Last week at FanFest, Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik informed the Mariner faithful that the team is most likely finished making “major” moves this offseason, and will, instead, focus on “tweaking” the lineup that has been put together for the 2014 season.

Amongst the tweaking that needs to be done, the Mariners still seek a veteran pitcher to slot in behind Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma in the rotation.  As Mission Mariner previously wrote about, heading into the season with some combination of Taijuan Walker, James Paxton, Erasmo Ramirez, Brandon Maurer, Blake Beavan and Hector Noesi rounding out the final three rotation spots would be a hazardous path for the Mariners to venture.   In addition, a bullpen that ranked as one of the worst in all of baseball last season has been largely ignored, as has an outfield defense that ranked last in UZR (-58.8) and defensive runs saved (-70).

Newly promoted team President, Kevin Mather, recently reiterated that Zduriencik still has some financial flexibility left in order to make further additions to the roster.  The big question, of course, is how much financial flexibility does Zduriencik have?  Enough to land a legitimate #3 starter for the rotation such as Ubaldo Jimenez or Ervin Santana?  Or just a minimal amount, enough to tweak the rotation with recently signed low risk reclamation project, Scott Baker, to a minor league deal?

Since 2008, the Mariners have been cutting payroll by focusing on playing young, cost-controlled prospects and inexpensive veterans.  Last season, the Mariners’ front office proclaimed it was finally prepared to raise payroll, only to see team spending remain stagnant, settling at $85MM for a second straight season.  With the signing of Robinson Cano to a 10 year, $240MM contract to begin this offseason, and with new revenue streams coming in from revised television deals from MLB and the Mariners own Regional Sports Network, many anticipated that 2014 would finally be the year payroll would increase to a more competitive level allowing the Mariners to acquire several high-end players.  But that seemingly will not be the case.  Unlike seasons prior, where available offseason funds were spread around to fill varying needs, this year’s plan consisted of investing most all of the funds into one player.  And with Zduriencik’s proclamation that major offseason moves are now finished, breaching the $85MM payroll mark doesn’t look to be plausible for 2014.  Rather, it appears payroll will once again fall around $85M.

Below is the Mariners’ current projected 25-man roster to begin the season with corresponding salary:

*Projected arbitration award/ Full arbitration request award.  ** Guaranteed salary/Salary based on reaching all performance incentives.  ^Player currently recovering from injury. ^^Player to miss 2014 season with injury. 

Even with the signing of Cano, the Mariners’ current payroll based on guaranteed salary and projected arbitration awards to Smoak and Morrison comes in at $80.09MM for 2014.   If all performance incentives are met by Hart and Gutierrez, and arbitration requests are awarded in full to Smoak and Morrison, team payroll will reach $91.34MM.

With the Mariners still rumored to be interested in free agents Jimenez, Santana, Fernando Rodney, Nelson Cruz and Kendrys Morales, and possible trade targets Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Colby Rasmus, and David Price, Zduriencik may still acquire a player that would have a significant impact on the field, as well as in the pocket book.  Recent rumors are that the Mariners could be ready to “turn loose,” showing renewed interest in both Rodney and Cruz. Such acquisitions would be far from merely “tweaking” the roster, so if we are to take Zduriencik at his word, such signings would seem unlikely.  But if there is one thing we know about Zduriencik, what he says he may do, and what he actually ends up doing, rarely go hand-in hand.