It’s pretty obvious that the Seattle Mariners are going to have a tough road if they want to contend in the AL West.  Once again the Los Angeles Angels will be a favorite with a healthy Albert Pujols and whatever the team adds to fix that horrendous pitching staff.  If the Angels struggle again for a third straight year there is still a hill to climb as they attempt to pass the Texas Rangers and the two time defending AL West Champion Oakland Athletics.

So how can the Mariners contend with the three teams ahead of them?  The answer isn’t simple, and will take a lot of work from General Manager Jack Zduriencik.  They have a solid young core in place, and the top of the rotation is fantastic with Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma and some young arms ready to back them up.  The issues the M’s need to focus on, though, are all over the starting lineup and in the backend of the bullpen.  Lucky for them there are quite a few high end closers on the market and the spots in the starting lineup that need filling may come cheap.

The biggest need on the team is going to be a veteran leadership that can provide power, and getting that may be as simple as resigning 42-year-old Raul Ibanez.  Ibanez probably should be done in left field and would have to be the primary DH, but getting him back could be cheap and keep the status quo as far as veteran leadership.  Another option would be first baseman Paul Konerko who has long since been considered a great clubhouse leader, and at 38-years-old and coming off of one of his worst seasons he could be a steal.  With Konerko they could use him at both first and DH, and like Ibanez, he could supply the power that the team has been looking for.

The biggest problem with the M’s is in the bullpen, though.  They thought they had it all figured out when Tom Wilhelmsen took over the role in the 2012 season from then closer Brandon League.  In 2013 he struggled to the point where he was no longer used in high pressure situations at all.  In comes right hander Danny Farquhar to save the day, but the young pitcher might be better served alongside Charlie Furbush in the setup roles.  If the M’s go out and get one of the many closers that are out there the backend of the bullpen could be set for the future.  The best bet may be to take on someone who has a little bit of baggage that may not draw as much interest from other teams, but can still get the job done.  Brian Wilson comes to mind.  He has proved he is healthy and still has great stuff during his time with the Dodgers, and if they bring him in he brings the experience of two World Series titles and multiple playoff appearances that the rest of this team lacks.

In the end it seems almost impossible to overcome the odds of the team who has spent millions of dollars to get back into the race, the Angels, and the two teams who have the most recent history of winning, but there is always a chance.  The team is young, and has a lot of potential to grow, but the issue with teams built off of that many young players is can they reach that potential.  The odds are stacked against them, but the M’s can get it done, it just won't be easy, but anything worth having isn’t.