Missing postseason 'incredibly frustrating' to Dipoto 

SEATTLE -- Jerry Dipoto called the end to the Mariners’ season “incredibly frustrating,” saying that his front office will spend the offseason evaluating its own evaluation process and outlined what the roster will look like in 2025, as part of an impromptu 25-minute media session prior to Saturday's 7-6 walk-off win over Oakland at T-Mobile Park.

"We've put a good team on the field for four consecutive years,” Seattle’s president of baseball operations said. “We have talked about creating a sustainable roster. We're just having a tough time figuring out how to climb the wall from a good team to a very good team or a great team. And that's going to be our challenge this offseason.

"It's frustrating going home," Dipoto said. "I think in many ways, I could look at the teams that are in, and we believe we're as good or better than those teams. And in some ways, we performed better than those teams.”

Here are three other key takeaways from Dipoto’s end-of-season reflection:

"Our team is here"
Dipoto dispelled speculation that the Mariners would be open to dealing young starting pitchers Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo, likening the notion to “plan Z.”

"We could shoot ourselves in the foot by trying to get too crafty in what we do,” Dipoto said. “Our pitching is how we're built. I love our rotation."

He also confirmed that the club views its outfield contingent of Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena and Victor Robles as the group that will be intact next season -- which leaves the infield as an avenue where the Mariners could see turnover.

Dipoto said that the club is banking on shortstop J.P. Crawford having a bounceback year, and as it stands, Luke Raley figures to see an enhanced role at first, which leave second and third and some semblance of first as possibilities to upgrade.

That said, Dipoto hinted that most of the 2024 roster will remain intact.

"We've got some holes that we'll need to address and areas of improvement,” Dipoto said. “All in all, I think the group has shown us again over these last five weeks why we believe in them."

The Mariners only have two free agents -- reliever Yimi García and first baseman Justin Turner, both acquired at the Trade Deadline -- though they could have another if they don’t exercise second baseman Jorge Polanco’s $12 million club option and instead pay his $750,000 buyout. Mitch Haniger carries a $15.5 million player option that he’ll almost certainly exercise.

Payroll
The Mariners’ payroll was roughly $145 million according to multiple outlets, such as Cot's Baseball Contracts, RosterResource and Spotrac, each ranking the club from 16th-18th. Dipoto confirmed that the number will increase next year, but also estimated that a bulk of the uptick will be via in-house raises, many through arbitration.

Cal Raleigh and George Kirby are eligible for the first time, while Josh Rojas ($3 million in 2024), Gilbert ($4.05 million) and Arozarena ($8.1 million) will earn more going through the process again. Separately, Rodríguez will see a spike in salary by $8 million to just north of $20 million.

"That’s going to be a big number,” Dipoto said of internal projected increases.

"Refine our messaging" on hitting at T-Mobile Park
Seattle’s offensive struggles were the glaring culprit behind why the club won’t play in October. But Dipoto pointed to the lineup’s turnaround in September, echoing what many players have said by crediting interim hitting coach Edgar Martinez -- and indicating that the club would like to bring him back in some capacity.

"He will be involved in a significant way moving forward, and he wants to be,” Dipoto said. “What that looks like in terms of role, we're probably going to have to get a little creative."

Since Martinez joined new manager Dan Wilson’s staff on Aug. 23 -- a span over which the club has a 19-13 record -- the Mariners have hit .254 (eighth best in MLB) with a .760 OPS (fifth best) and have been worth 8.0 wins above replacement, per FanGraphs (fourth best), with a 125 wRC+ (where league average is 100, third best).

The challenge now, Dipoto said, will be to help proven position players from outside the organization settle in more comfortably to Seattle’s challenging hitter environment.

"I think what we need is to refine our messaging,” Dipoto said. “We need to refine what we're looking at and how we're conveying what it's like to play in this ballpark to good players. And I think that's where I'm most encouraged by what Edgar and Dan have been able to do in the last five weeks."