The Mariners have a lot to sort through before 2027, but the clearest holes are on the left side of the infield and in left field.
That’s the uncomfortable reality after a season that ended in postseason elimination and the club’s worst finish in seven years. Even with all the frustration, Seattle does have some stability baked into the roster.
Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh are locked in for years, and Josh Naylor remains under contract for four more seasons after signing this past offseason. So while some parts of the core are spoken for, the front office still has work to do in a few key spots.
Third base sits near the top of the list.
Brendan Donovan was supposed to handle the job, and when he was on the field, he delivered. He posted a 127 OPS+ and gave Seattle real production.
The problem was availability. Injuries kept him out for much of the year, and the Mariners ended up patching the position with J.P.
Crawford, Weston Wilson, and Leo Rivas.
The result was rough. Mariners third basemen combined for a 77 wRC+ and -0.2 fWAR, which ranked 29th in MLB and only ahead of the Reds, who finished at -1.1 fWAR.
Donovan is still under club control for next season, but depending on him as the main answer carries real risk. Seattle has infield depth in the system with names like Michael Arroyo and Felnin Celesten, though the highest-ranked player listed as a third baseman is Ace Reese, who is still in Single-A.
The trade and free-agent markets for third basemen usually don’t offer much, and this year doesn’t look any richer. If the Mariners want a cleaner solution, they may need to get inventive.
Shortstop is another spot that could change shape quickly.
Colt Emerson was supposed to break out in 2026 after Seattle committed nearly $100 million to secure his future. Instead, he managed a 67 wRC+ across 241 plate appearances before ending his season with wrist surgery. He still has a long road back before he can return to baseball activities at full intensity, and even then, there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready to take over the job right away.
J.P. Crawford gave the Mariners exactly what they needed in the meantime.
Back at his natural position, he put up a 133 wRC+ and 1.8 fWAR. But he’s headed for free agency, and with Seattle already loaded with middle infield talent, a return feels unlikely.
The organization isn’t giving up on Emerson, but bringing in a veteran to steady the position while he gets back on track would make sense.
Left field may be the toughest puzzle of all.
Randy Arozarena was the most productive player in the majors at the position, finishing with a 150 wRC+ and 5.0 fWAR. He held a comfortable lead over Jackson Chourio in second place.
The catch is that he won’t be in Seattle for long. MLB Trade Rumors expects him to land a deal in the three- to four-year range and says he should easily top the $66 million contract Teoscar Hernandez got after a statistically similar 2024 season.
The rest of the picture is even shakier. Taylor Ward and Víctor Robles are both headed to the open market, and Weston Wilson is not a realistic starting option. The free-agent class is thin, with 32-year-old Ian Happ standing as the only somewhat appealing name.
That could open the door for Michael Arroyo, who has looked good in his brief big league time so far. The defensive fit in the outfield is still a concern, but Seattle may have to live with that if it means getting more offense. With the infield surplus the Mariners can shuffle pieces around, the outfield is the spot where they look lightest.
In Other News...
Mariners Lose Andrs Muoz For The Year At The Worst Time
The Mariners are heading into the final stretch without Andrs Muoz, a blow that lands at exactly the wrong moment for a club trying to hold together its late-season bullpen plan. Seattle put its closer on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation, and because only three games remain, his season is effectively over after an injury that first surfaced last weekend in Denver.
Troy Taylor was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to help fill the gap, but replacing Muoz is about more than just shuffling a roster spot. He had already been unavailable for the past three games, and now the Mariners have to navigate the finish without one of their most trusted late-inning arms while the stakes keep rising in the closing days of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
J.P. Crawford Deserves One Seattle Sendoff Fans Can Still Give
Rick Rizzs is getting the kind of farewell that fits a Mariners institution: the longtime broadcaster is retiring after 41 years with the team and will be inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame next year. As Seattle moves toward the end of its 2026 season with games against the Angels still ahead, it is also a reminder of how much of the franchises recent identity has been built by people who have been around long enough to become part of the place.
J.P. Crawford belongs in that conversation too. The shortstop has been one of the Mariners more important players during his time in Seattle, and with free agency looming after the season, there is at least a chance these final games are his last in a Mariners uniform. If that turns out to be the case, the club and its fans may want to make sure his exit gets the same kind of appreciation that Rizzs is receiving. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Face A Left Field Decision They Cant Afford To Miss
The Mariners are staring at a familiar offseason balancing act, with a new manager to hire and an offense that still needs help in obvious places. Left field is one of the spots that could change quickly if Randy Arozarena reaches free agency, and while Seattle does have internal answers it could try, the front office also has to keep an eye on the trade market as it maps out the next roster.
Names like Tyler Soderstrom and Riley Greene have already surfaced as possible fits, which tells you how wide the search could go if the Mariners decide they need a bigger swing. Any serious pursuit would likely be tied to broader offseason maneuvering, including the sort of speculative trade chatter that always follows a team with enough pitching depth to draw attention, but the main question remains the same: how aggressive will Seattle be in filling a spot it cannot afford to leave unsettled? [Read more 🡒]