Dipoto: Mariners looking for ‘experienced starter’

SEATTLE — Jerry Dipoto has solidified his lineup and position group with a flurry of six trades involving 19 players over the past 23 days. But the Mariners’ general manager acknowledges one of his remaining priorities — acquiring a veteran starting pitcher to bolster the rotation following Taijuan Walker’s departure — may need extra time to play out in the coming days.

“Usually in the best of times, the free-agent market takes time to come into focus and you’ll really start to see more activity as we get to the Winter Meetings and coming out,” Dipoto said. “From December to Christmas is pretty active for free agents, and I don’t think this class will be any different.”

Thus the Mariners will head to the Winter Meetings next Monday through Thursday in Washington, D.C., with an open mind, but tempered expectations for immediate solutions to their two remaining goals, the other being a proven left-handed reliever.

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“In this particular market, I wouldn’t expect pitching to move particularly quickly, because supply and demand is a little out of whack,” Dipoto said. “We’re having equal number of conversations with free agents and trade targets.

“We are looking to add some more depth and potential impact in our rotation. We feel really good about our numbers after adding guys like Rob Whalen and Max Povse [from the Braves]. We are 10-11 deep in terms of pitchers who are capable of starting a Major League game. But we do feel there is at least some potential to add an experienced starter if we find the right match.”

A few mid-level starters have signed so far. Andrew Cashner went …

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