The Mariners are in dire straits as the trade deadline approaches, so what does the M's front office leader have on the line?
Entering the final series before the trade deadline, the Seattle Mariners are in dire straits.
The M's have lost six of their last nine games, tumbling from first place in the American League West to third, 2.5 games back of the Texas Rangers for the division lead. Seattle is now 53-57, four games under .500 for the first time since late May.
Because the Rangers and Houston Astros (0.5 back of Texas), play each other this weekend, it will be hard for the M's to make up ground even if they do play well in their series against the Minnesota Twins.
Furthermore, Seattle is 3.0 games back of the Cleveland Guardians in the wild card race, with the Orioles, Twins and Astros all ahead of them.
Could the Mariners rally over the final 52 games and make a push to the playoffs? Of course they can. But the odds are not with them, as Fangraphs now gives them less than a 50 percent chance to make the playoffs.
The trade deadline may offer the Mariners some opportunities to turn things around, but that market is looking more limited than fans are hoping for, and the team may not be able to get the answers it wants moving forward.
As the season of frustration has unfolded, some fans have called for the firing of manager Dan Wilson, while others have called for the ousting of front office leader Jerry Dipoto. Joel Sherman of MLB Network said Dipoto is under as much pressure as any executive this trade deadline season.
Jerry Dipoto looks on before game one of the ALDS round between the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers for the 2025 MLB playoffs at T-Mobile Park. Joe Nicholson-Imagn ImagesWe asked Buster Olney of ESPN on the most recent 'Refuse to Lose Territory' if he thought Dipoto was under a lot of pressure, or if last year's trip to the ALCS provides him some insulation from that pressure:
"Yeah, I think it buys him time. And I think the fact that the team, you know, the general perception of the team is that it is underperforming. I mean, I don't know how you could blame Jerry Dipoto for what's happened with some of the main guys on the team...
I'd say this: If I were to draw up a list of the general managers, you know, heads of baseball operations, under the most pressure, he would not be in the top five. I think there are other teams that are under more pressure because of what happened last year. That buys you a get-out-of-jail-free card.
A year ago, we were talking about the Toronto Blue Jays, who hadn't been to the playoffs in a long time. And Mark Shapiro, their team president, his contract was set to expire. That was a guy under pressure.
I don't feel that about Jerry Dipoto right now. Maybe I'm wrong."
Dipoto has been with the Mariners for 10 full seasons, with this marking his 11th. In that time, the Mariners have been to the playoffs twice, earning two series wins (2022 wild card, 2025 ALDS), and one trip to the American League Championship Series (2025).
He's also earned a reputation as a strong drafter, as the M's have built their team around the likes of homegrown players like Cal Raleigh, Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Cole Young and Colt Emerson.
Of note
After losing two-of-three to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the latest 'Refuse to Lose Territory' is out. You can listen here, or you can watch in the YouTube player below:
