The Mariners have already checked one offseason box with Jason Kanzler taking over as skipper, but the real work is just getting started. With the GM Meetings underway in Las Vegas, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto made it clear where Seattle wants to hit next: the bullpen, the lineup and, possibly, the infield.
“This year’s bullpen market is pretty appealing,” said Dipoto. “There’s a lot of guys out there we feel like could help us.
We’ve already identified who they might be. Whether we can land them or not is a different story.
But, we’re looking to add to our bullpen. We’re looking for one, maybe two more bats.
And we’d like to add a veteran infield presence. Whether that is part of the bats or just a presence is something entirely different.”
That checklist makes sense given how Seattle’s relief corps regressed in 2026. Andrés Muñoz was the biggest example.
His ERA climbed from 1.73 to 4.24, even though he actually threw harder, missed more bats and cut down on walks. The problem was the ball leaving the yard.
From 2022-25, just 9.9% of his fly balls turned into home runs, and he averaged 0.57 homers per nine innings. In 2026, 23.6% of his fly balls became homers, and his HR/9 jumped to 1.41.
The group as a whole wasn’t nearly as sharp as it had been a year earlier. Mariners relievers finished with a 4.46 ERA, which ranked 22nd in baseball.
They were 14th in strikeout rate and seventh in walk rate, but they also gave up 1.12 homers per nine innings, the 10th-highest mark in the majors. Josh Simpson, Eduard Bazardo, Hoby Milner and Muñoz were the main culprits there.
On top of that, Matt Brash lost most of the season to a lat strain and threw only 16 1/3 innings, while Gabe Speier missed nearly a month early with shoulder inflammation.
Dipoto also acknowledged something that has long shaped Seattle’s approach: the club usually prefers trades over free agency. Even so, he pointed to a more attractive relief market than usual.
Big-ticket names like Adrian Morejon and David Bednar would be difficult fits because of the multi-year commitments and qualifying-offer compensation attached to both. But there’s a deeper second tier that could make sense, with Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Bryan Abreu, Emilio Pagán and Steven Okert all mentioned as possible difference-makers without going beyond three years.
If Seattle wants a shorter commitment, Raisel Iglesias is another name in the mix.
The trade market could be just as important. Dipoto has landed controllable bullpen arms before, including Jose A. Ferrer and Gregory Santos, and that kind of move remains on the table.
The lineup needs are obvious, too. Seattle finished 28th in runs scored, 16th in home runs, 29th in batting average, 21st in on-base percentage and 28th in slugging percentage.
The one bright spot was that the club tied for 10th in walk rate, but it also struck out at the seventh-worst clip in the league. That came even with Randy Arozarena putting together one of the best seasons of his career.
He’s now a free agent, as is J.P. Crawford, who posted a 13.1% walk rate.
There are plenty of ways for the Mariners to attack the bat market. On the corner-outfield side, Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ and NPB star Teruaki Sato are among the names available.
Bounce-back candidates include Adolis Garcia, Trent Grisham, Cedric Mullins and Daulton Varsho. On the trade front, Trevor Larnach, Jarren Duran and Teoscar Hernández are among the outfielders who could come into play.
The infield picture is murkier. The organization wants Colt Emerson to become the shortstop of the future after signing him to an eight-year contract, but injuries kept that from fully taking shape.
He went on the IL in mid-August and later had season-ending wrist surgery. Cole Young had a solid all-around year at second base, though there’s still room for growth.
Josh Naylor recovered from a slow start and hit well over the final four-plus months. Brendan Donovan spent more time hurt than healthy, which leaves questions at third base.
Dipoto’s talk of adding an infield presence likely reflects both that uncertainty and Donovan’s versatility. If Seattle lands a notable third baseman, Donovan could move into left field, where he and Dominic Canzone would be options alongside Julio Rodríguez in center.
The third-base market is thin, unless the Mariners go after international options such as Sato or the KBO’s Si Hwan Roh. And as always, the trade market could open doors, especially if Seattle is willing to deal from its rotation depth.
Payroll gives the Mariners some room to maneuver. They have about $67MM committed to six players - Cal Raleigh, Seranthony Dominguez, Naylor, Emerson, Rodriguez and Muñoz.
Their 14 arbitration-eligible players are projected for about $57MM, though some could be non-tender candidates. Add in pre-arb players, deferred signing bonuses and 2027 option buyouts, and the club lands around $142.5MM in projected payroll, roughly $28MM below where it finished the 2026 season.
That leaves Dipoto with flexibility, especially if Seattle is willing to consider moving George Kirby, projected at $9.8MM, or Logan Gilbert, projected at $15.4MM. Whether either is truly available remains unknown.
In Other News...
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For a club trying to steady itself, the appeal is obvious: a manager who can simplify expectations and make the standards unmistakable. Kanzlers introduction suggested the Mariners want more than a fresh voice in the dugout, they want a different kind of order in the room, one where players know exactly what is expected of them and where the lines of communication are supposed to run. The details of how that plays out will come later, but the organizational intent was clear from the start. [Read more 🡒]
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Mariners Prospect Faces New Doubt After Tough AFL Showcase
Adam Smiths Arizona Fall League run has been a useful measuring stick for the Mariners right-handed pitching prospect, but the latest stage did not help his case. Working the eighth inning in the AFL All-Star Game, Smith was part of a rough night for the American League as the National League pulled away, and his overall line in the showcase has only added to the mixed read on where he stands in the organization.
Smith has now made seven AFL appearances, and the numbers have been uneven enough to keep the conversation open around his role in Seattles future. After spending time at High-A and Double-A, he remains the kind of arm the Mariners can dream on, but the path forward is not simple with the bullpen picture already crowded and his next step tied to how he finishes and what the club needs when the time comes. [Read more 🡒]