I suspect Seattle is trying to clear its roster of players who don't remain under contract beyond this "stepped-back" season. The residual heart of the team remains under control through these seasons:
C Navarez 2022, Murphy 2023
1B Healy 2022
2B Gordon 2020 (2021 team option), Long 2025
SS Crawford 2023
3B Seager 2021 (2022 option)
OF Haniger 2022
OF Smith 2022
OF Santana 2021
DH Vogelbach 2024
SP Gonzales 2023
SP Kikuchi 2022+
SP Leake 2020 (2021 option)
SP LeBlanc 2019/2020/2021/2022
RP Strickland 2021
RP Elias 2021
RP Biddle 2022
RP Brennan 2025
RP Festa 2025
RP Tuivailala 2022
The Mariners have six prospects ranked among the current Top 100 at MLB Prospect Watch:
http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2019?list=prospects
The M's can watch those players develop -- or not -- and add complementary pieces after the clearing of payroll space since the 2018 season.
Without a World Series appearance in its 43-season history, the Seattle franchise will continue to endure the ridicule of many fans. However, the cerebral fan might find the current strategy interesting.