Mariners' payroll decisions can't be overlooked amid hapless season

The briefing

A Seattle Times column argues the Mariners' front office deserves scrutiny for a 56-63 season that followed a near-pennant run. Seattle sits 16th in MLB payroll despite reaching the ALCS last year, and the column notes the team made no major signing while failing to land a lights-out bullpen arm at the deadline. Player underperformance is real, from Cal Raleigh's .161 average to Bryan Woo's inflated ERA, but the writer says ownership's spending habits cannot be excused.