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gambitnut · 12-11-2006, 09:55 PM

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The best move Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi could have made at the winter meetings was a decision he should have made back in Seattle: Convert reliever Rafael Soriano to a starter.

Soriano was a successful starter in the minors for Seattle. His move to the bullpen was dictated by big league needs. But the Mariners now are in desperate need of starting pitching.

Instead of steering Soriano back to the rotation, Bavasi traded him to Atlanta for Horacio Ramirez, a left-handed starter. Ramirez had a promising rookie season in 2003 (12-4, 4.00 ERA) but his career has been dogged by injury. A hamstring pull, a torn finger tendon and a line drive off his noggin shortened his 2006 season.

Ramirez hasn't had the same injury over and over, so it has hopefully been bad luck.

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Seattle, however, acts like a franchise that doesn't believe in the product of its own minor league system. Last season, the Mariners traded an outstanding prospect, outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, to Cleveland for Ben Broussard, a journeyman designated hitter. Choo, who can run, throw and hit for some power, batted .280 for Cleveland.

For several seasons, Seattle has talked about developing young players but done a poor job of it.

I've noticed this too, but at least Broussard is still fairly young, the other trade with the Indians was the one I question.

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I don't normally espouse signing free agent pitchers to long-term pacts, but the Mariners almost have to sign left-hander Barry Zito to reinvigorate Safeco Field and anchor the top of a shaky rotation.

At 28, Zito has proved himself the most durable starter in the American League. In the past six seasons, the 2002 Cy Young Award winner has never made fewer than 34 starts or pitched fewer than 214 innings. Over seven seasons, the former USC ace is 102-73 with a 3.55 ERA.

I don't like spending a ton of money on Zito either, but I agree that we need to do something.