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For a franchise that chose to slash payroll by $30 million after the most successful season in decades, rostering a pair of bench players for a combined cost of nearly $17 million seems odd. The talk of the offseason largely regarded trades of established regulars such as Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler. Obviously, the Mariners helped the former come to fruition, but Kepler remains the expected starter in right field.
Why do Kyle Farmer and Christian Vázquez remain on the roster with their gaudy price tags? That answer is much less straightforward than one might imagine. Both have different qualities that make them integral to Rocco Baldelli’s clubhouse.
In a world where Nick Gordon was a tradable asset for a major-league return and Tim Anderson got a starting job with the Miami Marlins, there is no doubt that Farmer would have had value. Even at $6 million, he possesses the skill set to be a starting-caliber shortstop at the major league level, and even with offensive limitations, he’s not a complete detriment to a lineup.
Someone adding $20 million in total salary for Vazquez would undoubtedly be a non-starter after the season he had in 2023, but there could have been an opportunity to repurpose those funds in a talent swap. Minnesota has Ryan Jeffers behind the dish, and although Jair Camargo may not be completely ready, he is on the 40-man roster.
The dedication to their team and craft separates both players, however. As Nick Nelson pointed out earlier this offseason, intangibles are something that this front office and organization emphasized. We have seen clubhouses in Minnesota go awry; players like Josh Donaldson or Lance Lynn can spiral a challenging situation into an even worse one. While creating a culture of guys who genuinely like to play with each other is one thing, figuring out why they gel is another.
A glue guy at this stage of his career, Farmer’s leadership is more valuable than what he does on the field. Baldelli is happy to have someone capable of giving Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa, and Edouard Julien a rest, but what he does behind the scenes also helps to warrant the arbitration payday he is receiving. Coaches have lauded Farmer as a guy the 2022 team could have used while trying to hold off the late-season slide, and having someone keep things in perspective from a player's point-of-view is an invaluable trait.
When it comes to Vázquez, there’s an internal drive from a player who has experienced the pinnacle of the sport and will continue to push for more. It wasn’t lost on him that there wasn’t an appearance during the 2023 postseason, and with a pair of World Series rings to his credit, that’s not something he has been used to.
Taking the offseason to develop bat speed and generate more of the production expected when he signed the three-year deal reflects a guy not being good with riding off into the sunset. The coaching staff still envisions a split between their catchers, and getting a more productive version of Vázquez out of it will help that process.
It’s fair to suggest that both players would have struggled to net much of a return – Vázquez being more accurate than Farmer in that regard – but for a team so openly looking to save dollars, it had to be a strong consideration It’s noteworthy that neither of those moves was made because it speaks volumes about the character and vision of both players, stemming from themselves and those around them.
To what extent Farmer and Vazquez contribute this year remains to be seen, and neither of them will be expected to do much heavy lifting, but you can bet that both will have an impact far beyond what is seen between the lines on a daily basis.
Do you agree with the decision to keep these veteran backups around, even while consuming a sizable percentage of available payroll? How much weight do you give to the qualities Farmer and Vázquez bring to the table? Sound off in the comments.
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