Seattle Mariners Owner Gives Troubling Comments on Thoughts of Organization
After missing the playoffs by a game yet again, the Seattle Mariners are headed into a critical offseason. It's an offseason in which the M's need to find upgrades at multiple infield positions while solidifying their bullpen. They simply cannot be in a position to miss the playoffs by a game yet again and need to be willing to make uncomfortable decisions in order to get over the hump.
That's why these recent comments from team owner John Stanton were so troubling.
As reported in the Seattle Times:
“My objective for us is to have a sustainable product on the field, meaning a team that is consistently competing every year,” Stanton said in The Times interview. “We’ve grown payroll each of the last three years. Maybe not as much as you would like us to … but we all deal with constraints, right? But we are doing everything we can to put a competitive product on the field.
Mariners chairman John Stanton has promised to increase player payroll for 2025, per sources.
— Adam Jude (@A_Jude) September 30, 2024
How much, exactly, remains unclear.
What is clear: The M's do not intend to dive into the deep end of the free-agent pool this winter.https://t.co/T4ciClqaTe
No one is necessarily asking the Mariners to spend $500 million on Juan Soto this offseason, but fans (and players) deserve to have an ownership group that is invested in true on-field success. While being competitive every year is certainly nice, most fans would a few lean years down the road if it guaranteed real and tangible playoff success now.
I know that if the Mariners did enough to go 98-64 and win the World Series, I would be OK with them going 72-90 somewhere down the road as they reset things. Those two extremes are better than the "just do enough to hope you get in" mindset of the last two years.
By the way, they haven't done enough in each of those two years.
RELATED SEATTLE MARINERS CONTENT:
NEW PODCAST IS OUT: The latest episode of the "Refuse to Lose" podcast is out as Brady Farkas talks about the M's being officially eliminated from the playoff race and the massive missed opportunity in 2024. Furthermore, he talks about the controversial comments from Seattle Sports 710 host Mike Salk and he's joined by outspoken M's critic, Aaron Levine of FOX 13. CLICK HERE:
CAL SPEAKS: Seattle Mariners star catcher Cal Raleigh has addressed the state of the organization heading into the offseason. CLICK HERE:
CHOO RETIRES: Former Seattle Mariners farmhand and Major League All-Star Shin-Soo Choo has retired from professional baseball after spending the last four years in Korea. CLICK HERE:
Follow Inside the Mariners on social media
Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on "X" @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the "Refuse to Lose" podcast by clicking HERE:
