THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Mariners make a move, but more needed soon

The Mariners finally found a bat.

Unfortunately, it will be in the hands of catcher Jacob Nottingham, who will be swinging (and often missing) at Triple-A Tacoma in 2023.

Concerning their search for a big-league left-fielder, backup first- and third baseman or useful DH, however …

No joy.

I have some thoughts on that for everyone who’s getting more and more frustrated at the Mariners’ apparent dozing as spring training draws closer.

Hang on and we’ll discuss it.

Meanwhile, Seattle signed Nottingham — who walks a lot, strikes out a ton and hits the occasional home run — to a minor-league deal this week, and if you’ve followed this journeyman’s career, you’re thinking …

“Of course they did.”

Nottingham moved back and forth between Seattle and Milwaukee so often in 2021 — on waivers or for cash — that MLB actually changed a rule to make such transactions a bit more difficult.

It’s almost funny.

If Nottingham does nothing spectacular in his career (which seems likely, to be honest), at least he can tell his grandkids that baseball enacted a “Nottingham Rule.”

Yeah, it only involves waiver claims on players who are generally pretty anonymous but, hey …

It’s still a rule, right?

OK, ALL chuckling aside …

It’s understandable that you may already have forgotten Jacob Nottingham (and most other minor league catchers) in the space of a few paragraphs here.

You’re probably like most Mariners fans, and are getting a little desperate regarding the opening day roster.

Not the one in Tacoma, either.

The 2023 season will hopefully be something special in Seattle, so acquiring a 27-year-old catcher as your first transaction in a month — a guy who’s hit .184 and struck out in 39 percent of his 130 at-bats in the big leagues — makes it seem that Mariners boss Jerry Dipoto and GM Justin Hollander have run out of ideas.

Frankly …

I doubt that.

IN FACT, I think there are two possible scenarios at play here.

With slight variations to each.

If the season started this weekend, the lineup would be just as you’d expect, but with Jarred Kelenic and Sam Haggerty platooning in left field.

Dylan Moore would provide backup at most infield positions, and probably start against left-handers in place of Kolten Wong at second base.

The Mariners might be dreaming that Gold Glove winner Evan White — if he's healthy and provides some hope in the spring — can play some first base, which would allow Ty France to DH.

Failing that, there will ALWAYS be a veteran first baseman hanging around (someone like Carlos Santana last year), a guy who can be brought aboard to back up France.

If you’re thinking this sounds a lot like last year’s team — with the added hope regarding White — well, you’re right.

But that team won 90 games with a gang of young guys, most of whom figure to improve.

The big gamble, obviously, is Kelenic — but he’s still only 23 and every scout in baseball drools over his potential.

So …

Maybe.

OR …

There’s a chance that Kelenic could contribute in our second scenario, as well.

It’s almost a given that a free swinger like Dipoto has tried putting together a trade package that would land switch-hitting outfielder Bryan Reynolds from Pittsburgh.

So far, the Pirates’ asking price has been too high.

Reynolds, though, has publicly asked to be traded, and there’s news this week that the Pirates are many millions short in an attempt to sign Reynolds to a long-term deal.

Eventually, Pittsburgh may decide its full-scale rebuilding effort will not produce a contender soon enough that hanging on to Reynolds makes sense.

He’s got three years of club control remaining, but the Pirates might be (optimistically) two seasons away from being a competitive ballclub.

In other words, they’d have Reynolds on a decent team for ONE year before he hits free agency.

Therefore …

They could cash in now, since Reynolds’ value will only decrease with each passing year of club control.

Dipoto perhaps can tempt the Pirates with Kelenic, future starter Emerson Hancock, and maybe Chris Flexen to help make that pitching-poor club more respectable right away.

THE HUGE question, though, is how much MORE the Pirates would demand to actually make a deal.

And likewise, what the Mariners feel they can give up, without cutting their own throats.

Matt Brash certainly would be in the discussion, and perhaps minor league starlet Prelander Berroa.

The issue for Seattle is that pitching is golden, and as much as they’d love seeing Reynolds in left field, there’s nothing like having an overwhelming pitching staff.

Dipoto proved that, by the way, when he dealt some spectacular minor league talent to Cincinnati for Luis Castillo.

Honestly, with all the young stars already in Seattle, I might be tempted to keep most of that dominant pitching staff and toss the switch-hitting Haggerty into left field.

With baseball’s new rules putting such an emphasis on action, Haggerty might be a serious everyday weapon.

In any event …

The Mariners have to make a big decision soon.

They’ve already got speed, pitching and a few bashers in the middle of the lineup.

Dipoto might very well be telling the truth, and he’s willing to play the hand he’s got -- because it’s a better one than fans tend to believe.

Oh, he can tweak a few pieces here and there, maybe sign Trey Mancini or someone like him, as a bit of insurance.

But he won’t sell the farm.

Whatever Jerry decides, it’s going to be fascinating.

And the Mariners will be very good, either way.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”