Fansided

One offseason move each MLB team needs to make

By Joshua Sadlock

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 01: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park on October 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Miami Marlins via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 01: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park on October 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Miami Marlins via Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 02: Yovani Gallardo #49 of the Seattle Mariners reacts to giving up a solo home run to Bruce Maxwell #13 of the Oakland Athletics in the second inning at Safeco Field on September 2, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 02: Yovani Gallardo #49 of the Seattle Mariners reacts to giving up a solo home run to Bruce Maxwell #13 of the Oakland Athletics in the second inning at Safeco Field on September 2, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /

Seattle Mariners: Get serious about the pitching

Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto has been a madman on the trade market the past two seasons but has little to show for it. Most of his moves have centered around building a starting rotation and a speedy outfield capable of running down almost every fly ball in cavernous Safeco Field. Dipoto’s plans may have worked out for the best, but injuries decimated the Mariners rotation all year in 2017.

Dipoto’s approach to building a roster is interesting and unprecedented, to say the least, but it amounts to nothing more than shuffling around spare parts with another team. Seth Smith for Yovani Gallardo — meh. Wade Miley for Ariel Miranda — not moving the needle much

Trading for Mike Leake at the end of the regular season was a sign that Dipoto and the Mariners want to get serious about building a rotation on par with the rest of the contenders in the American League for next season. The offenses of the AL West are just too hard to contain with mediocre starting pitching.

The Mariners cannot count on Drew Smyly or James Paxton to make it through a whole season next year. Hisashi Iwakuma and Felix Hernandez are aging rapidly. Seattle used 40 pitchers last season, most of them below replacement level. Dipoto has to go out and get himself a workhorse this winter. Lance Lynn could be the answer.

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