Ryan Divish

The Seattle Times

Even in the midst of a new organizational plan that features a “step back” in 2019 with a focus on 2020 and 2021, there was still a level of optimism at the building now known as T-Mobile Park on Thursday morning.

The Mariners held their 39th annual pre-spring training luncheon that featured general manager Jerry Dipoto, manager Scott Servais, director of player development Andy McKay and recently acquired players Mallex Smith, J.P. Crawford and Justus Sheffield talking to the local media.

And while the team’s immediate future, specifically the 2019 season, doesn’t seem to trend toward snapping the longest postseason drought in all of the major sports in North America, there is a belief that the decision to begin this process is correct. Success may come in two years but there is a focus on still being competitive now.

“That’s something y’all brought up,” Smith said. “Personally, I can’t look to 2020 with 2019 ahead. Every moment, every opportunity we get in 2019, we are going to maximize. The statement may be to step back. But I don’t think Justus or J.P. or myself plan on taking a step back for the 2019 season. We can piggyback off the 2019 season going into 2020.”

Dipoto was a bit more realistic about the team’s position, but also wouldn’t doom it to failure.

“I didn’t think the Oakland A’s were going to contend in 2018 and they went off and won 97 games,” he said. “And I don’t know if they’ll contend in 2019. But they might win 97 games again. We’re not built largely that different than them. If I ran through our club position by position, we have a player virtually at the prime of their career that’s athletic and fun. We should be one of the fastest, most electric, athletic teams in the league. We have the chance to grow into something special. And we are going to watch that happen. While we can’t tell you definitely that we are going to win 100 games, I can tell you we are going to try and win every single one that we play. We aren’t going out there with intention to lose.”

Prospect-a-palooza

With a truncated spring training due to a trip to Japan and this new offseason plan put into place, the Mariners will have many of their top prospects to MLB spring training with some on the 40-man roster and others invited.

Of their Top 30 prospects per MLB Pipeline, Sheffield, LHP (No. 1), Justin Dunn, RHP (No. 3), Kyle Lewis, OF (No. 4), Evan White, 1B (No. 5), Shed Long, 2B (No. 8), Braden Bishop, OF (No. 9), Erik Swanson, RHP (No. 11), Matt Festa, RHP (No. 12), Dom Thompson-Williams, OF (No. 16), Cal Raleigh, C (No. 18), Eric Filia, OF (No. 22), Jake Fraley, OF (No. 27) and Gerson Bautista, RHP (No. 28) will all be in camp.

“You are hoping that Scott and the Major League staff is able to begin to a build relationship with them that will have an impact,” McKay said. “And wherever they end up, it’s more of an organizational view of the player than just a minor leagues view. A lot of the players we have acquired, they will be in the higher levels if not in the big leagues. So it will be good for the Major League staff to see them.”

Servais is receptive to their presence in camp.

“Young players are very hungry,” he said. “There’s something to be said for that. They want to prove themselves. They want to prove themselves, you know, as real legitimate Major League players. They want to prove themselves to their teammates. This is their opportunity. So when you’re hungry, oftentimes you’re open to a few more suggestions, some different things that’ll help you in your game, and young players bring a lot of energy.”

Injury updates

Of the players coming into major league spring training, only two are not expected to be fully cleared for activity when they arrive. Relievers Anthony Swarzak and Sam Tuivailala will both be dealing with respective injuries when pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 11.

Tuivailala wasn’t expected to be ready for the report date after undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon in mid-August. Acquired from the Cardinals at the trade deadline last season, the hard-throwing right-hander appeared in five games, posting a 1.69 ERA. He suffered the injury while chasing a base runner down in a rundown in Texas.

“Sam is actually coming along pretty quickly,” Dipoto said. “We still anticipate that we won’t see him until some time in June. But he’s already going through mobility and doing his quick movements and started his routine on an AlterG weightless treadmill.”

Swarzak was acquired as part of the five-player return from the Mets in the trade that sent Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano to New York. Given his experience, the veteran right-hander was expected to pitch in the back of the Mariners’ bullpen and possibly handle closing some games if needed.

After starting a throwing program this offseason and even throwing off the mound, Swarzak felt some shoulder discomfort and the Mariners decided to exercise caution.

“We are slowing him down so the likelihood of him being ready to go on the first day of spring training is not great,” Dipoto said. “Though we believe he’s going to be ready for opening day, but that remains to be seen.”

Swarzak dealt with shoulder issues last season for the Mets.

Felix Hernandez won’t be the closer

There was some groundswell among fans about the idea of converting Felix Hernandez to a reliever, possibly the team’s closer, in the final year of his contract. Hernandez was demoted to the bullpen last season and made one extended relief appearance — the first of his career. But an injury to James Paxton allowed Hernandez to quickly return to the rotation.

As of now, he’ll be a member of the rotation along with Marco Gonzales, Mike Leake, Yusei Kikuchi and Wade LeBlanc.

“Felix went home and he’s preparing to be a starting pitcher for us, which is what he’ll be,” Dipoto said. “I’ve mentioned it publicly, there’s really no consideration to Felix pitching in our bullpen as a regular event.”

Hernandez posted an 8-14 record last season with a 5.55 ERA in 28 starts and one relief appearance. He’s owed $27.5 million this season.

“He’s a starting pitcher,” Dipoto said. “That’s what kind of stuff he has. Starting pitcher stuff. He needs the game to evolve to use all his weapons. And frankly his strength is not necessarily coming out and firing the first 20 pitches. His strength has been to incorporate all of his stuff and pitch over the long innings.”

So no closing?

“I’ve heard the rumblings of making Felix a closer,” Dipoto said. “I don’t want to put the kibosh on it any more than to say that’s just chatter at the water cooler.”

A new spring training look

Some fans believed that the Mariners’ trident logo on their spring training/regular season batting practice hats was bad luck and a curse based on the myth of Poseidon. That will no longer be an issue this season. The team will debut a new spring training/batting practice hat with a different logo and a new jersey for this spring.

The jersey will feature a return to an old color in their uniform scheme — powder blue. The Mariners from 1977-1984 had road uniforms that were light blue with gold and navy. The new spring training jersey will be powder blue with a dark navy letters that are outlined in silver and “Northwest green.”

The cap will be all navy with a letter M superimposed over the Mariners’ nautical compass design.

Of course, these new items are already on sale in Mariners team stores in the area.

All Edgar, all the time

Edgar Martinez’s election into the Baseball Hall of Fame and his induction ceremony on July 21 is something the Mariners will celebrate for the entire 2019 season. They plan to open T-Mobile Park early on induction day to let fans watch the ceremony before the game later that day vs. the Angels. Following the celebration in Cooperstown, N.Y., the Mariners will hold an Edgar Martinez Hall of Fame celebration weekend in Seattle on August 9-11 at T-Mobile Park. The series will be against the Tampa Bay Rays and features three days of giveaways.

• Friday, August 9 — The first 40,000 fans through the gates will receive a bobblehead featuring Edgar holding a replica of his Hall of Fame plaque.

• Saturday, August 10 — A pregame ceremony in Edgar’s honor will start at 5:30 p.m. (6:10 p.m. first pitch). The first 40,000 fans will receive a replica of Edgar’s Hall of Fame plaque.

• Sunday, August 11 — The first 40,000 fans will receive Edgar Martinez Drive South replica street signs.