THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: M's fortunes may be in hands of folks you barely know

Let’s assume that the Mariners are done making moves prior to the 2024 season.

I doubt that’s true, actually, but with spring training barely more than a month away, we need a starting point to peer at this year’s club.

So.

This is it.

(Yeah, I know, you gloomy cynics believe we should ALWAYS assume the M’s are done improving the roster. I’ve got all your emails about cheapskate owners and 100-loss seasons, blah, blah.)

Today, though, let’s tune out all that negative noise, and try for a serious look at how the Mariners might hit it, throw it and catch it this summer.

Believe it or not, this still looks like a potential playoff team — and with Seattle’s pitching, we could be watching a truly dangerous postseason team.

Speaking of that pitching, it would be foolish to imagine that the five incumbent right-handers now left in the rotation — Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo — all remain sharp and healthy from start to finish.

Seattle traded its two rehabbing lefties, Marco Gonzales and Robbie Ray, so the one key incoming arm — Anthony DiSclafani — will probably see more starts than the club has drawn up on paper.

SINCE the moment last season ended, there has been a serious hue and cry for more thump in the lineup.

In truth, the Mariners were not a bad offensive team a year ago, but there were two problems.

They struck out too often (second-highest rate in MLB), and they struggled to hit with runners in scoring position.

Fans have howled for impact hitters, but the Mariners are facing a financial issue tied to their ownership of ROOT Sports Northwest.

Prices on one of its major distributors are going way up, and the club fears that it will take a revenue hit.

Result: Seattle made some trades solely to unload payroll.

Popular (and effective) third baseman Eugenio Suarez was shipped to Arizona, while the M’s unloaded Jarred Kelenic to Atlanta — with the Braves taking on the contracts of Evan White and Gonzales ($12.5 million).

There was a financial plus to getting back the oft-injured Mitch Haniger, as well, since Seattle loaded the last two years of Ray’s deal at $20 million-plus.

Finally, we come to a couple of transactions that were actually meant to improve the lineup.

The Mariners signed free agent Mitch Garver (two years, $24 million) and his impact bat to serve as a full-time designated hitter.

They also moved another fan favorite, Jose Caballero, to Tampa Bay for a potential power bat — left-handed outfielder Luke Raley.

Raley hit 19 homers and stole 14 bases in his platoon gig, along with posting a decent .824 OPS.

IT’S KIND of fun to imagine a gang of new Mariners knocking the ball around T-Mobile Park — especially when your car is frozen every morning these days.

Spring and that revitalized lineup seem like sunshine itself.

However.

My advice is to stay calm about these off-season acquisitions.

Every one of these thrift-store Mariners has fought injury problems (surely you remember that Haniger has played 100 games just twice in seven years).

Garver managed just 102 games last year, and he wasn’t even platooning.

Here is a chunk of truth, and sometime in July, please recall that I shared it with you: The Mariners’ offense may well depend on some rookies (or near-rookies) coming along during the second half of the year.

INFIELDER Ryan Bliss, who joined the organization in the Paul Sewald deal at last year’s trade deadline, is a little (5-foot-6) package of talent.

Bliss was in Double-A when Seattle got him, and he was quickly promoted to Tacoma.

He finished the year with 23 homers and 55 steals, one of only three minor leaguers to achieve that 20-50 number last season.

Bliss played in the Futures Game, and wrapped up a sizzling year by being named an all-star in the Arizona Fall League.

Another kid you really want to root for (besides Bliss, who could solve the second base issue) is a 215-pound bruiser named Tyler Locklear — a power bat who has a big arm playing third base and managed a .907 OPS at Double-A Arkansas last season.

It's nice to have one or two utility infielders around for late-inning help, but the Mariners have reached the spot where they need everyday players — which is why they were excited with the live barrel of Dom Canzone.

With the payroll having been slashed, some low-salary prospects have to succeed.

And those pitchers need to keep getting outs.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in ThePress four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

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