The Mariners traded Ben Williamson to help bring postseason glory to Seattle. But he found it in Tampa Bay. Of course that’s how it would go down. Apparently, even the route to the World Series needs a connection outside the Pacific Northwest.

Williamson’s Rays clinched the American League pennant with a 7-3 victory over Cleveland in Game 6. Seattle’s season ended without a playoff berth. We’re left watching a player the Mariners moved in their biggest offseason lineup deal last season, preparing for the stage this franchise still hasn’t reached.

Seattle acquired Brendan Donovan in the February three-team trade that sent Williamson to Tampa Bay. The Mariners were out to improve the lineup and give a contender another established hitter. That ambition made sense. The fans had been demanding it for years, and they should keep doing it.

But an aggressive transaction comes with expectations that survive the announcement.…