Mariners’ president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto spoke to reporters during this week’s GM meetings, offering a lot of insight into how the team plans to operate this offseason. While Dipoto delivered coy equivocations like “It’s incumbent on us to go add where we can add and improve where we can improve,” he did draw some lines in the sand that may dictate the Mariners’ involvement in certain markets this winter.
One such line in the sand, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times, was Dipoto’s proclamation that J.P. Crawford will remain the team’s starting shortstop going into next season. Dipoto had already gone on record about the team’s desire to supplement their core with versatile free agents, which notably meant surrounding building blocks like Crawford with talent instead of outright replacing them.
While it won’t register as much of a surprise that a team wants to keep its Gold Glove-capable shortstop entrenched at the position, it is notable at this point to mention which contenders may turn their nose up at the star shortstops on this year’s market. Even if the Mariners dabble in the shortstop market this summer however, Dipoto made it clear that any free agent will be asked to move off the position in deference to Crawford.
There was another line Seattle’s top decision maker has indicated his team is unwilling to cross: no trades of top prospects. “There’s no scenario where we will move the top prospects in our system, the guys who are prominent in our system” stated Dipoto, per Corey Brock of the Athletic. Seattle has been in prospect accumulation mode for a few seasons now, launching their farm system into the number two spot on MLB Pipeline’s most recent league wide ranking. It’s hard to fault the famously trade-happy Dipoto for taking a more measured approach with his prospect capital this offseason— after all, top prospects like Julio Rodriguez and George Kirby can save the team millions of dollars if they prove Major League-ready next year.
As far as free agents are concerned, Dipoto expects to be more engaged in that part of the player-accumulation process than he has in the past. Brock recites some previously speculated free agent targets that fit the versatile player mold Seattle is aiming for, like Kris Bryant and Marcus Semien, while also throwing less heralded utility man Leury Garcia’s name into the mix. Additionally, the team will look to add multiple starters to the rotation this winter, with Brock speculating Jon Gray, Marcus Stroman, and Anthony DeSclafani as potential fits.
Divish, meanwhile, reported some updates on the existing roster, which will help inform the team (and its fans) which free agents are worth pursuing. Notably, Ty France has been told he will be the team’s starting first baseman next season. Recovering first baseman and previous Gold Glove winner Evan White has been tasked with getting some reps in left field to increase his positional versatility, though the team will continue to view him as a first base-first option. Dipoto all but confirmed that the current catching triumvirate Tom Murphy, Cal Raleigh, and Luis Torrens (plus Jose Godoy) will stick into next season as well.
To top it all off, Dipoto also offered some news on a few of the team’s most foundational pieces. Kyle Lewis, for instance, continues to recover from knee surgery and is questionable for Spring Training. Fellow outfielder Jarred Kelenic is healthy, but can perhaps attribute some of his debut season underperformance to playing center field. Dipoto acknowledged that the 22-year-old Kelenic is not an optimal fit in center field but will likely continue to see playing time there next season due to market scarcity at the position and existing organizational depth. In one last piece of positive health news, Justin Dunn has also been cleared for a normal offseason and is expected to be ready for Spring Training.
Conforto is coming home to Seattle and unfortunately will probally rub it in our butts in Queens along Jered Kilinek lol.
JP Crawford shouldn’t be supplanted. He is one of the most underrated players in baseball and almost certainly the most underrated shortstop. No need to sign one of the “big 5” shortstops or whatever. Production matters. Names don’t. I don’t know what @oldschoolandthemets1980 is talking about. The Mariners shouldn’t sign Conforto either. Mets fans should be ecstatic Conforto turned down the QO. Now they don’t have to spend over $18M on a mediocre player and they also get draft pick compensation in return.
I see Conforto as a bounce back candidate in the right situation
Nothing to bounce back from. Had some good stretches but not a star. He will do nothing to improve the mariners. This is “he was a first round pick” syndrome. Very average outfielder.
Nothing to bounce back from? His OPS+ this year was 101. His previous four years were 148, 122, 127, and 154. He is the definition of a bounce-back candidate. At his best, he’s a great hitter and middling fielder. He’s not a star, but he could help almost any team. He’s better than Fraley for sure.
Stop with the let’s find a Stat to make him good. I have seen most of his games and he is average.that ops is in perviousyears is average. This year below average. He will not help a team. He will be an outfielder and not move the win total, get a big hit or lead a team.
Here’s some love: Crawford is a fan favorite, a team leader, and a positive influence. He’s an excellent fielder, and still developing as a hitter. You simply don’t often find players such as Crawford. The guy is a gamer, and he is helping them build a winning culture. Having a guy or two like JP on your team always makes the team better, and he should absolutely be untouchable in any trade talks.
@Slothcliff Hocum: I agree with everything you said except for the untouchable part. If some team wants to vastly over pay then you discuss it and consider the offer.
Yes, Mets, Crawford all the way!
And for the rest of it, “production matters” like you said.
The Mariners do not need any OF help. there is no spot for Conforto. OF is set with Haniger, Kelenic, Lewis, Trammell, Fraley and JuRodriguez is on the way.
I hope you are joking cannon. Lewis is questionable due to his knee and Fraley/Trammell have shown nothing to say they are starting caliber outfielders. They need an outfielder and preferably one that Dan play centerfield.
Lewis is questionable but the Mariners have to ride with him. They have to ride with Kelenic and Hanover, too. You know who’s more questionable than any of those guys? Conforto. Farley and Trammel both suck but Conforto is not the answer. Michael Conforto is not even worth the $18.4M he just turned down. If the Mariners want a better outfielder Conforto is not the way to go. At beat he is more of the same. I know people are in love with OBP right now but Conforto is a head case that fell apart and doesn’t have the natural power to back it up. Conforto hasan OPS+ of 106. Adam Duvall has a terrible OBP. He also has an OPS+ of 106. At least Duvall has 38 home runs and a Gold Glove to back his up with. Power doesn’t disappear and Conforto never had it in the first place. The only reason Conforto didn’t accept the QO is he wants the most guaranteed total dollars right now because he knows he would fail to impress on a pillow contract. No one should sign that guy. Let him sit on the market until after the draft like Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Kuechel did. Then maybe he will realize he has to perform to get paid.
Duvall didn’t deserve a GG, stolen from Chuck Nasty or Betts
@tstats: So says you. Major League Baseball disagrees. Only one of those 2 opinions matters.
OF is currently a weak spot on this roster.
I dont entirely disagree but who plays CF? Kelenic seems like the only legit option going into the season unless they add someone. Likewise that could open up playing time at the corners. It’s similar to the SP situation where they don’t want to block anyone, but clearly need help going into the season. IF is different except now Crawford is untouchable? I’d think moving him to 2B or trading hi. would be a no Brainer if Seager or Correa signed.
Did you really just say itd be a no-brainer to move Crawford to second base if we sign Corey Seager? You’re out of your mind. Moving Crawford, especially for somebody like Corey Seager who has nowhere near the defensive skills Crawford has and probably has a position change coming shortly in the future whether it’s this year or in a few, would be the move of someone with no brain.
Seager not coming to Seattle after how his brother was treated by front office.
Doubt they sign Conforto
The Mariners don’t need another outfielder, especially Conforto. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dipoto make a run at the slugging, 27 year old Japanese outfielder, Seiya Suzuki, who just so happens to wear Ichiro’s #51.
I’d rather sign Kyle Schwarber. The M’s could use a left handed power hitter after the recent departure of Kyle Seager.
Kyle Schwarber defensively is worse than anyone currently on the roster. The idea is to IMPROVE the outfield. You only bring in Schwarber to add pop at DH/1B and play some RF/1B to rest Haniger and France.
Seems like they might be the only team excitedly prioritizing Bryant ( bc a vast majority of mlb scribes are predicting it ) anyway. Giants won’t keep him and Cubs won’t resign him but whoever his best team is will find out that his defense versatility is a substandard combo in the outfield and even 3rd base where he doesn’t make the routine third to first throw anymore
They do need left-handed power.
But Jerry has been clear that they intend to rotate the DH and they currently have 3 internal candidates for that rotation: Lewis, Haniger, and Torrens.
Schwarber might be worse than Kelenic in left field and Conforto is a right fielder, so neither are great fits defensively. Seattle’s outfield defense last year wasn’t pretty . RF ranked 26th, LF ranked 28th, and CF…dead last.
A reunion with Ketel Marte would make a ton of sense. He could take CF initially and eventually take 2B when Rodriguez is ready.
It’s a big ‘if’, but if Seattle is willing to take Bumgarner’s contract and Arizona is willing to take prospects from that second tier, as we saw with the Goldy & Greinke trades, maybe a deal could get done.
So then where does the left handed threat come from friend?
Seriously? Marte is a switch-hitter and offers plenty of power from the left side.
There aren’t any stand-out left-handed hitting center fielders via free agency and Seattle doesn’t really need a corner outfielder.
So, targeting at least one who can play the infield would make sense. If a deal isn’t there, so be it. Right-handed power wouldn’t hurt. The Blue Jays proved that.
I have seen enough of conforto to tell you that he will do nothing to improve the mariners. He 8s average at his best.
The problem with Conforto isn’t his bat, it’s his defensive limitations. He’s a right fielder. Seattle still has Haniger, and Lewis will probably get some starts in right. Julio probably should be a right fielder, but may get thrown into center because of the current RF depth.
He won’t be wearing it here. After Randy and Ichiro, no one else is wearing that number. I can guarantee it. Unless Ichiro gives permission.
Learn how to spell the dudes name is half a scroll up
White is going to have to play himself back into consideration with his bat in any position he can. Then maybe he’ll be looked at for 1B again. But his future with the Mariners is slipping.
He could be a trade piece.. I would trade him to the A’s for Matt Chapman. White has neither a position nor the bat to take a roster spot.
Yesterday, Dipoto said the top 25 prospects were off the table,
I assume you mean White plus guys with actual value for Chapman?
He did not say the top 25 prospects were off the table, just stop. He said the top core were not getting traded.
He never said the top 25 is untouchable. That would be moronic
Ugh feels like the kind of guy someone will get a good season or two after the Mariners trade him and all the money they owe him for a reliever that’s DFAd 2 months later.
His future as a major league player is in doubt. The guy simply can’t hit major league pitching.
I hope Dipoto isn’t this stubborn as to back himself in this corner, away from pursuing Correa because of JP. Correa is far superior and will be for the next decade. This is a massive mistake if he’s sticking with this.
Well if they pursue Correa, Crawford can play SS for the 40 games/year Correa will be injured. Waste of money for whatever team gets duped into Carlos
Correa can play 3B. Rather he’s willing to or not is a different story.
Let me get this straight- you think Jerry Dipoto is making a massive mistake if he doesn’t spend $300M+ for Correa? Where have you been the last 5 years or so!? It was a massive $280M contract to another INF (Cano) that brought about the rebuild in Seattle in the first place!!!
If I’m brutally honest I dont really give a $h*t who they bring in to improve the teams chances to make the postseason. I just want to see Seattle win a playoff series. There are many players out there who can help them do that. They can absolutely 100% still build a winning team w/o buying Correa. Besides It is going to take more to get to the Playoffs than just him.
The flip side is they absolutely can win with Crawford at 2B and a superior SS in the fold.
Disregard the name Correa if you need to; I just said him because I think he should be a legitimate target. You can use what I said and apply it anywhere though. Such a firm belief that JP is the only SS for the Mariners is shortsighted. There’s more than one way to upgrade the roster and since Crawford aint exactly Mike Trout, SS should be open for discussion.
I also think it’s just GM posturing on Dipoto’s part. He’s not going to disregard a clear roster upgrade if it presents itself.
$240M
Correa may be “better”, but once he signs for $30+MM per, he will much less valuable than JP. Better to spend that money at a position of need.
It will be really interesting to see the value teams put on durability when it comes to Correa. Nobody is denying the talent, but IMO you’d have to be insane to think offering him a ten year commitment is a good idea. It would also be a bad idea to move your young GG shortstop who had 169 hits in 2021 to accommodate him.
There is not a less likable guy in MLB than Correa. Probably not a more likable player than JP.
True, and that means a lot to any team,over a whole season.
The M’s have enough injury prone players without signing Correa.
No wayCorrea coming to Seattle. He will cost over 300 million for a position we have covered. Plus no way he wants to play in Seattle
>Dipoto all but confirmed that the current catching triumvirate Tom Murphy, Cal Raleigh, and Luis Torrens (plus Jose Godoy) will stick into next season as well.
But…why? Those guys are pretty bad. Torrens would be playable if he could stick there but the coaches don’t seem to think he can actually catch, he was exclusively 1B/DH the last few months of 2021. So you’re just gonna declare in early November that you’re good to roll into next year with Tom Murphy and Cal Raleigh? On what planet is that tandem playable for a team that’s supposed to be contending? Sure wish Dipoto hadn’t traded Narvaez for a bag of balls a couple years ago.
Narvaez was not a good Catcher with the Mariners.
The Brewers are very good at reworking and developing Catchers.
You can overpay and buy players in FA. But if a team can’t maximize the ability of players they already have, then after a period of time those FA’s will regress.
MLB players depend on a quality coaching staff. That starts with having a quality organization.
“bad coaching staff” led that M’s roster to 90+ wins.
Not too bad.
Narvaez is a worse catcher than Torrens. I like how Raleigh isn’t a piece for the team based on a small sample of sporadic playing time. Murphy is fine as a backup playing only versus left handed pitchers.
Raleigh played basically every day after his callup and utterly faceplanted. Murphy is indeed fine as the small side of a platoon, the problem is they don’t have a quality starter for him to partner with.
Narvaez was a butcher behind the plate with the M’s but check his defensive numbers now, Milwaukee fixed him. And he’s obviously a much better hitter than any of the catchers the M’s are rostering.
I bet one of those catchers is getting traded, Jerry is just talkin em up.
I don’t understand why no one has the Mariners on any actual prominent free agent pitcher. Stroman? Deshalfani? How about they are going to be after Gausman and Robbie Ray? They are going to increase payroll and will be after the top arms.
They should go after Scherzer. Shorter term contract than the other top pitchers out there and can be a bridge until Kirby and other top prospects are ready. they should also sign Paxton to a one year low risk contract.
What good does it do to sign Paxton to a one year deal when he’s going to be out at least half of the season? Not to mention they’d have to use a 40 man spot for him to not pitch unless they signed him after rosters set where they can sign him and put him on the 60 day DL
Scherzer is not a bridge, he’s a solution. Geesh!
Sean Manaea and Chris Bassit only have 1 year left remaining on their contracts and what this article doesn’t say, that Jerry was also quoted as saying regarding:
“They like the Oakland guys
When 11-year manager Bob Melvin left the A’s for the Padres last week, it signaled the possibility of a major sell-off, which was reiterated Tuesday by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, who reported that Oakland is willing to listen to trade talks on any of their arbitration-eligible players. Not only is that group comprised of All-Star talent, but many of those also explicitly meet Seattle’s needs.
Matt Chapman, arguably the game’s best defensive third baseman, taking over for Seager? What about starting pitchers Chris Bassitt, Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea plugging a much-needed rotation void? Oakland GM David Forst said Tuesday, per Heyman, that, “This is the cycle for the A’s. We have to listen and be open to whatever comes out of this.”
And as for Dipoto? “We like them all,” he said, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times.”
I could see Dipoto picking off a few Oakland players this offseason.
Don’t worry MLBTR, I’ll help do your job for you when covering Seattle, seeing as how you don’t cover everything.
100% correct, they should bring in Scherzer to anchor the rotation and mentor Gilbert, Kirby, Hancock, Brash, etc. 4 yr/$140m.
Build for the long haul like the 90’s Braves.
They should not sign Paxton. There is no if about it, he will get hurt and miss a big chunk of the year, no matter where he plays.
Descalfani is waste of money. Stroman is basically a 2/3 level starter like Marco. He’d be a good sign at the right price but he’s not a front end guy.
Stroman was worth more/performed better than any Mariners starter last year
Stroman is the one I’m hoping for. He won’t break the bank and he’s definitely a good mid rotation guy. I’d also be down with bringing Tyler Anderson back. He was solid
I don’t see JD getting into bidding wars for the really good FA.
He’s gonna have to sale them on the teams direction for next many years, make a decent offer, and make some good trades.
What’s to gain by such firm proclamations?
Now if a deal becomes available to improve the club, let’s say with a Marlins pitcher or a blue jays outfielder or whoever, he’s gone on record saying he wouldn’t move top prospects.
There is absolutely nothing to gain by that statement, Mariners execs talk too much .
The Haniger trade is the one to make… it hurts, I love the guy, I don’t want to lose him… It seems like the move. Should get a good return.
Sign Kris Bryant… Sign some quality pitching…
Is there a down button?
Already have to replace Seager’s 35 Hrs and now you want to ditch Hangers near 40???
The idea is to ADD to the offense, not just take away or replace for higher salaries.
Terrible idea to trade Haniger. Absolutely not happening.
Seems he’s overvaluing Crawford some. A fine fielder, below-average hitter, no power, not much speed. He’s not someone who should block Correa. Perhaps turn Crawford into the “versatile” player instead.
Don’t agree. Crawford is great defensively.
No way Correa coming to Seattle. He will cost north of 300 million and for a position we have a solid player at. Plus no way he wants to be here…
All of those 5 shortstops will be over paid (all FAs are) on high dollar contracts. He is just saying that he won’t be the one overpaying. Seattle has a solid underpaid SS, and when you construct a roster on a budget, the more talent that has excess value, the better the team will perform.
I would go after Verlander and Story and Kris Bryant. The idea with Verlander is probably cheaper due to injury history. Would only take a 2 year max contract. He could be the ace the mariners desperately need. Can move Crawford to 2nd and have a big upgrade at both short and 3rd.
I’m shocked Kikuchi declined, which I’m actually happy about. Before Kikuchi declined we only needed Scherzer and pay him $40m. He’ll be a short term 3yr deal and the best Mentor for out top prospects (Kirby/Gilbert/Hancock/Marco) to learn from. But now with Kikuchi we will need another and I think we should land Alex Wood.
Offense?
2B Siemen
3B Bryant OR Trade White to Oakland for Chapman
The thing I like about Bryant is that he’s versatile and can fill in if needed in OF with Toro at 3B waiting for Julio Rodriguez call up.
I would like to get a decent Catcher until Raleigh adjusts to MLB pitching but this offseason nothing is out there unless we do a trade with the Cubs for Contreras which is a possibility since Cubs are rebuilding.
As a Mariners fan we have NEVER been in this position before along with one of the top #2 farm systems in MLB … gonna be an exciting 5-6 years of some great baseball finally!
Sounds good, but Oakland won’t give us Chapman for White. That would be a horrible trade for them.
A lot of you seem to be forgetting that none of these suggestions are for left handed hitting.
There’s really nothing in free agency that quite fits. I think it comes in the form of a trade.
Sticking with Crawford is the right move. Never try to improve on a position where you have someone with a 3.8 bWAR.
Frankly, all I really saw last season in terms of need was some better hitting all around.
Aside from that, I think it is time to replace Kyle Seager and we need another starting pitcher.
However, if there was no change from last year’s team, I truly believe we would again win 90 games. The desire is there.
But, there is always change in terms of growth from the young players.
Now, Dipoto is going to do some adding.
So that comes out as plenty of reasons to be optimistic about 2022!
I am looking forward to the playoffs already.
The A’s will 100% be worse. That’s one team you don’t have to worry about.
Angels will probably be a bit better but you really can’t trust them. Astros lose Correa but that team still looks good. Rangers are the Rangers. All in all—90 wins seems pretty doable.
Bring Graveman back, a TOR starter, and a couple other pieces. ThT would look like a playoff team to me.
that is Dipoto for “Crawford is available”
Downvote
Fun time to be a Seattle fan.
But yes, Dipoto will happily trade. Pick up John Means and Cedric Mullins from Baltimore, move Kellenic to a corner, Sign Chapman and you’re done.
Mullins is going to be very pricey.
Would have to say goodbye to Kirby or Hancock + more for that.
Let alone Mullins and Means. That’d be half the farm.
Kelenic still seems to be mishandled by the Mariners. These GMs need to understand not everyone is or should be position flexible. The kid is already trying to learn to keep his spot on the big field but then they position him where he won’t grade out well. Injuries seem to pop up quicker in situations like that. Hopefully he has plenty of those exceptional days out there in CF otherwise Jerry will have another trade candidate or worse…
I would go for Luke Voit to cover 1B and slide Ty France to 2B.
Go hard after Kris Bryant for LF.
Abraham Toro will get 3B.
Resign Tyler Anderson and load up for 1 pitching trade…. Luis Castillo of the Reds. Taylor Trammell & Brandon Williamson as the package.
We also get Ken Giles back from injury.
Jerry likes those injury bounce backs, so Kershaw and Syndergaard on short term contracts saving $ for Semien and Seiya Suzuki. And bring back Graveman. Would love to see Nelson Cruz come back for a year, but they want to rotate the D.H.
I’m betting that Dunn will settle into a bullpen role this year. Could be great for him
The Mariners should avoid spending big this offseason and instead sign a couple of bargain type players and let the kids play. A lot of these guys still haven’t played a full season yet, so it’s the perfect time to see what they can do. With more promising players getting a possible mid-season call up next year, I think they should wait until next offseason to sign a free agent or two and maybe workout a blockbuster trade as well.
If you could pry Bryan Reynolds from Pitt for a quanity over quality type deal, meaning no top 5-10 prospects, but a solid package of mid-tier guys, which M’s have and Pitt seems willing to take, then I’d go for that!!! BR is basically in his prime right now entering his age-27 season and controllable for 4 season thru age-30, that’d solve CF for the forseeable future, Hani and JK play corners(until J-Rod makes Hani trade bait) Lewis could DH and play sparingly in OF to help his knee, while Trammell/Fraley fight out for last OF spot(if not dealt)
Then hopefully sign someone like Bryant or Semien(middle-order bat), along with Gausman/Ray/Stroman-type(top rotation starter, if not Scherzer/Verlander of course) and bring back Ty Anderson(or another backend rotation option 1-year ‘show me’ deal!) and I’d have more hope entering opening day as a M’s fan than I have had in about 2 decades!!! 🙂
P.S. Jury still out on Raleigh, or Catcher upgrade may be in order too, but I got more faith in most that he’ll eventually figure it out at the plate at the MLB-level!