THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: If there's a shot, the M's need to make it count
OK, that was fun.
Now let’s get back to serious baseball.
Specifically, we need to talk about the Mariners, and whether they should be knocking themselves out to make a useful trade.
There was plenty of hoo-hah about a reunion with Arizona’s Eugenio Suarez while everyone was in Georgia for the All-Star festivities.
The Mariners haven’t shown their cards on any deal just yet, but reeling Geno back home seems so logical that it’s probably impossible.
The popular third baseman wasn’t in Atlanta just to visit friends, by the way.
He breezed into a spot on the National League All-Star squad by hitting .250 (his career average is .249), with 31 home runs and 78 RBIs.
The Diamondbacks are almost a cinch to take bids for Suarez as we get closer to the trade deadline.
Geno will turn 34 on Friday, and he’ll be a free agent after this season.
The media naturally has been all over Suarez, in part because the Yankees are also a logical trade partner.
New York has just moved Jazz Chisholm over to second base and third is currently vacant.
SUAREZ responded to all the trade questions just the way you’d expect, with a smile and nice things to say about everyone.
Good vibes only.
“The Yankees are the Yankees, they always want to win,” he said about a possible move to the Bronx.
The Mariners?
“A piece of my heart is still in Seattle,” he replied.
It’s gospel by now that the Mariners have a deep and talented farm system, the kind of prospect assembly line that makes MLB execs sweat with excitement.
The D-backs are basically stuck with a need to reload, and Mariner guru Jerry Dipoto can offer them several appealing items off the prospect menu.
Besides bringing a loveable character with a live bat back to town, though, would trading for Geno actually make sense for the Mariners?
It’s a shame he doesn’t play first base.
Suarez was a really decent defender in Seattle two years ago, but his range at third is beginning to fade.
Noticeably.
The defensive gap between Geno and the Mariners’ Gold Glove candidate Ben Williamson is roughly the width of the Grand Canyon — and it shows on all the various metrics.
Would Geno’s bat, added to a lineup that’s already starting to produce, make up for another weak spot in an infield that only reaches mediocre on its good nights?
The counter argument is that Williamson’s odd lack of power despite a sturdy build (one homer) means that the Mariners have Ben hitting back-to-back with rookie Cole Young at the bottom of the lineup.
It feels like a toss-up.
IN FACT, you can make a decent argument that the Mariners needn’t trade at all.
Maybe this isn’t the spot to spend any of that prospect capital.
If they had a shot at winning the AL West, adding a couple of pieces might yield a serious reward.
But the Mariners are six games behind a solid Astros bunch, so we’re talking about a scrap for one of the wild-card spots.
Seattle has enough weapons to make the playoffs now, and once you get there, it’s a free-for-all.
You need pitching and power.
These current Mariners can bash in ANY series (although it would be fun to see Suarez bombing away along with Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena and surprise power package Dom Canzone).
On the mound?
You can win in the postseason with three good starters, a swing man and three stoppers at the business end of the bullpen.
At the moment, the top trio would be Bryan Woo, Luis Castillo and probably Logan Gilbert.
It would be more comfortable if Gilbert were sharper, or George Kirby found his rhythm once and for all this summer.
Yes, they would be better with another lights-out reliever to team with Andres Munoz, Matt Brash, Carlos Vargas and lefty Gabe Speier.
Look, Dipoto can find one more big-time arm for the pen without giving away too much.
Beyond that, I would NOT slash the farm system unless the Mariners were poised to win a division.
Risk versus reward isn’t right.
But hey, if they sweep Houston this weekend?
Game on.
Start taking calls.
Email: jscameron14@gmail.com
Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press three times each week, normally Tuesday, Wednesday and 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.”