Projecting the Mariners 2011 Roster, v. 1.0

Ok, here's something fun to think about: what would the Mariners roster look like on opening day if they made absolutely no signings, trades, releases or transactions whatsoever during the offseason? It's been something I've been mulling over and here's my first stab at predicting the twenty-five guys we'll be sending onto the field next year.

Rotation
RHP Felix Hernandez
LHP Jason Vargas
RHP Doug Fister
RHP Michael Pineda
LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith

The rotation candidates are fairly straightforward. Pineda is widely believed to be ready for the majors, while Vargas and Fister enjoyed breakout seasons this past year. I'm giving Hyphen the nod over Pauley, French or any of those other guys due to his track record and freakishly unlucky 2010 season. Acquiring a real fifth starter is something that will happen in the coming months.

Bullpen
RHP David Aardsma
RHP Brandon League
RHP Josh Lueke
RHP Dan Cortes
LHP Mauricio Robles
LHP Luke French
RHP David Pauley

Cortes looked electric during the last weeks of September, while Lueke has proven himself at Triple-A and now in the Arizona Fall League. Assuming his off-the-field issues don't keep the club from promoting him, he should be a big bullpen cog in 2011. Robles should start the season in Tacoma, but without bullpen help from outside the organization, he's a better option than Olsen or another right-handed minors dude. French and Pauley round things out as swing guys and long relievers.

Lineup
1. RF Ichiro Suzuki
2. 3B Chone Figgins
3. 2B Dustin Ackley
4. 1B Justin Smoak
5. DH Milton Bradley
6. CF Franklin Gutierrez
7. LF Michael Saunders
8. C Adam Moore
9. SS Jack Wilson

Ok, now things are getting comical. Obviously, Ackley being on the opening day roster and batting third is beyond crazy. However, if you look at the options the club has at its disposal...y'know, why the hell not? Ackley has gone ballistic in the AFL, flirting with .600+ OBP numbers. He looks like a high average hitter, who earns a ton of walks and strikes out very rarely, with plenty of doubles potential. If we can't find a decent DH type running around in free agency or trade, I vote we stick Dustin behind Ichiro and Figgy and let them run wild.

Bench
C Rob Johnson
INF Jose Lopez
INF Josh Wilson
OF Greg Halman

Yikes. Well, we need to find a bench this offseason. I'm putting Lopez here because he's still semi-valuable as a player, has infield versatility and is better than the assorted guys who need some more seasoning at Tacoma. Halman could, just maybe, turn out to be a decent platoon guy with Saunders in left, while good ol' Josh Wilson rounds things out by backing up the middle infield.

So there you have it. The Mariners clearly will pick up some new odds and ends over the next few months and this roster will be updated accordingly. A lot also depends on how Spring Training plays out, with all these young players competing for roster spots. I, for one, can't wait to see how the 2011 team comes together.