Mariners ownership and Jerry Dipoto have exactly the right trade deadline priorities

For the first few months of the year, the Seattle Mariners were in the driver's seat of the AL West. As recently as June 2nd, they were still at the top of the division.

But now that the month is coming to a close, their aspirations of winning the division for the first time in 24 years seem slim. With the Houston Astros 6.5 games ahead, FanGraphs gives the Mariners just a 13.1 percent chance to end the season in first place.

However, that doesn't mean that they're out of the postseason picture just yet. The Mariners still occupy one of the three coveted AL Wild Card spots and FanGraphs is giving them a near 60 percent chance to make it to October, a better chance than other noted contenders like the San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Diego Padres.

Thus, it only makes sense that they're poised to be buyers at this year's trade deadline and if some sources are to believed, they might actually be one of the biggest spenders.

Jerry Dipoto wants roster upgrades and Mariners ownership is willing to spend

In a recent Reddit AMA, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reported that not only do the Mariners have an excess of alluring prospect talent, but that ownership has allegedly approved an increase in spending for the second half of the season, clearing one of the biggest obstacles that could have significantly impeded the team.

The bigger uncertainty is less about what they need and more about what they'll end up with. Unlike in years past, there aren't any many options that are both available and able to make a real impact on a team's playoff chances. Marquee players that are set to hit free agency this offseason like Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, and Paul Goldschmidt are all on contending rosters.

Nonetheless, there are still some upgrades the team can make. In terms of what positions they're specifically aiming to bolster, Kramer reported that the front office, led by president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto, is looking for more offensive production from the corner infielders and another high-leverage arm for the bullpen.

The call for help at first and third base shouldn't be surprising, as the team has been lacking in those areas all year. In the hot corner, Ben Williamson's has a 78 OPS+ and Miles Mastrobuoni has a 89 OPS+, hardly groundbreaking numbers. At first base, Donovan Solano has been on a tear this month, posting a 1.133 OPS, but he hasn't exactly been a model of consistency at the plate and is still limited in his effectiveness against left-handed pitchers. In the bullpen, it has been a revolving door outside of the five core arms in Eduard Bazardo, Carlos Vargas, Gabe Speier, Andrés Muñoz, and Matt Brash.

Given the criteria, there are still some potential trades to be made. Kramer called out the Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks as the teams to watch in particular and other teams could the keys to an improved offense or a more effective relief unit. The increase in spending boosts the organization's optionality even further, possibly opening the door to pricier names like Eugenio Suárez and even Alex Bregman.

Teams are reported as "ready to make a splash" every trade deadline, but the Mariners do have a recent history of making impactful moves. Last year, they fell just short of the big dance but this year, they might just take enough of a risk to course correct back onto the road of perennial postseason contention.