Are you ready Weaver!

I sure am Kuni! You guessed it, the Mariners signed Jeff Weaver. Yes, they also signed Arthur Rhodes, but since I don't expect him to make it into a game in a Mariner uniform barring a disaster, that's not a move even worth talking about. Now to get back to Weaver, this move I initially looked at as a horrible act of desperation, the good people at USS Mariner and Lookout Landing have changed my point of view a little. Basically, Weaver is a pitcher who has never lived up to expectations, and was so bad last year that the Angels waived him. He was picked up by the Cardinals and went on to have 3 good games in the playoffs including a game 5 world series win. Initially I had assumed that Mariner GM Bill Bavasi was choosing to look at 3 good playoff games as evidence of untapped potential while ignoring 5 or 6 years of below average pitching.

So what exactly changed my mind? Well, the USS Mariner threw a bunch of stats and projections at me arguing that there is a good chance he could come in and have a decent season. Not good mind you, but not bad either. The projections suggest that he might have between a 4.5 and 5 ERA and eat up close to 200 innings. That's not bad for a #5 starter. And given the fact that he was just signed to a 1 year deal, there isn't a possibility that we're stuck with him for a long time if he doesn't work out. Also, we didn't give up anything to get him, so in the end if he doesn't work out, all it cost us is money. That logic is kind of hard to argue with. This may turn out to be the best offseason move.