Prediction For Seattle Mariners at 2014 MLB Winter Meetings

With the Seattle Mariners  adding even more depth to their pitching staff after acquiring J.A. Happ, another move feels imminent during winter meetings.

The acquisition of Happ gives them some flexibility. GM Jack Zduriencik is adamant Hisashi Iwakuma will not be moved. Now that they signed OF/DH Nelson Cruz to a four-year contract, it negates the need to trade Taijuan Walker or James Paxton for an everyday right-handed bat.

Both pitchers were previously linked to discussions for Matt Kemp and Justin Upton. However, the Cruz deal nixes all of that and leaves the possibility of trading Roenis Elias, or Happ himself, is much more likely.

Austin Jackson is set to start in center field with Dustin Ackley in left. Right field is vacated primarily with the trading of Michael Saunders for Happ from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Andre Ethier is raising tensions with the Los Angeles Dodgers after recently saying he wants to be an everyday starting outfielder in 2015. With him, Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, Joc Pederson and the recently acquired Chris Heisey all taking up space on the Dodgers’ roster of outfielders, something’s gotta give.

Ethier would project nicely as the M’s right fielder in 2015. He is a durable, career .285 hitter with three years remaining on his current contract. It likely would not take Walker or Paxton to acquire his services, because at this point, the Dodgers just need to diffuse their crowded situation of having six MLB-ready outfielders at their disposal.

Another possibility would be to play one-time SS Brad Miller in right field. If that’s not an option, a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks may play well for Seattle. Miller or SS Chris Taylor could provide depth for the D’backs in their middle infield after recently dealing away SS Didi Gregorius. Packaging either one of their shortstops plus Elias, Happ or Erasmo Ramirez for right-handed hitter Mark Trumbo could add even more pop the the M’s lineup in 2015.

Trumbo hit a combined 95 HRs from 2011-13 with the Los Angeles Angels before battling through some injuries last year with Arizona. He made $4.8 million last year and is arbitration eligible until 2017. Adding him would give the M’s the option of playing him at DH, moving Cruz to right field and providing 1B Logan Morrison with some depth now that Justin Smoak is no longer in town.

Jordan Wevers is an MLB writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanWevers, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.