Collapse of Mariners offense is extinction-level event for team's playoff hopes

Remember when we previously wrote about a Seattle Mariners offense when it became the only one in Major League history to tally at least 40 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and 130 walks within the first 30 games of a season? The offense which, while different in their philosophy, still appeared to be the real deal and sustainable over the long-term?

Well, you can forget about that now, given just how tepid the Mariners' lineup has been over the past few weeks. Look at the difference in their offensive rankings this season through May 2 when they went 19-12 and since then, when they had gone 13-15 heading into a weekend series versus the Angels that began with yet another loss:

As much as no one expected the Mariners to maintain their hot start to the 2025 season, you equally didn't anticipate the drop-off being quite as spectacular as it has been. And this fall from grace was perhaps best encapsulated during the most recent series against the Baltimore Orioles.

Mariners at their lowest ebb in 2025

As pointed out by Zachary Rymer, you can make the case that the three-game sweep at home versus the Orioles represents the low point of the Mariners' season to date. As much as Baltimore was well-regarded heading into this year — and rightly so — they entered the series in Seattle with a poor 20-36 record, including 8-19 on the road.

Highlighting the Orioles' ineptitude was the fact they had allowed the fourth-most runs in the majors. However, rather than pounce on this opportunity to jump-start their offense, the Mariners instead meandered to a combined six runs over the three games. Four of those were driven in by a red-hot Cal Raleigh, who leads the majors with 24 home runs.

Outside of Raleigh, the only player showing any kind of offensive consistency in J.P. Crawford, who has bounced back impressively from the worst season of his Major League career last year. Julio Rodríguez has had his moments, but still isn't showing enough to indicate he's the superstar who was promised in the Pacific Northwest.

The mercurial Randy Arozarena had mostly provided more of the positive earlier in this season, but is in a .143 batting average funk over his last 16 games. Meanwhile, as much as the April version of Jorge Polanco was always too good to be true, his dramatic collapse is in many ways representative of the offensive failings as a whole.

Mariners must look outside the organization to fix the issue

In general this is all pretty astonishing, and it's hard to imagine the offensive problems can be fixed in-house any time soon. In respect of the youth movement, Ben Williamson's bat is not at the same level as his excellent defense, while it's entirely unfair to ask Cole Young to be the team's savior.

The reality is that the Mariners are going to have to look outside the organization for one or two quality bat upgrades ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. Certainly they have the prospects and pitching to facilitate this, with Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran being one target who could provide a solution.

Of course we appreciate that the Mariners don't exactly have the best of reputations when it comes to being aggressive in pursing offensive upgrades, whether at the trade deadline or during the offseason. However, if Jerry Dipoto and company don't do something to help improve the offense, then the team faces the very real prospect of no playoff baseball for the 23rd time in 24 seasons.

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