The Mariners yesterday named former Angels GM Jerry Dipoto Exec VP & GM/Baseball Operations, with Mariners President & COO Kevin Mather saying that Dipoto's familiarity with the franchise "was a big plus," according to Greg Johns of MLB.com. Dipoto worked in the AL West the past 3 1/2 seasons "before resigning from the Angels on July 1 after reported conflicts" with manager Mike Scioscia. Dipoto "had been at the forefront of the Mariners' search" since the team dismissed Jack Zduriencik on Aug. 28. Dipoto "had been working as a special consultant with the Red Sox since August." Dipoto "becomes the ninth GM in Mariners history" (MLB.com, 9/28). In Seattle, Ryan Divish notes this "wasn’t the first time Dipoto interviewed for the position." He was a "finalist for the GM opening" before the '09 season and "was the runner-up" to Zduriencik. But Mather "wasn't a part" of that GM search. Dipoto "seemed like a logical candidate again." He "fit all of the qualities Mather outlined early in the search process, particularly experience as a GM, scouting and player development and with an understanding and appreciation for analytics." Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon and Dipoto yesterday "met for about two hours ... to discuss the big-league team and the organization." McClendon "didn’t share if his future was discussed." McClendon: "I’m under contract to manage next year, and hopefully I will manage that club" (SEATTLE TIMES, 9/29).
FITTING THE BILL: In Seattle, Larry Stone writes Dipoto "checks off the right boxes, though there are certainly some red flags that I’ll be interested to hear him discuss." Mather during the search said he wanted a "young, analytical, computer-nerd type." Stone notes Dipoto has "bona fides in all those areas, plus he has the bonus of being a former major-league pitcher, which gives him a leg up in the scouting realm as well." It also is "particularly heartening to see Dipoto’s background in statistical analysis." But as Dipoto "found out quite profoundly" during his time with the Angels, it "can be hard to sell those methods to old-school baseball types" (SEATTLE TIMES, 9/29). Marlins broadcaster Preston Wilson said of Dipoto, "He's one of those guys who proved that he has the intelligence, he has the moxie to be a GM, and I think he’s going to do well in Seattle” (“MLB Now,” MLB Network, 9/28). ESPN's Eduardo Perez: "If the Seattle Mariners allow him to do what he does best and be able to rebuild that farm system and be able to do well with that Major League team as far as the pitching, this team can contend" ("Baseball Tonight," ESPN2, 9/28). But ESPN.com's David Schoenfield writes he is "cautiously optimistic" about the hire. The Mariners are in a "tough position considering the win-now contracts of their core four, but the lack of depth across the rest of the big league roster and minor league system is a problem." Dipoto will "have to balance the pressure to go for it in 2016 while trying to rebuild the farm system at the same time." It "won't be easy" (ESPN.com, 9/29).
