No Ohtani means the team's chance at a World Series is a joke because the core is too old and expensive and the pitching is bare?
Couple of thoughts.
Because the core is too old does not preclude the team from competitiveness. I assume we're talking about Felix, Cano, and Cruz.
Reduced production vs. actual production: If Cano provides 3 WAR vs. the 5 WAR he's produced in the past, that's still a 3 WAR second baseman, right? That's not nothin'. Cruz and Felix can still contribute, even in a reduced capacity.
The core is too expensive: Teams can make up their own salary cap. If Seattle is constrained by simple operating logistics (self-imposed major league budget of, say, $150 mil to make the profit margin worthwhile), well, they're currently sitting at $116 mil. dedicated to 35 players. They have a theoretical $34 mil or so to spend for this one season alone. That's not insignificant wiggle-room with which to operate.
Pitching is bare: I'm assuming we're talking about starting pitching. James Paxton is a monster, albiet injury prone. Behind him the team is about 7 deep with varying levels of health/effectiveness. The floor is fairly low with a mortal Felix, Leake, Erasmo holding down the bulk of the innings behind him and replacement level swaps taking up the rear. Yes, they could use an infusion of talent, here, but to say that this cupboard is bare is exaggerating things.
The team has a young, power prospect who finally found his sealegs at catcher, a young, cost-controlled stoploss at 1B, an aging but still effective superstar at 2B, a gold-glove star at 3B, an all-around effective 3-WAR SS, a young LF who proved to be too good for AAA and held his own in the bigs when given the opportunity, a young blossoming star in RF, an Edgar Martinez award candidate at DH, a stud SP who, when not hurt, is dominant, and an aging ex-Cy Young winner who is more prideful than most.
Teams have gone further than a playoff appearance with less.