Jerry Dipoto made his intentions known Tuesday in an interview with MLB Network<\/a> from the winter meetings.<\/p>\n \u201cI would venture to guess either via free agency or trade we will add one more bat, hopefully within the next seven days,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n While clearly not a guarantee from the Mariners president of baseball operations, the three days that have expired since that interview likely feel like two weeks for those hanging on every bit of news coming out of the baseball world. \u2018Tis the season, throw another log on the fire.<\/p>\n In the meantime, one area that seems to be coming into better focus is the situation at third base. While we are still at a point in the offseason that anything could happen, the Mariners appear comfortable in handing the hot corner over to one or two of their own young players, with Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander singing the praises of both Ben Williamson and Colt Emerson throughout the offseason.<\/p>\n We have heard they will give every opportunity to Emerson to make the club out of spring training, and Dipoto reiterated on Tuesday the organization\u2019s evaluation of Williamson at third, pointing to why it could be more important than ever for the major league club.<\/p>\n \u201cBen is, we think, an elite defender now,\u201d Dipoto said. \u201cAnd particularly with a team that\u2019s starting to gradually shift toward more ground ball orientation than fly ball, which we\u2019ve predominantly been in the past, having a third baseman who can pick it is really important.\u201d<\/p>\n The Mariners have seen their pitching staff\u2019s ground ball rate rise from a MLB-low 39.8% in 2022 to eighth-highest at 42.9% in \u201925. The addition of Carlos Vargas, who owns the fifth-best ground ball rate in baseball, and a change in arsenals for Matt Brash, who saw his rate jump from 46.1% in \u201923 to 54.7% after adding a changeup and replacing his four-seam fastball with a two-seamer, have contributed to the team getting the ball on the ground more. That number should increase with the addition of Ferrer, who posted the second-best ground ball rate at 62.6% last season.<\/p>\n The beauty of the grounder, of course, is it cannot leave the ballpark. It does however put pressure on the infielders to make the plays, as Dipoto pointed out. An elite glove on the left side would certainly be welcome.<\/p>\n Regardless of who the infielder the Mariners bring in turns out to be, it appears there will be juggling to do with the lineups early in the season. While the stated goal heading into the offseason was to \u201crun it back\u201d as much as they could with the players that saw their seasons end on the field at Rogers Centre in October, I wouldn\u2019t expect there to be a full-time veteran at third base as there was that day. And there is a very good chance there will not be a full-time veteran at second, either.<\/p>\n Understandably, the youngsters were pushed aside during the stretch run and into the postseason in 2025. Their time will likely be in the first two or three months of the season. Their development will have some sort of priority, and to that end, Dipoto is looking to get the right kind of help for them.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d like to continue to give them a taste,\u201d he said, \u201cbut we want to take some of the pressure off with a veteran bat who\u2019s been through there. Could be a third baseman, could be a second baseman, or some combination of those positions who can kind of, we\u2019ll call it like a tri-toon (as opposed to a two-player platoon), that can roll with both players and take some of the pressure off their bat (and) keep us an elite offense.\u201d<\/p>\n Making room, and providing the playing time needed, for multiple position player prospects breaking in or continuing early big league development on a contender? Easier said than done, but necessary. It is a good challenge to have and should be interesting to watch.<\/p>\n More Seattle Mariners offseason coverage<\/p>\n \u2022 Why Nolan Arenado could make sense as a Mariners trade target<\/a>
\u2022 Mariners pick two, lose one in minor league phase of Rule 5 draft<\/a>
\u2022 With a tweak, Jose Ferrer could be special in Mariners\u2019 bullpen<\/a>
\u2022 Mariners\u2019 Jerry Dipoto named Baseball America Executive of the Year<\/a>
\u2022 The move ESPN\u2019s Passan says could make Seattle Mariners AL favorites<\/a><\/p>\n
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