THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: The M's need a bat, real soon

Let’s talk about baseball trades.

Seriously.

I added that one last word because there are a thousand stories, podcasts and interviews floating around — and most of them are just churning out the same names, same teams, yada, yada.

Now, add in the fact that most of the “sources” who are producing this so-called information are based on the Atlantic seaboard, or close to it.

You want endless chat about what the Mets or Yankees might do?

We’ve got it, brother.

As for the AL West-leading Mariners, the talking heads rarely bother to take a guess.

I have a lot of respect for The Athletic (which is now part of the New York Times), and that publication has a sharp and connected platoon of baseball reporters.

Unfortunately, they’ve also hired Jim Bowden, a former MLB exec, to produce long and mostly meaningless analysis pieces on potential trades and other moves that each team ought to make.

You can tell from these team-by-team breakdowns that Bowden has inside information from a few teams, and just about nothing from the majority.

BOWDEN IS no worse than the army of characters who claim they’ve got today’s scoop — except that he implies that he DOES have those secret plans that nobody else has the contacts to find.

Nonsense.

For instance, The Athletic published a Bowden story on Tuesday that was titled: “Thirty things I’m hearing and watching for on MLB trade deadline with 50 days to go.”

It was gibberish, the same kind of backyard gossip you might share with your neighbor.

Every team needs another run producer, they all want another bullpen arm, blah, blah.

What about the Mariners?

Same old issues.

The guy who does your taxes could come up with THIS kind of insight.

Here was Bowden’s look at the M’s and a decision (I think) on what direction the club should take as we approach the trade deadline.

“It’s no surprise the Mariners are looking for a corner bat, just as they have the past several years.

“The M’s have the rotation to go all the way, but know they need to improve their offense if they want to pop Champagne in late October.

“They also want to add another impact reliever.”

OK, then.

Corner bat, improve the offense, add a reliever.

That just about gives us a peek inside the war room.

Meanwhile, a commentary from the Seattle Times this week notes that the White Sox are in town, that just about everyone on that broken team is available for sale, and that Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. would be a handsome addition to the Mariners outfield.

Yes, he would, and he’s under club control until 2027.

There are downsides to be considered, however.

Robert Jr. is just coming off the injured list, which is a bit of a trend.

In seven big-league seasons, he’s played more than 100 games just once.

The cost in prospects would be massive, and for a player who has to be considered a gamble.

ROBERT JR. is the subject today because the Mariners no doubt are putting together a clear plan about what kind of trade(s) they’re willing to make.

Yes, they need offense.

Yes, they need another high-leverage arm in the bullpen.

Yes, they have a boatload of prospects (and that starting rotation) to lure plenty of teams into negotiation.

Major trades, which is what we’re discussing here, can have a lot of moving parts.

Example: The Mariners may be thinking that the one young infielder in their system that they won’t give up is Colt Emerson.

(I don’t know that, it’s just an example).

Then, they get into deep discussion with a team for a deal they really like — and the other club offers to make it even better if they can get Emerson.

The M’s didn’t think the back-and-forth would go THIS way, with considerable more reward if they include Emerson.

They have to make a big decision, and one that was something of a surprise.

That’s what I mean about moving parts.

Consider: The Mariners have shied away from “rental” players in the past, guys who will free agents at the end of this season.

As an organization, they believe in player control.

But what if a chance to get the Mets’ Pete Alonzo pops up at a surprising bargain price?

Another decision that’s come out of nowhere.

Do you see why guys like Jim Bowden are wasting their time (and ours) by imagining mock trades and theories?

On the other hand, there’s no harm in doing it for fun.

As long as we KNOW it’s only for laughs.

Cool.

Let’s get Mookie Betts.

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.”