The time is slowly approaching: the air gets cold, the lights go up, and families come together for this special time of year, winter meetings. While winter meetings are not where all deals get done, typically, it is a period for GMs, agents, and others involved in the dealing of players to all gather together and potentially hammer out a deal in person. For some, winter meetings even herald the start of the offseason. Now, that’s not to say that multiple deals will be done or the stove is going to heat up, but the potential is there.
In the past, Jerry Dipoto has been known by fans and league-wide as “Trader Jerry” and rightfully so, as Dipoto quickly became known for wheeling and dealing players at will, eating contracts, clearing money, and collecting prospects, all with a long-term vision in mind (I think). As we discussed last week, the Mariners do have some holes in their team, and most notably, most of you thought that 3rd base was the most significant need to address for this coming season:
So the question becomes, how? There are a plethora of free agent options, both international and domestic, as well as the trade market, teams looking to blow it up or move on from a player that no longer fits their window. Let us know what you think in the survey and comments below: Should the Mariners be looking to fix their issues via the trade market, free agency, or internal candidates?
While we are on the topic of the third baseman, we also need to know who it is we are indeed pursuing. As I mentioned earlier, there’s a vast array of options, ranging from high-profile free agents like Alex Bregman to more risky additions like veteran Nolan Arenado or total unknowns like Kazuma Okamoto. Let us know who you think the Mariners should go after via the survey below. If you don’t see an option you like, let us know in the comments below! There’s likely to be a few players I haven’t even considered.
Speaking of free agents, last week we asked you all if you would be interested in a reunion with Edwin Diaz, and you all gave a resounding no:
This was surprising to me; I really enjoyed Diaz, and he was great for the Mariners on some teams that were not so competitive. A 50-save season is nothing to smirk at. That being said, I can definitely see the reluctance with his recent injury history and general decline in form from that season onwards. Still, he’s considered one of the best relief pitchers in baseball. I think it would be foolish not to sniff around at least and see if there’s a deal to be done.
So let us know in the survey below who the Mariners should go after for third base and how they should start bringing these moves about. The future is bright for the Mariners; a crucial off-season like this one needs to be handled carefully; the wrong move could set them back another two decades. So let us armchair GM and criticize moves and results as obvious, well after the fact, in the survey and comments below!