THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Maybe M's could learn from Padres acting quickly

This was a really great question.

The reader who asked it insisted on remaining anonymous, which I think is a shame because he truly looked at all sides of the issue, and deserves some applause.

Here’s what he wrote: “The Padres just traded for a two-time batting champion (Luis Arraez) in the prime of his career, and gave up three or four long-range prospects that they don’t need anytime soon.

“I assume they managed to get this deal done because they went to Miami with a decent offer in early May — instead of waiting until the training deadline at the end of July.

“So, the Padres basically get two full seasons from Arraez (who is a free agent after 2025), and the Marlins get a full year to work with the young guys instead of just two months.

“My question: Why didn’t Jerry Dipoto and the Mariners get there first?

“Arraez is exactly what they need in that lineup, and they have a number of prospects they could have offered.”

Indeed.

JERRY?

Is there some compelling reason why you wouldn’t listen to the Marlins about Arraez?

Seriously.

If the reason is that you have a non-hitting (and currently injured) Jorge Polanco at second base, no worries.

Arraez can plug in anywhere.

This is a player who could transform the Mariners, a team with three to five guys below the Mendoza Line in the lineup every night.

Your offense struggles with a painful lack of rallies, and THAT happens because it’s tough to go through three hitters without reaching a strikeout.

You need more guys who can put the ball in play.

Arraez would have been the ideal candidate because he’s better at making contact than anyone in the game (batting average of .354 last season), but there are other decent hitters you can find who aren’t whiff machines.

There’s another issue at play here, and San Diego general manager A.J. Preller took advantage of it.

Major league teams don’t like to trade this early in the season.

Executives hate to admit that they just don’t have the talent to reach the postseason.

Well, that’s until we get to the trade deadline and they HAVE to face the truth — especially if they hope to get any prospects in return for a couple of the few useful players they can move. 

This disease has gotten worse since MLB added the two extra wild-card spots.

Almost any GM can squint hard enough to see a winning streak in late August or early September — the turnaround that leads to a miracle run.

And maybe a win in the divisional playoffs, and … who knows?

Cold-blooded execs can make use of those dreams, handing over that veteran reliever whose arm hurts so badly that his wife has to brush his air.

But the obvious puzzle here is why more GMs don’t spot those needs and try to fill them in May instead of waiting until the last week of July? 

That’s several months of production, rather than watching a player like Arraez get two hits per night for somebody else.

YES, IT’S harder to find a trading partner in May.

Only a handful of teams are willing to face the music after 50 games, but if the people running those clubs are smart, they can pull off some win-win deals.

Even on those five or six truly dreadful clubs, there are players who could fill a specific need for a team like the Mariners.

Arraez was the obvious example, but Jerry’s pal Preller snatched him off the market before anyone else could take a deep breath.

Score one for the Padres.

But Dipoto and Mariners GM Justin Hollander can still be prowling the market for talent that can help.

The White Sox’ Luis Robert Jr. has his flaws (they all do), but he’s a terrific athlete who could take his Gold Glove from center field to right — maybe turning Mitch Haniger into a part-time DH.

The Sox need everything, so the Mariners could help with their rebuild.

Meanwhile, consider that if you’re going to hit the jackpot on a midseason trade, you HAVE to gamble.

In the case of Robert, he’s rehabbing from a hip injury, and he doesn’t get a completely perfect bill of health.

Just last year, though, he was an All-Star who hit 38 home ruins with 80 RBI (on a team with no baserunners) and stole 20 bases himself.

His career slash over four years is .278/.325/.500 for an OPS of .825.

Just 26 years old, Robert is sitting on a $12 million salary that jumps to $15 million next year.

If a team acquiring him wanted to say goodbye after 2025, fine — but there are two years of team options at $20 million each if he’s tearing up the league.

This is the KIND of player (good athlete, speed, power) that Seattle needs, because the current lineup isn’t complete.

There are others targets out there, too, and the Padres’ grabbing Arraez should tell you that there’s a genuine bonus to acting quickly.

You get almost a full season of production.

Sometimes, you just need to act.

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.”