The Seattle Mariners are heading into a busy offseason with arbitration front and center, and the list is a long one. Seattle has 15 arbitration-eligible players, which ranks fourth-most in the majors, and that group could drive a sizable chunk of the club’s payroll decisions before the roster freeze tied to the looming CBA deadline.
There’s already a lot on the Mariners’ plate. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire Dec. 1, and a lockout is expected after that.
Dan Wilson has also said he will not return as the team’s manager in 2027, and Seattle still has coaching staff spots to sort out after several changes there. On top of all that, the Mariners have made at least one early roster move by claiming former Rockies and Reds utility player Michael Toglia off waivers.
Toglia hit 25 homers in 2024 with Colorado.
The arbitration cases give a clearer picture of where the money may go. Logan Gilbert leads the group at an estimated $15.4 million, followed by George Kirby at $9.8 million and Bryce Miller at $3.9 million.
Gilbert is projected to be the highest-paid player in arbitration and is coming off the second 200-strikeout season of his career. He’s also in his final year of arbitration before reaching free agency.
Seattle’s bullpen adds another layer to the bill. Gabe Speier is projected at $3.3 million, Matt Brash at $1.8 million, Eduard Bazardo at $1.5 million, Jose A. Ferrer at $1.6 million, Michael Rucker at $800,000, Cooper Criswell at $900,000 and Carlos Vargas at $800,000.
There are also a few position players in the mix. Patrick Wisdom, who can play first and third, is projected at $1.1 million.
Luke Raley is estimated at $3.1 million, while Dominic Canzone is projected at $3 million. Brendan Donovan, listed as an infielder/outfielder, is projected at $6.1 million.
Donovan’s case stands out for reasons beyond the number. He made his only All-Star team in 2025 with the St. Louis Cardinals, then played just 39 games this season with the Mariners because of three trips to the injured list - two for a left groin strain and one for a concussion.
Miller’s situation is worth watching, too. He did not reach an arbitration agreement with Seattle last offseason before eventually landing a deal with the club, and he remains under a conditional club option for 2027 worth $6.075 million, per Spotrac, with a $15,000 buyout clause.
In Other News...
Mariners Just Caught A Break In Their Manager Search
The Mariners managerial hunt has already been shaping up as one of the more expansive searches in the sport, with the club working through a long list of candidates as it looks to replace Dan Wilson. Seattle has reportedly cast a wide net, and the process has included familiar names such as Joe Espada, Rocco Baldelli, Brandon Hyde and David Ross, along with coaches whose seasons are still alive in the postseason.
One little bit of clarity arrived on the other side of the league as the Phillies opted to keep Don Mattingly in place rather than open up a broader search of their own. For Seattle, it does not solve anything directly, but it does remove one more possible wrinkle from a market already full of moving parts, leaving the Mariners to continue sorting through a crowded field while other clubs settle their decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Search Just Got Bigger Than Joe Espada Alone
The Mariners managerial search may now need to stretch beyond Joe Espada himself. Houston announced it will not renew Espadas contract after three seasons as manager, a move that also swept up six coaching roles around him and underscored how much turnover is already tied to his exit. For Seattle, that means any serious look at Espada is not just about the name on the dugout door, but about the kind of staff structure he would want behind him.
That makes the next step in the Mariners process a little more complicated and a lot more telling. If Espada is a candidate, Seattle will likely want to know who he would bring into the room and how he would want to shape the day-to-day operation, especially with Houston making so many changes around him. The fit is still there to be explored, but the staff conversation may wind up being just as important as the manager conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Prospect Jarvis Gomez Suddenly Looks Like A Name To Watch
Jarvis Gomez has moved onto the radar in a hurry after a strong summer in the Dominican Summer League gave the 17-year-old outfielder from San Isidro a real foothold in the Mariners system. His combination of plate discipline, power and speed has made him easy to notice, and the organization recently brought him to Seattle to accept its MiLB Hitter of the Year honor, a sign of how much progress he made in a short time.
For Seattle, the next step is less about the award and more about what comes next for a player still early in his development. Gomez is focused on getting stronger and improving his conditioning, and the Mariners are keeping him close to that process with another key stop on his calendar later this month. It is the sort of developmental path that can turn a promising summer into something more lasting, which is why he suddenly feels like a name worth filing away. [Read more 🡒]