Mariners Monday Mailbag: Trades, offseason moves, and a premonition about Ty France

In a series most of us were dreading, the Mariners were able to salvage one game as they officially watched their ten-game division vanish. Now in a virtual tie, the Mariners have some tough decisions to make before next week's trade deadline, and they have already begun the process. With another frustrating week in Marinersville, I try to answer some of our mailbag questions as August is just around the corner.

Are we going to make a run or is it the status quo for the rest of the season? If nothing happens at the deadline are we going to do something in free agency? From Just a regular Viking 

What has happened to the Seattle Mariners' lead in the AL West is historically bad. It took just 24 games for the Astros to erase Seattle's 10-game lead, and while this massive series to start the second half of the season was disappointing, they still are tied (technically in 2nd) in first place after salvaging the final game of the series against the Astros.

So now the Mariners and the Astros are tied with 61 games to go. With a wildcard spot not guaranteed for the loser of this race, and a week to go till the trade deadline, I can't see how Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander don't at least try to “make a run”. 

The potential Julio Rodriguez injury makes things a bit uneasy, but that can't keep leadership from not trying to find 2-3 additions to fortify a playoff run. Now will they be able to find 2-3 impact players in such a tight playoff race league wide? That remains to be seen. Dipoto hinted this could be difficult in his Brock and Salk interview last week.

If the team were to stay status quo, they will lose the AL West and miss the postseason. I truly believe missing the playoffs will lead to a leadership change on multiple levels as well.