Vince Grippi: If we could listen in, is this what the front office would be telling Mariners players?

Monday is major league baseball’s trade deadline.

The last day for contending teams to make deals without having to jump through the waiver claim hoops.

All around baseball, teams with championship aspirations are adding players who can help them down the stretch. Sometimes they come with a cost, of course.

Unproven talent, prospects in the vernacular of the game, can blossom into proven talent. And embarrass the team that traded them.

Guys like Asdrubal Cabrera, traded by Seattle in late June of 2006 for Eduardo Perez, who hit .195 the rest of the season and left baseball for good.

Or, even further back, Derrick Lowe and Jason Varitek, dealt for Heathcliff Slocumb in the dark ages of 1997. That one had long-lasting effects on both franchises.

But there can be a price to pay for not making deals as well. Players know the score. They know which teams have a chance to win. They know what their team is lacking.

And they know when management believes in them.

So what type of messages are Mariners players hearing from Jerry Dipoto’s front office as they fight for a postseason bid? To find out, we take you implausibly live to the Seattle clubhouse as the M’s were told of the team’s most recent deal.

Scott Servais: “Guys, gather round. Les Mannion, the assistant to the … what’s your title again Les?”

Mannion (quietly): “I’m the assistant to the financial analyst for contract verification.”

Servais (looking perplexed): “OK. Anyway, Les here has been sent down by Jerry to explain our latest moves. Hold your questions until he’s done, OK? Les.”

Mannion (even quieter): “Thanks, Sco …”

Voice in the back of the room: “Speak up, we can’t hear.”

Mannion (a bit louder): “Thanks, Scoot, I mean Scott. Jerry sent me down to let you know (coughs) we are leaving no stone unturned (coughs again) in our attempt to make this team better. We, Jerry and the guys, have made another trade that …”

Voice from the middle of the room, interrupting: “Did we get Sonny Gray?”

Mannion: “Ah, no. But we did get a starting pitcher.”

Servais: “Yu Darvish?”

Mannion: “No, not Yu. We have acquired Erasmo Ramirez from Tampa in exchange for Steve Cishek.”

Voice up front: “Damn, Steve owed me 30 bucks.”

Another voice in the back: “Didn’t Ramirez pitch here before? And the last time I checked, he had thrown about 60 innings this year. What’s this crud?”

Mannion (indignant): “I’ll have you know Mr. Ramirez is under team control until 2019, which makes him a very valuable asset.”

Angry voice from close to the front: “Is that what we are to you, assets? If so, I may want to kick your …”

Servais: “Settle down guys, I’m sure Les didn’t mean it that way. Right Les?”

Mannion (voice shaking): “Yes, I mean no, I didn’t mean to imply …”

Voice by the tub of bubble gum: “Wmmenem wmn mmey?”

Servais: “What’s that?”

Same voice after emptying his cheek: “Sorry. When are we going to get someone like Jose Quintana or, heck, even Sean Doolittle, no disrespect intended to my colleagues on the pitching staff. Heck, my buddy Dennis Eckersley told me David Price is available.”

Another voice nearby: “None taken. Yeah, when are we going for it?”

Mannion: “Jerry has decided, I mean, this is the consensus among all of us in the front office, we aren’t going to make that type of trade. The chances of us trading for a front-line starter, wait, let me find my note because Jerry authorized me to quote him on this. Here it is. He says, and I quote, ‘I don’t think that’s ever been very likely. … We’ve been very conscious of preserving our talent pool.’ ”

Voice from over by the coaching staff: “What talent pool?”

Same angry voice from earlier near the front: “Are you telling us we traded one of our prospects for a guy coming off Tommy John, but we aren’t willing to try to put together a deal for a stud? That’s horse …”

Servais, as the M’s start murmuring among themselves: “OK, calm down guys. I’m sure what Les means is the front office has faith in the club we have now, that the guys in this room are going to bond together and win 30-40 games down the stretch. Right Les?”

Mannion: “No, we’re building for (the murmurs start up again) … I mean, yes Skip, that’s exactly what Jerry believes.”

Servais (under his breath): “You better get out of here.”