THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Trade is you must, but please follow the rules

Are you ready to make a trade? 

Not just shuffling backup infielders, but a big, big, season-changing move? 

And most important: Could you pull the trigger as the Mariners’ president of baseball operations, with your job perhaps on the line? 

In real life, boss John Stanton isn’t LIKELY to throw baseball guru Jerry Dipoto under the bus, not unless public pressure gets so hot that somebody has to be the human sacrifice. 

The owners know that the Mariners’ farm system, ranked in the top two or three in MLB year after year, became this magical stockpile of talent in the “Dipoto Era.” 

Even better, growing your own stars is the least expensive way to build a team. 

What would it cost Stanton and his pals to pay for Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, rookie infielders Ben Williamson and Cole Young, pitchers Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Bryce Miller — not to mention ambidextrous phenom Jurrangelo Cijntje? 

Answer: Plenty. 

OK, SO you still want to make a midseason trade? 

And you want to win now. 

Right away, you’ll be tempted to smash one of my personal trade rules. 

It’s simple, too. 

Whenever you consider a deal, anytime between this moment and the trade deadline, ask this question: Are we a lock to make the playoffs? 

In other words, you’re admitting that at this time of year, you’ll probably get skinned in a trade — but you want to win the World Series. 

You do NOT sell the ranch for a relief pitcher who might get you into that last wild-card spot. 

No, no, no! 

Not good enough. 

If that’s the state of your roster, your team isn’t good enough to win it all — so you should SELL, believe it or not. 

Go out and get some serious, reliable pros in the lineup to play alongside all that young talent in your system. 

Now you’re talking. 

Yes, you’d have to give up a player or two that you (and your fans) really love. 

You have to bite the bullet and move someone like J.P. Crawford, whose stock is atop of the mountain right now. 

FYI, Crawford is sitting fourth across MLB in on-base percentage (.407 on Monday afternoon). 

On the other hand, Baseball Savant tags J.P. as the worst defensive shortstop in the major leagues — and right now, it’s not particularly close. 

Apparently, Crawford’s age (30) has made him a wiser dude at the plate, but … whoa! 

A minus-6 OAA on defense, the worst of any regular shortstop in MLB, suggests a swift ride downhill. 

Surprised? 

Sure.

But trades involving experienced pros compared to prospects that require lots of guessing will always make you swallow hard, no matter which side you’re on. 

LET’S SEE a midseason deal from both sides. 

The key is your treasure chest of prospects, and what you do with them. 

At some point, you have to be smarter than the next guy. 

If not, you wind up trying to save a little money on Eugenio Suarez’ contract, find yourself with no proven third baseman, and watch Geno lead MLB in runs batted in. 

Guh! 

If this is a shot at the World Series, you have to assess those incoming absolutely players right, because you’ll be giving away your soul — those kids you adore. 

I saw one of these deals, up close in Kansas City.  

The Royals made it to the World Series in 2014, lost in seven games, and everyone at the club believed they were one stud away. 

Right at the deadline in ’15, they traded promising pitcher Brandon Finnigan and a couple of prospects to the Reds for ace Johnny Cueto. 

Then they sent “can’t-miss” pitching prospect Sean Manaea to the A’s for do-everything, switch-hitting Ben Zobrist. 

Cueto and Zobrist were rentals, but they played huge roles as the Royals won the AL pennant and dispatched the Mets in the World Series. 

I remember thinking that the Royals were taking a huge gamble, since Finnegan and Manaea seemed like locks to be stars. 

Nope, the Reds and A’s got almost nothing. 

I learned a major lesson, though. 

The trade got plenty of headlines, but I believe the Royals would have won the whole thing without Cueto or Zobrist. 

The lesson: You have to be good enough to win it all — before you even think about trades. 

If you’re really rockin’ and have the ammo to make it a cinch, go for it. 

But.  

It’s crazy to sell the farm while you’re praying for a wild card spot. 

Email: [email protected] 

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press three times each week, normally Tuesday, Wednesday and 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.” 

Special amusing fact: The Mariners have bobbled along among the bottom four MLB teams in hitting with runners in scoring position this season. Meanwhile, among individual batters, Michael Harris II of Atlanta is ranked the No. 1 clutch hitter by FanGrafs. Second and third behind Harris: Ty France of the Twins and Eugenio Suarez of Arizona. Mmmm.