THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Certainly the Mariners must know what they're doing ... right?

Let’s assume the Mariners have a plan.

It might explode with fireworks and ticker tape, or it could wind up being swept out with the trash.

Plus, countless things can happen along the way, either wonderful or disastrous, and thus turn a season in one direction or another.

It’s impossible to know the result until we see the Mariners play some baseball in 2024.

But they MUST have a plan.

Right now, on the heels of the surprise departure of Eugenio Suarez — in exchange for two players who have accomplished basically nothing in the major leagues — I’d say it’s time to guess a bit about that plan. 

We can start with the fact that there are two issues looming over the entire process.

ONE: With a young, pitching-rich club that won 88 games and missed the playoffs by just one game, it’s surely not necessary to tear down the whole thing and start over.

TWO: Are they even bothering to bid seriously for Shohei Ohtani – and if not, what holes really must be filled successfully to field a World Series contender?

LET’S DO these items in reverse order because, frankly, if the Mariners have enough money — and they’re willing to spend around a half-billion dollars over a decade for Ohtani — then things have a great chance of working out just swell.

That probably would be true even if they joined the sweepstakes but did NOT get Ohtani, because it would mean they’re not locked into the idea that the 18th-highest payroll in the game seems like a nice limit.

Let’s face it.

Texas spent a bundle, had a couple of top-dollar acquisitions contribute nada — but still won the World Series.

Remember, the Rangers splashed a season earlier on Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, then traded for Jordan Montgomery at the deadline.

I think we can assume they won’t back off now, and probably will throw a massive amount on the table to lure Ohtani.

Now there’s your nightmare scenario.

Back to the Mariners.

The fan base is deeply unhappy, and with good reason.

A year ago, the club built on a first playoff appearance in two decades by adding Kolten Wong, AJ Pollock and Tommy La Stella.

Hell, La Stella was the DH on opening day.

Are any of those guys even still in baseball?

Now, the immensely popular Suarez has been shipped to Arizona, presumably giving Luis Urias (inbound from Boston) a shot at the third base job.

Moving Suarez might turn out to be a good deal, if you take his connection with the fans out of it (which you can’t, unless you win a pennant). 

Maybe Geno’s bat speed has decreased dramatically and, hey, you’re getting back a kid that throws 100 mph.

And to be honest, I like last year’s deal with the Snakes.

Dom Canzone and Ryan Bliss look like legit live bats, and Bliss can steal any base available.

However, I get the unhappiness from M’s loyalists, who’ve suffered almost forever.

They want to see ONE big free-agent signing (although they did land Robbie Ray two years ago).

Fact: Without spending some money, it’s hard to picture the Mariners joining MLB’s elite teams — which, unfortunately, now includes the Rangers.

LET’S GO back to our original puzzle.

Do the Mariners have a plan?

That is, a plan besides trying to swap out a few position players for guys who make more contract, and hoping that you can combine that with overpowering pitching to win, say, 95 games?

I know, you’re looking at THAT idea, and thinking: “Yeah, so they don’t have to spend any money.”

I agree.

If John Stanton and the ownership group insist on a low-to-middle MLB payroll (while making piles of cash and watching the franchise value keep increasing), the plan MIGHT work – but it will be maddening to see other teams signing free agents and leaping into contention.

It will drive me crazy if they talk themselves into believing that Jarred Kelenic is part of the answer.

He’s not.

In fact, Kelenic struck out at about the same rate as Suarez, but without the 94 RBIs.

On the other hand, let’s say they WILL spend some money.

Good.

Then go sign local star Blake Snell, creating a truly lights-out rotation, and you can trade a couple of the young pitchers for an actual thumper to play right or DH.

Snell would be expensive, but not in the Ohtani league.

Good pitching still beats good hitting.

And if the Mariners had GREAT pitching, I’d like their chances.

Reach for your wallet, John.

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.”