Dipoto not shy about implementing change
Mariners' new GM has already had a busy offseason
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto has already pulled off the first trade of the offseason and was hard at work at the General Managers Meetings on Tuesday at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, trying to find other moves to improve his new club.
Dipoto, hired in late September to replace Jack Zduriencik, was a popular interview subject Tuesday aternoon for reporters curious about how his move to the Pacific Northwest was going, just two months into the job.
"It's been a lot of fun," he said. "We have a great group of people. Now, I think we're pretty close to being done with our Major League coaching staff, which has been a large focal point. Obviously, we made a transaction. We've had to refill a number of front-office and scouting spots. We made quite a few changes in player development. We've had our work cut out and it's been 'round the clock, but it's been fun."
Dipoto said the remainder of the Major League coaching staff could be announced by Thursday. The club hired Scott Servais to be a first-time manager and surrounded him with veteran coaches that include Tim Bogar as bench coach, Mel Stottlemyre as pitching coach and Manny Acta as third-base coach.
Dipoto said he's not going to be shy about making more changes as the offseason progresses.
"I will change quite a few things about the way things are done," he said. "The people I work with have to get used to me and my style, and the people who I inherited. I have a different way and style and personality than Jack. I don't think that's good or bad. It's just different. Obviously, the people I brought in are very familiar with what I do and they're going to help permeate the system and implement the things I believe."
After resigning as GM of the Angels in July, Dipoto had a brief stint in an advisory role to new Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, an experience he said will be beneficial in how he approaches things in Seattle.
"I have great respect for the organization dating back to when I worked there the first time [as a scout]," Dipoto said. "They're very good people who I think have as good a process, from scouting and development to a Major League team, as anybody in baseball. I think the results the last couple of years have been unfortunate, but I have all the respect win the world [for the Red Sox]."