The Mariners and GM Jerry Dipoto have been very clear the entire winter that they will not be adding many hitters with an MLB track record of success as to not block their young kids. There is a good chance that only one player over 30-years-old will be in the Opening Day lineup and it is a strategy that can work.
What won’t work is relying on their current group of starting pitching candidates to get them through the majority of the season. Currently, Seattle’s starting 5 includes Justus Sheffield and Justin Dunn, two rookies who are far from sure things to make it through an entire MLB season.