The Mariners have spent years making a habit out of finding bullpen help in places most teams overlook. That pipeline has gone quiet lately, and the need for reinforcements has become impossible to ignore. One name now sitting in the middle of that conversation is Adam Smith, a right-hander whose path to the organization has been anything but straightforward.
Seattle’s relief group was once a strength. Just three years ago, it ranked fourth in team ERA.
By the 2026 campaign, it had fallen to 22nd, then slid even further as the season wore on - second-worst from June onward and dead last over the final two months. Injuries played a part, but the bigger issue was the lack of dependable depth behind the big league arms.
That’s why Smith matters. The Mariners have built recent success on uncovering relievers like Paul Sewald, Erik Swanson, Justin Topa, Gabe Speier and Eduard Bazardo, and now they’re hoping Smith can join that line of finds. He was drafted by the Padres in the 14th round in 2021, battled injuries early, spent time in the Red Sox organization and was pitching in independent ball when Seattle added him at the start of May this year.
His climb hasn’t been smooth, and his time with the Mariners hasn’t been either. But there’s enough in the profile to keep watching.
At High-A Everett, Smith was excellent in 16 relief appearances, posting a 1.67 ERA and a 0.963 WHIP across 27.0 innings. That performance pushed him to Double-A Arkansas, where the results were more uneven, though not enough to cool Seattle’s interest. The organization later named him one of eight players representing the farm system in the Arizona Fall League.
That stage has been a mixed bag so far. Through six outings for the Peoria Javelinas, Smith has allowed four earned runs in 5.2 innings.
Even so, he’s flashed the kind of stuff that gets attention. His best moment came in a perfect seventh inning against the Scottsdale Scorpions, when he struck out Bryce Rainer, Jeff Williams and Dakota Jordan.
Keith Law of The Athletic also took notice earlier this month, praising Smith’s slider, his strike-throwing and a fastball that reached 96 mph.
Smith is still a long way from being a finished product, and there are no guarantees attached to him. But the Mariners have made a living out of finding arms that look ordinary at first glance and turn into useful bullpen pieces. Smith has already reached Double-A, and with his stuff and trajectory, he’s a name worth keeping on the radar for 2027.
In Other News...
Mariners Fans Suddenly Have A Familiar Power Bat To Watch
Eugenio Surez is back on the open market, and for Mariners fans, that immediately brings a familiar name back into the conversation. Cincinnati declined its 2027 mutual option on the veteran third baseman, ending his run with the Reds and creating a fresh opening for a power bat that Seattle knows well from his previous stop in the Pacific Northwest. The move came after a season in which Surez struggled to find the same rhythm at the plate and had a tough time defensively, but his track record still makes him a player worth watching as the offseason unfolds.
The Reds also moved on from right-hander Pierce Johnson, declining his option and paying the buyout instead, which helped clear room on their 40-man roster. Johnsons 2025 season was uneven, with a 4.62 ERA over 48 2/3 innings, and his departure is part of a broader reshaping in Cincinnati. For Seattle, though, the bigger hook is Surez, whose availability instantly gives the Mariners another recognizable power option to consider as they sort through their own winter priorities. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Outfield Question Just Got More Complicated After Latest Claim
The Mariners added another name to their outfield mix this offseason when they claimed Grant McCray off waivers from the Giants, a move that fits the clubs habit of looking for low-cost athleticism and roster flexibility. McCray brings speed and defensive ability, two traits that can play in a hurry if a team needs help in the grass, and he gives Seattle another option to sort through as it pieces together its outfield picture for the coming season.
McCrays track record, though, suggests a different kind of role than a direct path to regular playing time. He has spent most of his career in the minors and has not yet shown enough with the bat to force his way into an everyday job, which is why the Mariners seem more likely to treat him as depth than as a real Opening Day answer. Even so, his presence adds another layer to an outfield situation that already had enough moving parts. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Dipoto Just Created A Bigger Mariners Concern Than Victor Robles
Victor Robles time in Seattle has already become a cautionary tale about how quickly a low-cost gamble can turn into a sunk cost. The Mariners took a flier on him in 2024 after his release from Washington, then doubled down with a two-year deal when he flashed enough to earn more runway, but the results never matched the optimism. Injuries kept him off the field far too often, and when he was available, his production fell well short of what the club needed.
Now the bigger concern is what his exit says about the roster-building work still ahead. Seattle has already moved on from the option year it held for 2027, and while the buyout is manageable, the larger issue is that the Mariners are again looking for answers in a spot that was supposed to be settled. For a team trying to tighten up the margins, losing that kind of outfield stability is the kind of problem that lingers well beyond one contract decision. [Read more 🡒]