Mariners Promote G.M. Jerry Dipoto to President of Baseball Ops

On Wednesday morning, news broke that the Seattle Mariners would be extending General Manager Jerry Dipoto, and Manager Scott Servais, to multi-year contracts. Along with this announcement, it was revealed that Dipoto would be given a new title with the team: President of Baseball Operations. What does this promotion mean for him and the Mariners?

As General Manager of the Mariners, Dipoto’s primary responsibility was to evaluate players’ talent within and outside of the organization, construct a competitive major league roster, and build a fruitful minor league system. In his new role as President of Baseball Operations, his essential responsibility will shift towards overseeing the intricate financial management associated with acquiring and keeping those players.

Previously, Mariners ownership was responsible for overseeing the team’s finances in relation to roster construction; now, Jerry Dipoto will have much more control over how that money is spent.

The primary difference between Dipoto’s new role and his previous role is that he will now have almost entirely free reign to construct the Mariners’ roster; as General Manager, every free agent signing or trade needed to be approved by Mariners Owner John Stanton. Now that he is stepping into his new role as President of Baseball Operations, that red tape has been rescinded.

Day-to-day operations, such as moving players to and from the Injured List, sending players down to the minor leagues/calling up minor league players to the major league team, and scouring the MLB waiver wire, will likely be passed on to Assistant General Manager Justin Hollander while Dipoto takes on the Mariners’ expansive roster budget.

Moving forward into a bustling free agency and potentially vast trade market this offseason, Dipoto can be aggressive in trying to build a contending team for 2022. The money is now his to spend, and the futures of most players on the current roster are his to determine.

Jerry, if you’re reading this (which obviously you are), always remember: “with great power, comes great responsibility”. Mariners Nation and Uncle Ben are counting on you.