It’s odd to see a major trade this early in a season, but that’s exactly what Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto pulled off. The additions of Alex Colome and Denard Span provide a significant upgrade to the bullpen and outfield rotation, at the cost of almost nothing.
We have yet to see either player in a Mariners uniform, but the simple statement a trade like this sends to a fan base and its own clubhouse is clear: We are in. In 2016 and 2017, Dipoto tip-toed around buying and selling at the deadline.