Speaking earlier this week on 93.3 KJR, Seattle Mariners executive Jerry Dipoto left the door open for all kinds of chaos in the infield this spring.

"(Cole Young) comes in as the favorite if I were a betting man," Dipoto said on Monday. "But there are a lot of good players in this camp. All age-22 or younger. Cole Young, I mentioned, Michael Arroyo and, obviously, Colt Emerson. We're getting Michael some reps at third base, Colt Emerson is taking some reps at third base. (Emerson's) played both shortstop and second base. Again, versatility is the key depending on who takes the step forward with the bat."

That's interesting for multiple reasons, but mainly because it has been widely assumed that Young is going to get the Opening Day second base job and that Emerson is battling for the third base job. We've discussed whether or not Brendan Donovan's presence impacts Emerson's Opening Day chances, with me assuming that Emerson will start the year in Triple-A while Young plays second and Donovan plays third.

But Dipoto's mentioning of Emerson's second base ability and his unwillingness to fully commit to Young at least raises the idea that Emerson could play second or third, with Donovan playing the other, and Young being squeezed out.

The inclusion of Arroyo in the conversation is interesting also.

A Top-100 prospect, Arroyo is regarded as an excellent offensive player. Last season, he hit .262 with 17 home runs and 12 stolen bases between High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas. He's generally not regarded as a strong infield defender, and we heard this offseason that the M's were going to work him out in left field this spring.

My assumption was that Arroyo, 21, could be the replacement for Randy Arozarena in left in 2027. Arozarena is a free agent following the 2026 campaign. 

However, if Dipoto is mentioning him as a candidate in the infield - and at third base - has the plan changed? We discussed it on the most recent 'Refuse to Lose' podcast:

"I want to know maybe if or how the calculus changes here, if at all. Look, because Michael Arroyo, I was in spring training last year, he's, he was not a good defender at second base. Now, he's young, 21 years old I believe. I don't want to say that a guy that young can't get better, he can. Right? So maybe he turns into an adequate second baseman, but he was not a good second baseman defensively last year. The Mariners, according to multiple people, were going to move him to left field, or at least give him reps in left field this spring. I was under the impression that Arroyo's days as a second baseman were pretty much done, and he was maybe gonna be the Randy Arozarena replacement in 2027. But is there a world, is there a possible world where Arroyo stays at second, or stays in the infield rather, and Cole Young is at second in 2027, Cole Emerson is at short, Michael Arroyo is at third now that Ben Williamson is done.? JP Crawford's a free agent remember, and maybe Brendan Donovan is the left fielder for a year who replaces Randy Arozarena. That might be a plan as well."

Donovan is under contract for two seasons and has the versatility to play second, third or left field. That versatility will be heavily utilized by the M's, and evidently, versatility for Arroyo and Emerson will be important as well. Arroyo being a right-handed bat could also drastically help the infield. Young, Emerson, J.P. Crawford and Josh Naylor are all left-handed.

One thing to note: Arroyo is scheduled to leave camp for a period of time to represent Colombia in the World Baseball Classic.

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