THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Dipoto will bring in more help for Mariners — eventually

We’re all bummed by the baseball lockout.

You, me, and everybody who loves the game.

It’s frustrating to realize that, after labor peace in the sport since the crippling strike of 1994 — when half a season and the World Series were scrapped — owners and players once again need to fight.

It’s a baffling situation to most fans, because it’s obvious that everyone lost money during the COVID season, when teams played just 60 games in empty stadiums.

So why, why in the world, would either side risk a catastrophic collision that might cut into (or even eliminate) the 2022 season?

The truth is that, in this battle of words and ideas, neither owners nor players believe that regular season games will be missed.

Each side feels that it can get a better bargaining agreement if it just holds the line as long as possible.

In other words, there’s no need to negotiate now.

MLB and the players union will take this thing right to the edge of spring training, and maybe beyond.

WE SAW a mad scramble to sign free agents and make trades right up to the Dec. 1 lockout.

Some deals got done.

The Mariners snagged Cy Young winner Robbie Ray to anchor the pitching staff, and acquired All-Star second baseman Adam Frazier from San Diego for a couple of minor leaguers.

So far, so good.

Ray’s accomplishments speak for themselves, and Frazier can do what so many Mariners failed to manage last season — which is putting the bat on the ball.

Frazier hit .305 while splitting last season between Pittsburgh and the Padres, but even more important to Mariners boss Jerry Dipoto and manager Scott Servais, the left-handed hitter struck out just 10.8 percent of the time in 639 plate appearances.

In a Seattle lineup that included low batting averages at the bottom and too many strikeouts near the top, Frazier would stand out — since he walked (48) almost as many times (69) as he whiffed.

For a team that preaches controlling the zone, Frazier looks like a solid fit.

Clearly, though, Dipoto had more business in mind when baseball shut up shop.

The Mariners need a big bat for the middle of the lineup, and we know they’ve talked to both Trevor Story and Kris Bryant.

AMONG the many options that will be available whenever teams are allowed to do business again, there is the intriguing prospect of Japanese star Seiya Suzuki.

The 27-year old outfielder has been posted for sale by the Hiroshima Carp, and he won’t come cheap.

The playoff-hunting Mariners have plenty of outfield question marks, though, and could potentially toss out a ton of money for a guy who slashed .317/.433/.636 this past season, with 26 doubles, 38 home runs, and a 1.069 OPS in 134 games — and whom U.S. scouts believe can hit major league pitching.

Suzuki is just one possibility, though, in what will be a chaotic rush to sign free agents or otherwise acquire players — from the start of what might be an abbreviated spring training, right up to opening day.

Frankly, I think that frenzied scenario suits Dipoto, who is one of those rare executives who can handle a little madness and make it work for him.

If I had to guess, I’d say the Mariners somehow will come out of this goofy situation in a good place.

Jerry will get his bat.

And maybe another arm.

Yes, Seattle could benefit, but that still doesn’t mean I like this lockout.

It’s just plain ugly, and we could all do without it.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball which is published weekly during the season.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”