Coming off an 87-win season and then signing Nelson Cruz, the Seattle Mariners were predicted by many (cough) to reach the World Series. Cruz was great, bashing 44 home runs and hitting .302, but the offense still ranked just 13th in runs scored and the pitching staff collapsed from the fewest runs allowed in the AL (554) to 11th (726). The bullpen, which led the majors in ERA in 2014, was a disaster and the outfield defense was awful. Oh, and the farm system might be the worst in the majors. All this cost general manager Jack Zduriencik his job as Seattle finished 76-86 and new GM Jerry Dipoto -- who had resigned as Angels GM in July -- then fired manager Lloyd McClendon and hired Scott Servais, one of his lieutenants in Anaheim.
What do they need: Dipoto has already expressed an action plan that includes more athleticism in the outfield and hitters with better on-base skills. Catcher Mike Zunino was so bad -- he hit .174/.230/.300, one of the worst seasons in history for a regular player -- that he can no longer be counted on for full-time duty. Dipoto already dealt shortstop-maybe-center fielder Brad Miller to the Rays for pitcher Nathan Karns, so center field is also a priority. First base, another longstanding problem in Seattle, is currently in the hands of Mark Trumbo, but he's a low OBP guy and Dipoto once traded him when he had him with the Angels.
Guy on the rise: Miller was the shortstop of the future. Then maybe it was Nick Franklin or Chris Taylor. Now it appears to be Ketel Marte, who reached the majors at 21 and hit .283/.351/.402 in 57 games. He doesn't have home run power and his defense projects as merely adequate, but he could post a decent OBP, especially if the spike in his walk rate upon reaching the majors was legit.
Prospect to anticipate: This was to be the year D.J. Peterson, the team's first-round pick in 2012, was ready to take over at first base, but after hitting 31 home runs in the minors in 2014, he hit .223/.290/.346 at Double-A, going from prospect to suspect. But such is the state of the Seattle system that he remains the team's No. 3 prospect via MLB.com. (The No. 1 prospect, 2014 top pick Alex Jackson -- drafted a couple of spots ahead of local kid Michael Conforto -- hit .207 in low-A with 96 strikeouts in 76 games.)
Winter action plan: The Miller-Karns trade brought in Triple-A center fielder Boog Powell, but he projects more as a fourth outfielder, so the Mariners will probably seek a center fielder in free agency, perhaps Denard Span or Dexter Fowler or, less likely, a return engagement with Austin Jackson or a trade with Boston to get Jackie Bradley Jr. With Robinson Cano, Felix Hernandez and Kyle Seager all in the middle of $100 million contracts, a big free-agent outfielder such as Yoenis Cespedes or Alex Gordon is probably more of a remote possibility.
The Mariners have reportedly talked with the Yankees about a Brett Gardner/James Paxton deal. Gardner would be owed $39.5 million for his age 32-34 seasons, not too prohibitive, and while Paxton has had trouble remaining on the field -- he made just 13 starts in 2015 because of a strained tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand -- the deal makes sense for both teams as the Yankees need a young, cost-controlled starter and just traded for Aaron Hicks as an outfield option. Dipoto already acquired reliever Joaquin Benoit from the Padres for two low-level prospects and is also reportedly close to signing Chris Iannetta, who is coming off a .188/.293/.335 season. Sadly, that would be a big improvement over the 2015 Mariners backstops.
Dipoto will also try to re-sign free-agent pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma. If the Mariners don't, they'll need to find another starter.
The early returns indicate a busy offseason. The Mariners have a win-now core with Felix, Cruz, Cano and Seager, but Dipoto's efforts will be hampered by the state of the minor league system.