The Seattle Mariners are poised to make significant moves during the upcoming MLB Winter Meetings, set to take place from Dec. 9-12 in Dallas. These meetings hold the potential to reshape the team's major league roster and farm system alike. With reports of trade negotiations with several teams and the looming Rule 5 Draft, the Mariners find themselves at a crucial juncture.

Key Players and Draft Eligibility

MLB.com has named Jason Ruffcorn as an intriguing draft-eligible player to watch. Meanwhile, Baseball America has picked former Virginia Tech hurler Peyton Alford as a player to pay attention to during the Rule 5 Draft. Alford, an undersized left-hander, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Over the last two seasons, he has shown remarkable improvement in command. His four-seam fastball sits at 92-94 mph and induces 19-20 inches of vertical break from a 5-foot-6 release height. The combination of ride, release, and velocity makes his fastball an above-average bat-misser. His slider and curveball also drive swing-and-miss, with whiff rates above 35% against each and swing rates above 47%. Alford played all of 2024 with the Mariners' Double-A affiliate, the Arkansas Travelers. He made a career-high 43 appearances and had a career-best 2.20 ERA, striking out 63 batters in 57.2 innings pitched while holding batters to a.134 batting average and posting a 0.84 WHIP.The Mariners have brought in a plethora of arms to their farm system in the past several months, such as Adonis Medina, Casey Lawrence, and Yunior Marte. They also drafted players like Will Riley, Hunter Cranton, and Brock Moore in 2024.

Impact on the Farm System

The Winter Meetings won't only affect the major league rosters; it will also have a significant impact on the farm systems. Aside from the minor leaguers that will inevitably be moved as part of deals, the Rule 5 Draft looms large. The Draft takes place at 11 a.m. PT on Dec. 11, and Seattle has several prospects eligible for selection. Most of the outside interest seems to lie in the organization's pitchers.

Re-Tooling and Future Prospects

Regardless of how many prospects the Mariners lose in the Rule 5 Draft, they seem well-equipped to re-tool. They have a deep farm system and could also look to the draft itself to find any necessary replacements. The Mariners' preference for acquiring players via their top-ranked farm system rather than their major league roster has been a consistent theme. Recent reports have indicated that they are one of three teams in the mix for Pete Alonso, with a return to the New York Mets still a likely scenario.There has also been discussion about the 10-year, $240 million deal between the Seattle Mariners and Robinson Cano. Some believe it has been used as justification for the team not spending. However, the Mariners are now looking to move forward and make strategic moves to strengthen their team.Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE.