Zduriencik looking for offense, key help

Two things you can count on as baseball's annual Winter Meetings play out this week at the luxurious Hilton Anatole hotel just north of downtown Dallas: There'll be plenty of rumors and news coming out of the Big D ... and Mariners.com will be there to keep you informed.

The meetings open Monday, when agents and front-office brass from all 30 Major League clubs converge under the same roof to wheel and deal for four straight days, culminating with the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday morning.

There will be no shortage of hot topics this year, with Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Jose Reyes topping the available free-agent list and an interesting international market emerging, with Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish and Cuban refugee outfielder Yoenis Cespedes expected to become available shortly.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik has said he'll at least look into Fielder's situation as agent Scott Boras begins playing out that scenario. Zduriencik certainly is on the hunt for offensive help -- whether at designated hitter, left field or third base -- and Seattle also is in the market for a veteran starting pitcher, left-handed reliever and backup shortstop.

Not all those needs will be filled at the Winter Meetings, but Zduriencik and his team will surely set the wheels in motion on several fronts.

Manager Eric Wedge will hold a press conference Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. PT and we'll bring you his thoughts as he prepares for his second season at the Mariners helm.

In a new feature, Mariners.com will post a video interview with Zduriencik as he answers some of your own reader questions one day during the Meetings.

And Mariners fans should be interested in the Rule 5 draft on Thursday morning as Seattle has the third selection before the Meetings break up and everyone heads home.

It'll be four straight days of Hot Stove talk and questions. Let us know who you'd target if you were in Zduriencik's shoes. What position upgrade would be your biggest priority? Is this the time to trade Brandon League for offensive help, or do you hang on to your All-Star closer?

Knowing Mike Carp can fill one of the roles, would you rather sign a veteran left fielder or a proven DH, and who would you pursue? Do you put all your eggs in the Fielder basket and be willing to wait and see how that played out while other free agents go off the board, or do you try to fill multiple needs with smaller moves? Are you OK with the kids at third base or is that a position of need?

Those are the kind of talks going on in Zduriencik's suite at the Hilton Anatole this week. Go ahead and start your own discussion right here and then check back over the next four days and we'll let you know what the latest word is from Dallas.