Marching orders for the new GM

Editor's note: Seattle native Shane O'Neill is the executive editor of Lindy's Baseball. He consults with scouts to evaluate baseball talent and writes regular scouting reports for the P-I. Here are his instructions for the Mariners' next general manager:

Talkin' baseball on the telephone. Specifically the Mariners.

"So, what would you do to get that club back on track?" asked the scout-turned-front-office executive. "I mean, you guys (sportswriters) all fantasize about being GMs."

"Give me a break," I shot back. "Why would I concern myself with that train wreck? I have better ways to waste my time."

But my old friend had sized me up pretty well. I don't have a comprehensive plan -- that's for the real GMs -- but I have some opinions about what I'd do if I were running the Mariners' baseball operation:

Right off the bat I'd make sure I had full authority to make baseball personnel decisions -- within budget constraints, of course. That authority would not only include signing free agents and making trades, it would extend to hiring and firing managers, coaches and baseball department heads. The days of ownership/upper management interference have to end.

Philosophically, I'd emphasize pitching, starting and relieving, defense and a balanced offense in that order. Teams that can pitch it and catch it are always in position to win and fare better in the postseason.

While the pitching-and-defense concept is hardly novel, the club has had trouble getting the starting pitching part right. Bill Bavasi recognized the value of top starting pitching, but struggled to identify it and consistently overpaid for it. Ironically the new GM will inherit a potentially formidable rotation of Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard, Brandon Morrow, Ryan Rowland-Smith and perhaps Carlos Silva.

Take a deep breath Area 51. I'd trade Ichiro. As remarkably gifted as the 35-year-old outfielder is, he can't make a bad team good. No one player can. And the two or three promising young players he'd bring in trade could jump-start the rebuilding effort. Logical trading partners would include the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers.

Adrian Beltre, 30, is the lone veteran position player I'd definitely keep and try to re-sign. In addition to 25 home-run power and Gold Glove defense at third base, he's the cornerstone-type player the contending clubs all have. He doesn't cheat his teammates or himself and serves as a role model for Jose Lopez, Yuniesky Betancourt, Felix Hernandez, plus all the Spanish-speaking players climbing the minor league ladder. The Mariners need all the leader types they can hang onto if Raul Ibanez leaves in free agency.

Bedard is my wild card. Generally aloof, sometimes sullen, then injured, Bedard flashed frontline stuff in 15 starts and enters his contract year in 2009. If he pitches like most scouts believe he can, he could be valuable trade bait in late July or become enamored with spacious Safeco Field and want to stay. Either way it's win-win.