The Seattle Mariners came into this offseason with a clear mandate: build on last year's progress and take a real swing at contending for that elusive first World Series berth. So far, though, it feels like they’ve only taken a few half-swings, and the biggest miss might be the one they never even took.
Yes, the Mariners did lock up Josh Naylor early in the offseason-a solid move that adds thump to the lineup. But in the grand scheme of what this team needs to get over the hump, that was more of a foundational step than a finishing touch. The front office, led by Jerry Dipoto, still has work to do if they want to convince fans-and frankly, the rest of the league-that they’re all-in on 2026.
One name that’s been floating around as a potential fit is Brendan Donovan. The Cardinals utility man would check a lot of boxes for Seattle: versatility, contact hitting, and a high baseball IQ.
But as of now, there’s no guarantee the Mariners will land him. And if they don’t, there’s a growing sense they may have already let the perfect opportunity slip through their fingers.
That missed opportunity? Ketel Marte.
Let’s be clear: Marte wasn’t just a good fit-he was tailor-made for what the Mariners need. Over the past three seasons, he’s averaged a 141 OPS+, popped 30 home runs a year, and posted a 5.3 rWAR.
That’s elite production from a second baseman, and it’s come with hardware: two Silver Slugger awards and a third-place finish in AL MVP voting in 2024. Combine that with a contract that pays him $91 million over the next five seasons-a relative bargain in today’s market-and you’ve got a player who could’ve transformed Seattle’s infield and lineup.
But according to Arizona Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen, that ship has sailed.
Hazen made it clear he’s not entertaining Marte trade offers anymore. Speaking with MLB.com, he emphasized that he set a deadline for a reason-to avoid late-offseason distractions and to give his player clarity heading into spring training.
He’s already spoken with Marte directly and told him he’s staying put. Hazen also pointed out that backing out on that promise now could hurt his credibility in future negotiations.
While Hazen didn’t name names, there’s a sense around the league that his comments were aimed more at the Boston Red Sox than the Mariners. After losing out on Alex Bregman-who signed with the Cubs-Boston may have seen Marte as a fallback option. Reports have suggested that the D-backs have interest in Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran and pitching prospects like Tolle and Early, but even that level of interest doesn’t seem to have moved the needle.
Which brings us back to Seattle.
The Mariners have a history with Marte. He debuted with them back in 2015 before being traded to Arizona in the Jean Segura deal.
A reunion would’ve made sense on multiple levels-familiarity, positional need, offensive upside. And yet, by all accounts, the Mariners never got close to making a serious push.
That’s the part that stings.
In baseball terms, they didn’t just strike out-they never even stepped into the batter’s box. For a team that’s been preaching the importance of maximizing a competitive window, it’s hard to square that with the idea of letting a player like Marte go uncontested. Especially when the depth in young pitching-arguably the organization’s greatest strength-could’ve supported a bold move without mortgaging the future.
You can understand wanting to protect arms like Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo, and Emerson Hancock. But the best teams know when to consolidate depth into impact. And Marte, with his bat, glove, and leadership, is the kind of impact player who moves the needle in October.
Now, with Hazen shutting the door and spring training looming, the Mariners are left to hope that Plan B pans out. Maybe Donovan becomes available.
Maybe another bat emerges. But the what-ifs around Marte will linger-especially if the offense sputters out of the gate or the team finds itself one piece short come September.
In the end, it’s not about swinging and missing-it’s about not swinging at all. And for a franchise still chasing its first World Series appearance, that’s a tough pitch to take.