do so many people feel the need to post derogatory comments without encouraging further discussions???
Have some balls to add some insight. Saying They suck” and “spend some money” just sounds like you are uneducated in how baseball works.
What insight is there to be proferred? The M’s are “re-imagining” the roster…which is code for we are cheap and unwilling to spend money. We need established players that will teach the younger players how to play in the majors. The dumpster diving that they are doing is an idiotic waste of time even at their best these players are not good.
Or I can just be sarcastic and say:
These moves will solidify the M’s chances at winning the pennant.
Yup, I agree with you, I’m an M’s fan and you are spot on, but you sounded like an idiot in your first post. Sarcastic comments are ok, but when you just post one without any supporting arguments then you just come across as a simple minded Win-Loss fair weather fan.
GO MARINERS!!!
I pretty much disagree with everything you’ve posted. Literally no team, including the top salary teams, build through free agency anymore. It’s a waste of resources to pay play for past performances and hope they continue to perform to those standards as they age. Of course there are exceptions to that rule, but every team in the MLB is building through building up their system and trying to find and develop reclamation projects. That is exactly what the Ms are doing. It makes no sense to sign a high dollar player when the team is testing out reclamation projects and developing youth. When player like Kelenic and Julio start to play in Seattle they will spend the money to supplement the team where needed. In the interim they have players like Seager and Dee sitting around to help educate the younger players in ways that the coaching staff can not.
Carlos Gonzales established?
Kyle seager established?
Dee gordan established?
Was carlos beltran established?
Stay thirsty my friend. Those players are coming as soon as the allstar break, and as late as……(when the M’s are ready to compete)…..
BS. They plan on adding a contract after the young guys show what they have. You’re just speculating that they’re lying, and Dipoto has been pretty damn honest to this point, so I’m not sure what you’re blabbing about. He even said we shouldn’t expect to compete til 2021 at the earliest.
Suggesting sarcastically (poorly) that Seattle’s moves push them over the top has been the single most overused joke this offseason. Congratulations on your lack of originality.
Just like the Seattle Mariners, always looking for bargain basement bodies to fill the roster. Spent some money you cheap skates!
Their payroll was over $140+ million the last 4 years. Why would they want to spend money now when they are letting their rookies play majority of the time this year? Dipoto traded away all their big contracts minus Seager so they can compete in free agency in 2021 or 2022.
They’re seeing if they can solidify a supporting cast first, and if fortune smiles, they will get some of that from among some of their excellent prospects (Gilbert, Rodriguez, Kelenic, Raleigh, Kirby, White, Delaplane, and others) and/or some young guys who are already up (Long, Fraley, Lewis, Bishop, Sheffield, Dunn, and others). Maybe they can strike some gold with a few of the depth signings, like with Anderson, Cowgill, Carl Edwards, Hirano, etc. Sure, there’s “if”, and there’s “maybe”. But after basically trying to do it without many home-grown players to speak of for a while, this actually represents something of a new approach for Seattle. Next winter and the winter after that are when we should see significant free agent players signed. The M’s have greatly reduced payroll in anticipation of this, and by then they should also be rid of the contracts of Gordon and Seager. Of course, not every free agent will want to come to Seattle… but money does talk, and over the next couple of winters they will have plenty, and the plan is to spend big.
Buying time for younger players to develop
Good luck to Cody! He showed some promise with the Indians a few years back but has had quite a few injuries. Not a bad guy to have as a depth option.
Reverse cowgill?
Cody had 1 good year where he k’d about 4\9inn.
Has NO chance to crack the rotation, none; based on recent performances.
I would have preferred Lablanc.
Cowgill, why? aaaa depth? Emergency call up? Makes no sense.
Hamilton would have been better; IF they needed to pass out ML ab’s to someone.
These are minor league deals
Cowgill and his bloody nose was the best..
The mariners will be what the Astros/cubs where suppose to be.
…. chickens
I know mitch is widely viewed as the best offensive player, but let’s not forgot about kyle Seager. I like Jerry’s vision and I dont see it doing any harm. It is discouraging from a life long fans perspective, but a good plan is only as good as it is implemented. I think jerry has the conviction to stay the course and I’m excited to see what the future holds.
Wait a minute isnt Cowgill trying to be a 2 way player?
That’s udderly ridiculous.
Seattle is a lock for multiple 100-loss seasons. They need to lean into it and trade anyone over 23 in the org.
Also, locking up Evan White? A powerless 1B? In a pitcher-friendly park? Dumb move. Dipoto is one of the worst GMs in the MLB and he doesn’t deserve any of the jobs he’s had.
Salty angels fan?
Evan White hit 18 Hrs in 92 games. That’s a 25-30 HR pace and he has some of the highest exit velocities in the minors. And those numbers came from one of the most pitcher friendly parks in all of milb.
I disagree that we will lose 100 games this year or next year. We’re looking at around 72 wins this year imo, hopefully getting a top 8 pick in the next draft.
M’s 2021 season and beyond will be fun to watch. 2020 will be fun to watch too! Baseball is fun to watch
No, he’s a clueless A’s fan. He thinks that Matt Chapman is better than Mike Trout… so you can disregard anything he says.
Haha gotcha. Can’t wait for the season to start so everyone can stop all the speculation, good or bad!