How Should We Feel About the Seattle Mariners Offseason?

I believe that Jerry Dipoto and the Seattle Mariners front office has put together a unique and talented team. A team that can feel slighted and united by the fact that their previous team was willing to let them go, while the Mariners believed in them. I truly believe that will help play a role in this team’s mentality, as they try to break the “curse”.

Many will say that the Mariners chose to be cheap, but I disagree. That’s possible, but I think the Mariners have a different problem…this front office can’t sell Seattle to the top free agent hitters. I believe in Dipoto, I believe that he will be the man to get Seattle not just back to the postseason, but winning games and competing for titles. I also believe he is not the right man for the job when it comes to selling the idea of coming to this franchise.

The Seattle Mariners currently don’t have a general manager. They need to hire a general manager that can specialize in getting these talented free agents to think about Seattle as a legitimate option, not just as a team to use as leverage. The best man in the business when it comes to getting talent to sign with his team is Dave Dombrowski. Dombrowski has built consistent world series contenders, from the Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, and currently with the Philadelphia Phillies. Seattle doesn’t need Dombrowski, but they need someone that can think like him, to help make up for some of Dipoto’s perceived deficiencies when it comes to free agency.

If I’m Seattle, I take a look at Phillies Assistant GM Ned Rice. Rice was kept by Dombrowski after he took over the reins leading Philly. Dombrowski trusts Rice, and Rice has shown his value in free agent pursuits, being the main man getting the Kyle Schwarber deal done. Rice and Dombrowski are building a potent lineup in Philadelphia, and I believe that Rice is the perfect complement to what Seattle and Dipoto need to make the jump they so desperately are craving for.

This team is good enough to compete for a wild card spot, especially in the expanded postseason. Jerry Dipoto deserves that credit. I also believe that the majority of the fan base believes the Mariners left a bit to be desired. It was billed as the great off-season push, where the Mariners decided to start playing with the elite financially. That was not the case, and it will likely cost the Mariners a chance for an extended postseason stay this October.

It feels like we got close, but not close enough. I hope I’m wrong.

Overall Grade: B