Polarizing Athletic writer absolutely destroys Mariners for terrible offseason so far

As winter starts to fade in the Pacific Northwest, the days stretch longer, and the anticipation for baseball season rises alongside the morning sun. In Seattle, that anticipation isn’t purely excitement — it’s also impatience boiling over. Mariners fans are waking up every day pleading for a headline that signals a commitment, a moment of realization from the front office that their best chance at a World Series is within reach.

But the silence is deafening. Jim Bowden of The Athletic didn’t pull any punches when describing the Mariners’ offseason:

“It’s disgusting, gross, embarrassing, and makes you want to go to the toilet and throw up.”

Harsh? Maybe. But not inaccurate in the slightest.

Seattle is not a fickle sports town. The fans here are fiercely loyal, invested, and, most importantly, intelligent. They understand the intricacies of roster construction and the financial restraints of their market. They know when they’re being sold on “potential” instead of real, tangible improvement. And right now, they’re watching in real time as an opportunity is squandered before their eyes. Seattle Sports laid out an awesome plan for the M's to save their offseason, offering a blueprint for how the team can turn things around.

MLB executives, scouts, and analysts across the league acknowledge the Mariners have one of the best starting rotations in baseball. If they’re not the best, they’re at least in the same conversation as the Dodgers, Phillies, and Yankees. Yet, what separates those teams from the Mariners isn’t just money — it’s the willingness to seize opportunities.

Seattle has a championship-caliber pitching staff built on team-friendly contracts. Outside of Luis Castillo’s salary, the rest of the rotation consists of elite-level arms with massive upside playing for a fraction of their value. The logical next step? Bring in the bats. Bleacher Report’s impact trade prediction for the Mariners will get fans excited, but excitement alone won’t win games.

MLB executives see Mariners' Jerry Dipoto as a bold deal maker, but what’s holding him back?

To the outside baseball world, Jerry Dipoto isn’t the villain Mariners fans often see him as. He's notoriously known as an aggressive deal maker: a GM who rarely finds a trade he doesn't like. Yet, this offseason, he’s been noticeably inactive with his hands seemingly tied.

Bowden painted a bleak picture: "Jerry Dipoto is in a jail cell somewhere in Seattle handcuffed to a chair with no access to a phone."

That’s the perception within MLB circles. Ownership is unwilling and Dipoto is restricted.

For decades, Mariners fans have seen “championship windows” teased but never opened. This time, we could argue it's wide open like never before. The only reason the Mariners aren’t favorites for a deep postseason run is solely due to the refusal to commit financially to another star or two. 

For passionate Mariners fans searching for a silver lining, know this: your frustration and impatience have not gone unnoticed. The entire baseball world sees it and shares in the disappointment. Unfortunately, those aren’t the eyes that matter. The hope now is that ownership finally gets the hint.