Owners interfere, but rarely do we hear about it. When a contract or trade goes awry, we are quick to blame the General Manager of a baseball team. We often see head-scratching trades, free-agent signings, and contract extensions, and we're quick to criticize. Over-reactive fans in these situations will call for a change in leadership.
News just broke that the Mariners had a deal for Nelson Cruz last winter that was scotched by ownership: one-year contract for $7.5M this year, $9M option for 2015.
Cruz instead signed for one year and $8M with the Baltimore Orioles. He led the majors with 40 homers. This stings more than usual, because the Seattle Mariners missed the Wild Card by one game. They had phenomenal pitching but lacked a solid right-handed bat to pair with Robinson Cano in their lineup.
This isn't the first time we've heard of ownership interfering. The list of mistakes of either deals done or not done because ownership got involved is not short. I'm not talking about expanding payroll to fit a player in; that is an ownership call, but the case of Nelson Cruz however was not.
One of the worst things you can do in a leadership position in my opinion is not let the people you hired do their jobs.
There were calls to have the Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik removed from his role this past year. Instead he got an extension. He put a good team together, quite likely a postseason with just one more piece. They had that piece, until someone had to go all Jerry Jones on us.
Word is the Mariners are expanding payroll for 2015. Seattle fans should be excited about this news. Assuming Jack Z. is allowed to do his job.
