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I know I've said I thought the pre-Boras Rios was inevitable, but I'm now on a new tack.
What would be more creative than to bring back Franklin Gutierrez on a minors contract and NOT signing anybody else, and seeing how Spring Training goes? A SS-RF 3-to-make-2 of Guti-Miller-Taylor with Jones at Tacoma (learning and adjusting) just in case? And Guti's upside as a RH hitter is as good as anyone's above and he is FAR better in the OF. I could warm to this very quickly - and, though Guti has to continue to show health in the winter leagues, I would like him as a part-timer on a pennant-chasing team better than, say, Ichiro, because I think his battles have made him accept his role and will co-operate with McClendon riding the hot hand.
As for a backup to Morrison - this is like the emergency catcher debate. A few innings of Willie or Ackley one day, and then Montero or Choi or Peterson will come up from Tacoma the next. And if Jones is on the Ms bench rather than Tacoma, he could get the call. He played 1B in college when he wasn't pitching and has played some games there in the minors, but, reportedly the M's braintrust feels using him at 1B is a waste of his major talent - speed; which it is, but he's also got the wingspan of an albatross (>Condor) and the athleticism to be the emergency guy. He wouldn't hit enough to make it worthwhile long-term, but I could see using him if Morrison got hurt.