Randy Arozarena’s 2026 season just earned him another layer of recognition, as the Seattle Mariners outfielder landed on the American League team voted on by players, managers and executives.
Arozarena was one of the outfield selections alongside Riley Greene of the Detroit Tigers and Boston’s Cedanne Rafaela/Wilyer Abreu, giving him a spot on the annual honors list that arrives before MLB’s true award season. He also did it coming off a huge individual year for Seattle, a season that stood out even in an offense that was otherwise underwhelming.
The 31-year-old finished as an eight-year veteran after stops with the St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays and Mariners.
A career .255 hitter, he posted a .281 average in 2026 with 26 home runs, 79 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. He moved around the lineup, batting both at the top and in the middle, and led the American League with 113 runs scored.
He also finished with a .381 on-base percentage and a 148 OPS+.
That production comes at an interesting moment for both player and team. Arozarena is headed for free agency at the end of the league year, which officially comes five days after the World Series ends. He will officially enter free agency the day after the World Series, though he can only negotiate with the Mariners for the first five days before being free to talk with all 30 clubs.
The market around him is murky, and not just because he is one of the better hitters available in what’s described as a light class. The looming MLB lockout could shape how this unfolds, with questions about whether teams will try to move quickly before things freeze up, whether Arozarena will push to line up a new deal fast, or whether everyone ends up waiting until after the lockout to see what the new financial rules look like.
Seattle is not expected to keep him long-term, but the club is expected to extend a one-year qualifying offer worth about $23 million. If he takes it, he stays in Seattle. If he declines and leaves, the Mariners would be positioned to collect a valuable draft pick in the 2027 draft.
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