When Jerry Dipoto argued against a total Mariners rebuild about a month ago, he said players like Mitch Haniger, Marco Gonzales and Edwin Diaz are pieces you build around, not send away.
At first it seemed maybe just an oversight that Dipoto didn’t mention James Paxton as a foundational piece.
Except now it’s looking like Seattle general manager’s words were quite calculated. Multiple reports surfaced over the weekend about the Mariners speaking to most any team willing to listen, including the Yankees and Astros, about a trade involving their ace pitcher.
So also take Dipoto seriously when he told MLB Network this past week at the general managers meetings in Carlsbad, California, that the Mariners aren’t planning to tear down to the studs, but they’re certainly “re-imagining” their roster for 2019.