THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: The wait could end up hurting a little more

A few years ago, the Seattle Mariners struck a trade on Thanksgiving eve, sending Ketel Marte and Taijuan Walker to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Jean Segura and Mitch Haniger and Zac Curtis. 

No, the Mariners didn’t make any such moves while everyone was dining on turkey and stuffing on Thursday, but you’ve got to sense something is coming soon. 

They’ve got holes to fill at second base, and now third with the non-tendering of starter Josh Rojas within the last week. 

FOR THOSE with dreams of going out and signing Blake Snell, a Seattle native, to step into the rotation, here’s my question. 

And replace who? 

Seattle is loaded with starting pitchers from Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Brian Woo, Luis Castillo and Emerson Hancock. 

Gilbert was sixth in the American League Cy Young voting earlier this month. Kirby was fantastic is most of his starts, as were Kirby and Woo. Hancock wasn’t projected to such a big piece to the puzzle, but when his name was called, he delivered as well. 

But for as good as Castillo has been, and he was the rock that had them fighting tooth and nail with the Houston Astros in the 2022 American League Division Series. 

Sure, the Mariners didn’t win a game in that best-of-5 series but had the advantage late in the first game and lost in 16 innings of another game 1-0. 

Castillo, the team’s opening day starter in 2024, finished 11-12 with a 3.64 earned run average. Since the end of the season, his name has been mentioned often in trade talks to go get an infielder to help with offense. 

It sure seems the Mariners could look into signing Curt Casali, a free-agent catcher that has a great relationship with Castillo. 

Sure, if Cal Raleigh is the franchise catcher, and he’s proved it time and time again, you want him to catch your stars. 

But, you could also have him DH on those days and keep his bat in the lineup. 

Whatever happens, and trust me, something will, all eyes will turn to Seattle. 

Sure, fans will welcome a trade for Nolan Arenado, Christian Walker or see what they’ve got on a daily basis from a guy like Ryan Bliss.  

If they really, really want to chase a World Series title with this group, they might not have to spend a ton of money like the Yankees or Astros. 

Then again, this is the Mariners. 

Your guess is as good as mine on what happens next. 

THERE HAS been a lot of growing pains this season for the Seahawks in coach Mike Macdonald’s first season as coach. 

Win three straight games, then lose five of six games, including one to the New York Giants that still doesn’t make a ton of sense. 

Sure, you can make all the excuses you want for the losses to Buffalo, San Francisco, the L.A. Rams and Detroit. 

Those teams appear to be right in the playoff mix and will be there for the foreseeable future. 

Seattle did escape San Francisco with a win a few weeks ago, but if they played that game nine times, San Francisco probably wins eight of them if they are healthy. 

Seattle is 6-5 heading into a game against the New York Jets on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J. 

Sure, maybe the Seahawks have found whatever works with this team and are ready to put together a bit of a playoff run in the final month of the season. 

IT'S TYPICAL of both the Mariners and Seahawks if you really think about it. 

For some stretches, it really makes you wonder why you continue to support and spend money watching this team find a way to fall short. 

Sometimes, it’s painful and much worse than the last time. 

But at least we know there will be a next time.

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.