Last night the Seattle Mariners finished their fourth consecutive season under .500 with a truly awful 9-0 loss to the A’s. The M’s haven’t appeared in the playoffs in over a decade, and less than a month ago they suffered a brutal sweep by the Astros, the team with the worst record in the AL. Sure, they secured ace Felix Hernandez for the next seven years for $175 million. But with the ever-so-apparent lack of run support, the Mariners have continued (and will continue) to lose games, even with stellar pitching. Players’ performances aside, someone is on the hot seat.

Back in April, Lookout Landing published an article about the Mariners’ financial position. To sum it up, the M’s bank account in the envy of nearly every other team in the league. Sure, they spent big on Hernandez, but a giant contract with ROOT Sports NW will give the Mariners upwards of $14 million annually in profit. They are set to make nearly $2 billion over the next 20 years. That’s a lot of mu-lah for not a lot of W’s.

And therein lies the Mariners’ dilemma. If executive management isn’t willing to spend on big names with big bats in the offseason, why be debt-free? Why not take a risk (like they should’ve last year) and sign a Prince Fielder or an Albert Pujols? The M’s should count their blessings that 41-year old Raul Ibanez was able to hit 29 home runs this year (and not bank on this next year). Do as legendary Yankees owner George Steinbrenner once did––spend, and spend big. Increase payroll and demonstrate to pitchers like Felix, frustrated fans, and other teams in the AL that you are for real, 100% definitely not ok with mediocrity.

Unless Safeco attendance dwindles drastically, M’s execs Howard Lincoln and Chuck Armstrong will most likely escape the hot seat with their trite, empty promises of “the future.” While they may dream of continued economic proficiency, the rest of Seattle agrees that  “the future” is not a bunch of teenagers playing AAA in Tacoma, but rather a few big, bold contracts with established players able to provide adequate run support for the pitching rotation. If the Mariners open up their pocketbook this offseason, next October may be a bit more exciting than the one fast approaching.