The 2019 Winter Meetings are underway in San Diego, but Seattle Mariners fans shouldn’t expect much activity from their club.
Dec. 8 represents the beginning of this year’s winter meetings for the Seattle Mariners and the rest of the league. However, the opening session does not actually get underway until Monday morning, with the presentation of the League Executive of the Year Awards.
In all, the winter meetings will last for five days in San Diego, concluding with the Rule 5 Draft. This will present the opportunity for clubs to add players from the minors to their 40-man rosters.
Of course, baseball fans in the Pacific Northwest will be focused on what the Mariners do. In this respect, there may well be some disappointment involved.
General manager Jerry Dipoto has claimed he is not expecting to be very active during the winter meetings. This is quite surprising for a man who has been extremely active during his four+ years in Seattle.
Consider that Dipoto’s nickname is “Trader Jerry”. To epitomize this, he even made a trade from a hospital bed during the final day of last year’s winter meetings. (He was in hospital for blood clots.)
With this in mind, you have to wonder if the 51-year-old will be able to help himself. While speaking to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times and other members of the media, he said:
“We will engage, like we always do, with teams in discussions about potential trades. We do have some ongoing conversations with potential free-agent additions.”
However, Dipoto did then emphasize again the Mariners will be unlikely to actually pull the trigger on any deals. As far as he is concerned, the Mariners are very likely the position player club fans are looking at right now.
One possible exception to this is Dee Gordon. The thinking is the M’s would like to find a trade partner for Gordon, so that Shed Long can become the full-time option at second base.
This will prove difficult though. Gordon is due $13.5 million in 2020 and there are concerns about his durability.
In fairness, the Mariners’ rebuild and plans to contend within the next three years won’t actually be impacted too much if Gordon isn’t moved. The likelihood is they won’t pick up his $14 million club option in 2021.
If Dipoto and the M’s are to make any trades during the winter meetings, it will be to add more arms. Overall though, don’t expect much activity.
Do you agree with Dipoto’s apparent stance? Or is there anyone in particular you would (realistically) like the Seattle Mariners to make a move for? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
