Zduriencik and the Mariners convert Phillippe Aumont to relief

[battlekow]

I figured this might be interesting to some give the Jack Z connection and also that the Brewers were heavily rumored to be interesting in drafting Aumont in 2007 before shocking everyone and taking LaPorta:

 

Aumont to bullpen role

The Mariners have abandonned, for now, any plans to have former No. 1 draft pick Phillippe Aumont continue in a starting role. As was the case with Brandon Morrow, a first-rounder from 2006 now serving as a full-time reliever, Aumont has made a swtich to the bullpen.

"We felt that this was a guy, who, if used in a relief role, could be on a real fast-track to the major leagues,'' [Zduriencik] said. "And we're talking a real fast track.''

In the end, Zduriencik said, it came down to whether the team was willing to wait several more years for Aumont to develop as a potential front-end starter for the rotation - never a guarantee - or go the more likely route of becoming a top bullpen arm in a much shorter timeframe.

It's especially bizarre because, even if you accept the absurd idea that the Mariners are one late-inning reliever away from contending, they just drafted Josh Fields, who is supposed to ready later this year!

[JoeHova]

Yes, it's a perplexing move at this point.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

This is definitely jumping to conclusions, but I'll say it anyways. Maybe if Jack Z was the Brewers GM, Jeffress would be a reliever by now. It's something to wonder about. I'm not sure how Aumont feels about the decision since it lowers his value to be an RP, but he also gets a chance to see the Big Leagues faster so that might have been why he agreed to it.

[trwi7]

Perplexing to say the least. He just turned 20 and held his own as a 19 year old in the Midwest League. No reason to move him to the bullpen this early.

[pogokat]

I can't think of a solid logical reason for it unless they thought he was a higher injury risk...i can tell you in hindsight, i wish the brewers had switched jones and rogers early on so that maybe they wouldn't have gotten hurt...those guys would both have been high 90's relievers...

[jgrusz]

It is better for his development to be a reliever at West Tenn than a starter at High Desert

[clancyphile]

Or... if the M's have a surplus of young talent in the bullpen, they can always deal it to get help elsewhere.

 

I figure this is a way to get trade bait. On the other hand, if they get Aumont, Fields, and Harrow into the bullpen sooner, then they free up a lot of resources to get free agents in other spots.