Mariners insider doesn't offer much hope for Seattle on trade front this offseason

The Mariners need to make some moves this offseason. That part should be clear to everyone, but it might not be to Jerry Dipoto, who has seemingly been aligned with ownership to limit spending. An MLB insider gave some more background on where Dipoto sees his team going into the 2025 campaign, and if you want the M's to be better next year, you might want to look away.

Dipoto doesn't seem too eager on spinning any trades. He is quite content with where his club stands, although some experts believe Seattle needs to make a huge overhaul.

“We will get a better version of J.P. next year,” Dipoto told MLB.com. “He hasn't had his greatest year, but he's shown us over time how good he can be, and my guess is we'll get a better version next year.”

Crawford was a .202 batter in 105 games in 2024, taking a major dip in every offensive metric. He donned an .818 OPS in 2023, then followed that up with a .625 mark this past season. This isn't to lay into Crawford too much, but Dipoto might be flying a bit blind if he's banking on a turnaround from a career .245 hitter (with a career .707 OPS).

There are several infielders the Mariners should consider making a trade for, and if they want to do that, something has to give. The M's should really try and churn a deal for an MVP winner or a perennial offensive contributor because their product at the plate was one of the worst in the American League. Their poor offense is likely the sole reason they missed out on the playoffs in 2024, leaving fans with yet another gut-punch to heal from as the postseason carries on.

Who could the Mariners trade to improve roster? No one seems to be a worthy fit

Luis Castillo would be the only logical pitcher to move, but that doesn't even seem likely. Castillo's deal includes a full no-trade clause, so he controls his own destiny. On top of raking in $108 million across five seasons, Castillo has cited enjoying his time in Seattle and being part of an unbelievably talented rotation.

“Apart from having a talented group, I think communication has been a big key within this group,” Castillo said to MLB.com. “And you communicate with him so much that you become kind of a family.”

Not only that, but the price the Mariners currently have Castillo at is a bargain. They'd be silly to trade from that strength unless the return was something they couldn't refuse.

All things considered, the latest news isn't giving Seattle fans much to be excited about. It doesn't appear that Dipoto will make any impact moves to propel the M's into bonafide contender status. Anything can happen this winter, but the front office is already digging their heels into believing that their current players will improve for the next go-around. Complacency is the enemy of progress, which might doom the Mariners before the calendar turns to a new year.