As the 2026 season winds down with the Milwaukee Brewers rolling through the best of baseball, the Mariners are already staring at the part of the calendar that rarely feels simple: the offseason. This one could be even messier than usual, with MLB expected to lock out when the current collective bargaining agreement expires at 8:59 p.m.
Dec. 1.
That leaves Seattle with a narrow window and a lot of decisions to make on a 2027 roster that, on paper, does not need a massive overhaul. The challenge is less about volume and more about getting the right pieces in the right places.
The first big question is whether the Mariners can actually move one of their starters. That has not been easy over the past couple of years, and the market has not been especially strong for one of them. With another year of club control now attached, it may be even harder to get the return Seattle wants.
If an impact bat becomes available, the choice is straightforward. If not, the club may have to consider whether to open the season with a six-man rotation, a possibility Jason Churchill made the case for earlier this month on Wyman and Bob.
Then there’s Colt Emerson, whose situation adds another layer of uncertainty.
Emerson is expected to be ready for spring training after wrist surgery, but that does not automatically mean he’ll be ready to break camp with the big club. He had already been sent down before the injury was disclosed, and it is fair to ask how much the wrist affected his struggles at the plate. With spring training likely shortened because of the lockout, that question may not get a clean answer.
The Mariners also have to decide whether it would be better for Emerson to get some time back in the minors before returning. If that is the route they take, Seattle would need to find a way to cover the position early in the season, which is hardly ideal for a team expected to contend. That opens up another fork in the road: do they chase a stopgap defensive shortstop who can move around, or do they go after a more lasting answer and shift Emerson to third?
Once those issues are settled, the rest of the winter checklist comes into focus. Seattle still needs an impact arm or two in the bullpen and an outfield replacement for Randy Arozarena.
Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander are going to have to move quickly, but they have navigated a compressed offseason before. In 2022, during the 99-day work stoppage, they signed Robbie Ray less than 36 hours before it began and completed the trade that brought Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suárez to Seattle four days after it ended.
Free agents can begin signing with all 30 clubs on Nov. 2, and whether baseball sees a rush of early movement remains to be seen. What does seem clear is that the Mariners will have work to do this winter, lockout or not.
In Other News...
Mariners Face A J.P. Crawford Reunion Problem This Offseason
J.P. Crawfords offseason is shaping up to be one of the more interesting Mariners subplots, because his value may sit right at the crossroads of affordability and fit. Jim Bowden of The Athletic ranks Crawford 38th among free agents and projects a two-year, $20 million deal, a price tag that suggests other clubs could view him as a useful infield option even after a down year in Seattle.
The Cardinals and Twins are among the teams that could make sense if theyre looking for help at third base, while the Mariners would have to decide whether keeping Crawford around in a different role still makes enough roster sense. Seattle could entertain a reunion if the terms are friendly, but anything longer or pricier would push the conversation into a tougher place for a club trying to manage its future roster shape. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Prospect Boston Smith May Be Becoming More Than A Surprise
Boston Smith has gone from a name buried in the lower reaches of prospect lists to someone worth tracking closely this fall. The Mariners No. 13 prospect turned in another eye-catching performance in the Arizona Fall League against Glendale, adding to a breakout year that has followed him through three different farm systems after being traded twice in 2026. Along the way, Smith has drawn attention for more than raw numbers. His approach at the plate and ability to adjust have become part of the conversation, and that kind of growth tends to matter more than any one hot week in October.
For Seattle, the appeal is obvious. The organization has watched Smith keep moving up the ladder while showing that his development is not tied to one stop or one set of coaches, which makes his rise feel less like a fluke and more like a real leap forward. The AFL is often where prospect momentum gets tested against better pitching, and Smith is doing enough there to make it fair to wonder how much more he has in him, and how quickly that progress could turn into something bigger for the Mariners. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Just Sent An Early Offseason Signal With Three Roster Calls
The Mariners began shaping their offseason plans early with a trio of roster decisions that offered a clear glimpse at where theyre placing their priorities. Seattle picked up closer Andrs Muozs contract option for 2027, keeping one of its most trusted late-inning arms in the fold as the club continues to lean into bullpen stability and long-term structure.
Elsewhere, the roster math shifted in a more complicated direction. The team declined options for Bryce Miller and Victor Robles, trimming the 40-man roster to 34 players and creating more questions around the edges of the roster picture. Miller remains under club control, while Robles is now a free agent, leaving Seattle with another decision point as the offseason starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]