Ex-MLB GM pleads with Mariners to be aggressive at trade deadline (and gives hope)

In Jim Bowden’s “20 things I’m hearing” column for The Athletic from June 12, the former MLB general manager provided a crucial update for Seattle Mariners fans — and it centers on Jerry Dipoto.

According to Bowden, many around the league believe Dipoto is under significant pressure to add a legitimate, middle-of-the-order bat before the trade deadline. The sentiment is clear: the Mariners have built a pitching-first contender, but the offense lacks the firepower to truly compete with the American League’s best. And with such a deep farm system — one of the best in baseball — Dipoto has the trade capital to make something meaningful happen.

The Mariners have what they need to make a splash at the trade deadline, but will they?

What adds fuel to the fire is Bowden’s assertion that Mariners ownership is now willing to increase payroll. That is a crucial development and something that seemed to be corroborated by Daniel Kramer of MLB.com on Thursday. His sources say that ownership will "green light increased spending" ahead of the July 31 deadline.

For years, fans have watched Seattle operate with caution when it comes to finances, often prioritizing long-term flexibility over short-term aggression. But Bowden’s comments suggest a shift in mindset and timing. With the team leading the AL West for much of the first half, the window is opening, and ownership appears ready to strike.

Bowden didn’t name specific targets, but with players like Eugenio Suárez, Josh Naylor, and Luis Robert Jr. potentially on the market, Seattle has options — and the minor-league assets to chase any of them. If Dipoto doesn’t make a move this summer, it won’t be due to lack of resources, but a failure to capitalize.

For a fanbase hungry to return to postseason baseball, Bowden’s report should provide a bit of hope. Ownership support plus a talented farm system puts the Mariners in a position of power, now it’s just up to Dipoto to finally pull the trigger. The time is now.