On Monday, Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto signaled to all in baseball that the M’s aren’t competing to end the longest playoff drought in American professional team sports for the foreseeable future after trading their best and most marketable asset. His next steps will determine how quickly the Mariners recover.

Imagine a Mariners starting rotation without its most talented pitcher going into the 2019 season. As part of general manager Jerry Dipoto’s offseason of change, which isn’t a teardown, a build-up or a reset, but a re-imagining of the roster, Seattle has traded talented, but at times enigmatic left-handed pitcher James Paxton to the New York Yankees in exchange for three prospects.

Lorena Martin made shocking allegations of racist and sexist comments against the Mariners, who strongly denied them. No matter how it’s resolved, it’s a damaging blow to an organization that seems to be in constant turmoil.

A report from Maury Brown of Forbes stated that the Mariners have reached an agreement with T-Mobile for the naming rights of their stadium, which had been known as Safeco Field since its construction and opening in 1999.

Major League Baseball is investigating claims made against the Mariners by Seattle’s recently fired training and conditioning director, who said team management had disparaged Latino players. The Mariners denied the allegations following the social media postings from Lorena Martin in which she claimed general manager Jerry Dipoto, manager Scott Servais and director of player development Andy McKay had called Latino players “lazy, dumb and stupid, especially the Dominicans.”

The Seattle Mariners are denying claims made by the club’s recently fired training and conditioning director, who said team management had disparaged Latino players.

Jerry Dipoto's offseason machinations were set in motion by the trade of Mike Zunino for Ray outfielder Mallex Smith. Whether this is just part of a small plan or the beginning of a rebuild that could resemble a teardown is one of many questions in what figures to be an intriguing winter.

Speedy outfielder and leadoff hitter Mallex Smith has been acquired by the Seattle Mariners from the Tampa Bay Rays for catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia as part of a five-player deal.

Multiple Major League Baseball sources said the Mariners are finalizing a deal with their favorite trade partner, the Tampa Bay Rays. Seattle would send catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia to Tampa in exchange for outfielder Mallex Smith.

The Seattle Mariners have declined their part of outfielder Denard Span’s $12 million mutual option for next year in favor of a $4 million buyout, making the 34-year-old a free agent. Span was acquired by Seattle last May in a trade with Tampa Bay and became one of the Mariners most consistent hitters. Span hit .272 with 15 doubles, seven home runs and 30 RBIs in 94 games with the Mariners, often batting in the middle of Seattle’s order. He played 87 of those games in the outfield.

Edgar Martinez is stepping down as the hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners and moving into a new role as a hitting adviser for the entire organization. The move announced Tuesday means Martinez will have more freedom to work with all levels of the organization. Martinez says he’s looking forward to working with both the major leaguers and younger hitters.