THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: M's are too good to be sitting at home in October

It’s simple, really.

The Seattle Mariners blew it this season.

Look at the American League Championship Series … Houston vs. Texas, for a spot in the World Series.

Just aggravating, isn’t it?

IN CASE you missed it, and I doubt you did, the Mariners remained in the playoff chase until the final weekend for the second time in three years, bowing out following a combination of losing a Saturday game against visiting Texas, then watching the Astros win shortly thereafter.

As a result of the Mariners winning three of the final four games against the Rangers, Seattle kept the Rangers from winning the American League West title, resulting in the championship series starting in Houston on Sunday.

While you can point to the losing streak at the end of the season, dropping two of three to the Astros in the final week of the season, you can also blame a sluggish start to the season from March to mid-July.

Things happen, but with all the excitement over the finish of last year, advancing to the divisional round, expectations were a little more this year than a team holding on until the final weekend.

Say what you want about the Mariners' offense, and it will need to improve, but the pitching staff is set up to win games for the next few years.

Having starting pitchers like Luis Castillo, George Kirby and Logan Gilbert under contract, as well as a returning Robbie Ray at some point next year. It’s also a safe bet to say that rookies Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo learned a ton by being thrown into the mix early in the season.

Other AL powers Baltimore and Tampa Bay failed to win a game in the playoffs this season.

Meanwhile, Paul Sewald, the closer the Mariners dealt to Arizona at the trade deadline, is lacing up his cleats still in the National League Championship Series.

Seattle was 55-51 when Sewald was traded and didn’t show many signs of coming out of whatever funk it was in.

Man, if we only had that guy, right?

THE QUICK answer for most is to go out, sign a top free agent and just add to the roster.

Well, by now, some have figured out that the Mariners just don’t want to spend the money to bring in a big-name player.

And considering guys like Gilbert, Cal Raleigh and J.P. Crawford will need to get paid, or do you really want to lose those guys to bring in a big-time player?

Probably not.

Obviously, signing a player such as Shohei Ohtani could change the course of the franchise, but at what cost?

Will Seattle offer him what he’s worth, if you can honestly figure out just what he’s worth? Ohtani could be one of the best designated hitters to play in a long time. Not only that, but he also pitches every five days — albeit he won’t this coming year due to surgery on his arm.

What exactly do you offer a player that can do everything?

$300 million, $400 million. Maybe $250 million and some gift certificates to Starbucks might change his mind.

MAKE NO mistake, with the reaction of guys like Crawford and Raleigh at the end of the season, something needs to be done.

Whether it’s finding a way to start piling wins a little earlier than June or August, or signing someone that can get a few clutch hits, the Mariners are too good to be sitting at home in October.

At least, we think they are now.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress.