The Seattle Mariners were painful to watch last season as they just couldn’t hit the ball. They should open up the checkbook and sign these three free agents:

1. Aramis Ramirez - Chone Figgins has sucked for the Mariners and 3B is a power hitting position. With that in mind, the Mariners should ante’ up and sign the best free agent 3B in Aramis Ramirez. He has big time power and he hits for a good average too,

2. David Ortiz - The Mariners should give Big Papi more money than the Red Sox are comfortable offering on a 2-year deal. Ramirez and Ortiz would make a pretty deadly combo in the 3-4 spots in the lineup behind Ichiro and Ackley.

3. Mike Gonzalez - Mike Gonzalez has always been a solid reliever when healthy and the Mariners could sure use a quality lefty in the pen in 2012.

The Seattle Mariners are one of the worst hitting teams I have ever seen. With that in mind, I look for the Mariners to want hitting back in almost every deal they make. Starting pitchers Erik Bedard, Jason Vargas and Doug Fister are the main trade bait for the Mariners. The Yankees, Indians, Tigers and Cardinals are the most likely suitors for the pitchers. I don’t think the Yankees or Indians have the young hitters the Mariners would want back in return. The Tigers and Cardinals are good fits though as they have guys like Allen Craig (Cardinals) and Casper Wells (Tigers) who would step right into the Mariners’ starting lineup if they can get them. There is also a market for Jamey Wright, Jack Wilson, Chone Figgins and Adam Kennedy. If the Mariners eat most of Chone Figgins’ contract they could deal him to the Reds and get a young hitter back. The Angels and Brewers could also have interest in Figgins. The Arizona Diamondbacks might have an interest in Jack Wilson if the Mariners pay most of his contract as they need a starting shortstop with Stephen Drew done for the season. Adam Kennedy might be the biggest trade chip of the position players for the Mariners as teams like the Yankees, Rangers, Phillies and Brewers could use a versatile bench player like him. Righty reliever Jamey Wright might even be worth something to a team like the Tigers, Phillies or Angels as they all need righty bullpen help. OF/DH Jack Cust and C Josh Bard are probably also available for trade but neither of them will bring back much.

The Seattle Mariners have banished Chone Figgins and Jack Wilson to the bench, so why not try to deal them and get something back. It’s no mystery and Angels’ manager loved Chone Figgins, so why not deal him along with cash for 3B Alberto Callaspo, C Bobby Wilson and OF Reggie Willits. I know that the Mariners don’t want to help the Angels, but Figgins isn’t going to help the Mariners rotting on the bench. Callaspo has been a solid hitter in his career and he has a little more thump than Figgins does. Wilson would give the Mariners a decent young catcher and Willits would be able to help them off the bench. I think the Mariners should then deal Jack Wilson, lefty swinging 1B Mickey Wiswall and cash to the Rays for lefty reliever J.P. Howell. Howell would give the Mariners a second lefty in the pen to team with Aaron Laffey. Howell isn’t pitching good right now but he has a lot of experience pitching late in games. These are two of the kinds of deals the Mariners should be looking into, as they would both help the team.

The Mariners could be both buyers and sellers at the trade deadline. If the Mariners are still in the race near the end of July, they will need to make a deal for a big bat….likely a DH type, to help the offense. If they are aiming high, the guys they would look at are Vladimir Guerrero, Hideki Matsui, Carlos Lee, Ryan Ludwick or Luke Scott. If they aim lower….guys like Jim Thome or Garrett Jones can be had for a much smaller price. I would aim to get someone in the Guerrero/Lee class of DH. While adding a strong DH to the middle of the lineup, the Mariners could also move spare parts like 2B/SS Jack Wilson, DH/OF Jack Cust and or 1B/2B/3B Adam Kennedy to recoup some minor prospects for the future. The Mariners should make a move for a bat earlier rather than later if they are serious about contending this year.

The Seattle Mariners have seven free agents heading into the winter. Here is how I would handle dealing with these guys:

Russell Branyan: 34-year old lefty swinging 1B/DH Russell Branyan played in 57 games for the Mariners after coming over in a deal with the Indians and he was 44 of 205 (.215 avg, .802 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 15 homers and 33 RBIs. He played in 109 games overall for the Mariners & Indians last season and he was 89 of 376 (.237 avg, .810 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 25 homers and 57 RBIs. Branyan has a mutual option worth $5 million bucks. VERDICT: I would decline Branyan’s option and try to re-sign him to a more affordable deal to serve as the DH.

Jose Lopez: 27-year old righty swinging 3B/2B Jose Lopez had an off year for the Mariners. He played in 150 games for the Mariners last season and he was 142 of 593 (.239 avg, .609 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 10 homers and 58 RBIs. The Mariners hold a club option on Lopez for 2011. VERDICT: I would decline his option and let him walk.

Erik Bedard: 31-year old lefty starting pitcher Erik Bedard missed all of last season while recovering from surgery. In his first two years with the Mariners, Bedard started 30 games in which he was 11-7 with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. The Mariners have a mutual option on 2011 with Bedard worth $8 million bucks. VERDICT: I would decline the team part of the option and let Bedard walk.

Ian Snell: 29-year old righty starting pitcher worked in 12 games (8 starts) in which he was 0-5 with a 6.41 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. The Mariners have a club option on Snell for 2011. VERDICT: I would let him walk.

Josh Bard: 32-year old switch hitting catcher Josh Bard played in 39 games for the Mariners last season and he was 24 of 112 (.214 avg, .634 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 3 homers and 10 RBIs. VERDICT: I would try to re-sign Bard to a minor league deal as the Mariners’ catching situation right down is downright scary.

Jamey Wright: 35-year old righty reliever Jamey Wright pitched in 28 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last season and he was 0-1 with a 3.41 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Wright pitched in 46 games (0 starts) overall for the Indians & Mariners last season overall and he was 1-3 with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. VERDICT: I would let him walk.

Chris Woodward: 34-year old righty swinging infielder Chris Woodward played in 8 games for the Mariners last year and he was 3 for 19 (.158 avg, .483 OPS). VERDICT: I would likely let him walk, but a minor league deal isn’t out of the question.