The Mariners have a massive decision to make as the trade deadline approaches

The Mariners are... well, the Mariners are just straight-up bad right now. Looking back over their last 29 games, the team is hitting a putrid .200/.287/.335. You almost have to try to be that bad. They've gone 9-20 during that stretch despite a 3.38 ERA. The pitching can't do much more other than some late blown leads by the bullpen. However, it's hard to win games when you aren't scoring.

That right there has become the crux of the matter. The Mariners offense doesn't just have a hole or two. In fact, there are likely more holes in their lineup than there are successful pieces, especially now with JP Crawford (who hasn't even been doing great) and Julio Rodriguez out. Don't forget Ty France, who even though he wasn't doing well either, still has to be replaced with a bat that can do something.

Are the Mariners going to be buyers... or sellers?

The Mariners have historically blown a 10-game division lead faster than any other team in history. The offense is terrible, and they aren't currently a playoff team. Which leads to the following question. Should the Mariners be buyers at the deadline, trying to fix the offense knowing that if they can score a bit more, that the pitching is going to carry them... or do they look to sell instead?

Back when they were 44-31, a bat or two looked like it would be sufficient to carry this team to the playoffs. If it happened then, it likely would have been enough. Now, the team is 53-51, and the offense is worse than it's ever been. Take out midseason stud Victor Robles, and it gets much worse. The teams slash line falls more in line with how pitchers hit back in the day, not how people who get paid to do it should be hitting.

Honestly, it might take 3-4 additions for this team to fix the offense. You need a RF, a DH, Locklear to hit at 1st, Polanco to hit or a new 2B, and Rojas to figure it out or a new 3B. Then you have JP out for 4-6 weeks, Cal leading the league in strikeouts and struggling to hit .210... it's just a lot of things that make you sick to your stomach.

It's put the Mariners in a terrible spot, and I feel awful for their pitchers. There have been too many Felix Hernandez occurrences lately of the starters going 6 IP, giving up 1-2 runs, and leaving the game with the Mariners behind either 2-1, 2-0, or 1-0. Griffin Canning came to town with a 6+ ERA on the road and diced the Mariners up like he was a HOF'er.

The Mariners have a decision to make and time is running out. Are they going to be buyers or sellers? Stay tuned, folks. Things might get ugly... well, uglier, that is.