Seattle Mariners: The Dipoto Dilemma – Vets vs Rookies
Seattle Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto faces a big dilemma as he tries to build a winner. Does he play the kids or speed up the process by bringing in some veterans.
It’s an age-old debate in baseball. Is it better for a team to develop young players to build a winner or buy veterans on the open market? Now that the Seattle Mariners border on relevancy in American League West, the team comes to a crossroads.
The fanbase seems to be split on how the M’s should proceed. Social media has fans clamoring on both sides. About half are saying trust the process and General Manager Jerry Dipoto. This is the best farm system Seattle’s had in decades. On the other side, it’s been, sign more vets and win now. Who cares about the farm system?
One fan went off about how the Los Angeles Lakers spend money to bring in the top talent and just win. The Lakers who play in the NBA, not the MLB, and are a very wealthy franchise. The M’s are not a wealthy franchise and don’t often spend close to luxury tax levels. Besides, they’ve been down that road of signing veterans recently. For example, the 2018 Seattle Mariners opened the season with MLB’s eighth-highest payroll ($162.48M). They won a championship, right? No. They must have made the playoffs? Wrong again.
Laying out the issue
Where does all of this leave the young up and coming beloved Seattle Mariners? Dipoto currently isn’t living up to his much-earned nickname of Trader Jerry this offseason. But he hasn’t been quiet either. So far, the GM has signed several free agents, mostly journeymen relievers and a starter candidate from South Korea. What Dipoto hasn’t done is bring in another hitter even though he’s on the record saying the organization is still looking for another bat.
But should Dipoto really bring in a veteran hitter? This is the point where some fans may get off this bus. Yet others will read on and be enlightened. I say, unless there is a deal Dipoto can’t turn down to acquire another hitter, the Seattle Mariners don’t need to go out and sign one.
To be clear, this is what I mean by an offer he can’t refuse. If a team comes to Dipoto and says, “Hey, we’ll happily take Kyle Seager, including all of his remaining salary for the final two years of his contract, off your hands AND give you a top premier hitter in return, it’s a done deal (probably after the other team said they would pick up the rest of his contract). But that won’t happen.