THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Deal or no deal, the Mariners must address bullpen

In the dugout before Wednesday night’s game, Andres Munoz announced that he feels just swell.

Meanwhile, just down the foul line at the Oakland Coliseum, Gregory Santos cut loose in a throwing session from the bullpen mound.

You know what all this means, don’t you?

Right.

The Mariners need to find a high-leverage reliever — maybe a couple of them — and the search is on immediately.

I know, it sounds a tiny bit strange.

If Munoz isn’t out of action for a serious chunk of time (still hurting from lower back soreness and a full-blown collision at home plate in Tuesday night’s game), well, Seattle won’t be missing its closer.

And if Gregory, obtained from the White Sox during the past off season to match with Munoz and Matt Brash as the total lockdown bullpen, is getting within a few weeks  of pitching for real, that’s another arm to fire in the late inning.

So, what’s the worry?

I mean, besides the fact that these guys throw with vicious velocity that torques their arms, wrenches their entire bodies and puts them on the shelf for months.

OR MORE.

Brash is sitting out this season completely after Tommy John surgery — hardly a shock for a guy who had all guns blazing in 78 appearances a year ago.

Yes, that was tops in MLB.

It’s awesome to have a super bullpen.

A word of caution, though: These gentlemen have a career safety record that makes you think of a bomb squad in the Afghan army.

OK, let’s back up for the good news, shall we?

Munoz has been overpowering while racking up 12 saves this year.

It’s hardly a coincidence that Seattle is 13-4 in one-run games through Tuesday’s win in Oakland.

Andres submitted to an MRI on his back Wednesday, but then decided to offer his own diagnosis before any doctor could utter a peep.

"I've been here before,” Munoz said. “I know we can manage it and be ready to go. I’m a hundred percent with this team.

“Some days we don't feel good, and we have to go and do our job — and that's what I am going to do. Yesterday (Tuesday, including the collision with Max Schuemann) wasn't a good day for me, but I am ready to come the next day."

No doubt Scott Servais wouldn’t be allowing THAT miracle return to the mound — but the Mariners and their fans at least can resume comfortable breathing after hearing Andres’ analysis of his health.

If it’s any consolation, Munoz told Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports that he’s been dealing with the back issue all year, and that he’s pitched (and regularly touched 100 mph) while wearing a brace.

";Some days I feel like it is getting worse, some days getting better,” Munoz said. “But we have managed it really well, and I feel we are in a really good spot right now.”

Meanwhile, the verdict on Santos and how his bullpen session turned out will have to wait.

He’s had good efforts in the past couple of months, but then suffered setbacks.

Mariners staff have a lot of fingers and toes crossed, waiting to see how their gas-throwing reliever recovers from this outing.

JUST A reminder, though, that recoveries from Munoz and Santos won’t make Mariner execs Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander flop back into their hammocks, you know, to sip lemonade and watch their team cruise to the AL West title.

They’re already on the hunt for more bullpen help — inside the organization and across MLB.

Former Astro reliever Ryne Stanek, who handled plenty of high-leverage assignments over the past three seasons in Houston, was acquired to be Munoz’ back-up man, but for the moment, he may get ninth-inning duty.

Stanek loves that idea, and he’s thrilled just pitching for the Mariners.

Ryne claims to be a fan of Servais’ recent quote: “We’re going to be the hunters, not the hunted.”

Meanwhile, the Mariners have moved their top minor league pitching prospect, Logan Evans, from starting to the bullpen.

Evans was throwing a comfortable 95-96 mph fastball as a starter at Double-A Arkansas, but the club is hoping that he can turn it up a notch going one inning at a time — a process that became a wild success with Edwin Diaz back in 2016.

The Mariners are also resigned to the fact they may have to go prowling for high-leverage relievers currently employed by teams that are out of contention and (hopefully) considering some sales.

Michael Kopech of the White Sox, Miami’s Tanner Scott and former Mariner Austin Adams (now with Oakland), all could fit that description.

Seattle’s previous deals suggest that the M’s want a pitcher who isn’t just a part-season rental.

If they really like someone who could be available, they’d prefer a trade like the one that brought them Santos (only for someone in the bloom of health).

However they work out this bullpen situation, go ahead and bet they’ll add more than one power arm.

Getting this thing right could mean a World Series.

Or a hell of a shot at one.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press 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.”