With a well-paid veteran nucleus already in place, Dipoto identified Robinson Cano, Felix Hernandez, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager as his "Core Four" and proceeded to implement a plan to improve the roster around that group by adding players who better fit his vision of what it would take to succeed in Safeco Field.
Dipoto wanted more athletic outfielders, better defenders, some speed to complement the power, a group of hitters focused more toward on-base percentage and pitchers who threw strikes and fit his "control-the-zone" philosophy.