The Mariners' next general manager (or whatever he's called) has a large, if not monumental, task ahead of him. Considering the season-long dysfunction on the field and the chronic dysfunction in the front office. In a column about that next GM's priorities, the Seattle Times' Larry Stone suggests that the new guy should at least ... consider trading Félix Hernández:
Let me stress again, I’m not saying trade Hernandez. This topic has come up at various other junctures, especially when Hernandez was nearing free agency. But the notion was too painful, and the better solution was to try to win with Hernandez. Now they’ve had him 10-plus years and haven’t won. Felix will be 30 in April, and though he’s been brilliant at times this year, he has also had some blowups that have brought his earned-run average to 3.66. That’s Hernandez’s highest since 2007, when he was 21.
It would take a gutsy GM to ponder as his first major move trading a franchise icon like Hernandez. But this franchise needs a gutsy GM. A potential Hernandez trade would be a huge psychological blow to the franchise, and there would be fans who say, “I’ll never root for the Mariners again if they trade King Felix.”
But they’ll root for the Mariners again if they win, and that’s what needs to be explored — whether the return for Hernandez, and the saved money that could be used to fill holes, would push the Mariners more quickly to contention.
Yes, nearly all the fans will root again for the Mariners if they’re winning. If there’s any franchise that should know that, it’s this one, considering what happened after the M’s traded Junior Griffey and Randy Johnson. And yes, the new GM should of course consider trading Hernández; the new GM should consider everything! There have been a few untouchable players in major-league history, but Félix Hernández absolutely should not be one of them.
Here’s the problem, though. As Stone notes, Hernández has complete no-trade right and seems highly disinclined to approve a move. “But he’s also a competitor,” Stone writes, “and at some point, the opportunity to play in the postseason may overcome his loyalty.”
But as Stone also notes, there’s obviously a fine line between a lousy season and contending; just look at this year’s Astros and Rangers and Twins. If I’m Félix Hernández and I enjoy pitching for the Mariners, why wouldn’t I say, “Hey, look at this year’s Astros and Rangers and Twins. Instead of trading me, why not go out and do what those other teams did? I do want to pitch in the postseason, but you’ve got me for the next five years. That’s plenty of time to build a roster that’s good enough to win 85-90 games. Especially when I’m still winning 15-20 games every season.”
That’s what I would say, anyway.
Like Stone, I’m not saying the M’s should trade Félix Hernández. Nor am I saying they shouldn’t trade Felix Hernández. What I’m saying is that if he’s been paying much attention lately, it’ll be hard to convince him the M’s can’t win with him.
I think their only chance would be if he’s desperate to pitch in October next year. Which might be a tall order, regardless of the new GM’s acumen. But this King seems like a pretty patient fellow.
