The Mariners have been quiet this offseason - maybe a little too quiet. While other teams have been busy locking down big-name free agents like Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette or pulling off splashy three-team trades, Seattle’s front office has taken a more measured approach. With Spring Training on the horizon, the big question looming over the organization is whether they’ve done enough to take a meaningful step forward in 2026.
But while the Mariners haven’t made headlines with blockbuster moves, they have been working behind the scenes to shape the roster. And this week, general manager Justin Hollander shed some light on one of the more intriguing roster puzzles: how Seattle plans to manage its crowded outfield.
Sorting Out the Outfield Puzzle
Two-thirds of the Mariners’ outfield is already locked in. Julio Rodríguez is a no-brainer in center field - he’s the face of the franchise and the anchor of the defense.
In left, Randy Arozarena is expected to get the bulk of the starts. He’s not without flaws, but his bat and energy bring value to the lineup.
Right field, though? That’s where things get interesting.
There’s no clear-cut starter, but there is a plan - and it’s built around a four-man rotation: Víctor Robles, Rob Refsnyder, Luke Raley, and Dominic Canzone. Hollander explained the strategy during a recent interview with Seattle Sports 710.
“Luke and Dom would play a ton against right-handed pitching. Victor and Rob Refsnyder would play a lot against left-handed pitching... those four guys together, in sort of pairs of two and two, I think make a ton of sense on our roster.”
It’s a platoon approach, and on paper, it checks out.
Raley has shown a clear edge against right-handed pitching throughout his career, with a .786 OPS versus righties compared to just .528 against lefties. Canzone, a left-handed hitter, fits naturally into that same side of the platoon.
Refsnyder, meanwhile, was brought in specifically to hit lefties - a role he’s filled capably in the past. Robles is the wild card.
While he’s often viewed as a glove-first outfielder, he actually posted a surprising .901 OPS against right-handers in 2024, compared to .648 against lefties. That’s not the typical platoon split you’d expect from a right-handed hitter, but it gives the Mariners some flexibility.
Balancing Bats and Gloves
Of course, only one guy can play right field at a time. That’s where defense comes into play.
Raley and Robles are the stronger defenders of the group, so they’ll likely see more time in the field. That means their platoon partners - Canzone and Refsnyder - could slot in as designated hitters when they’re not patrolling the outfield. It’s a rotation that keeps bats fresh, maximizes matchups, and gives manager Scott Servais some in-game options to play with.
Importantly, Hollander made it clear this isn’t going to be a rigid, “platoon-only” setup. The matchups will guide the decisions, but there’s room for hot streaks and performance to dictate playing time. It’s a flexible, next-man-up approach - and while it might not be flashy, it’s built to weather the long grind of a 162-game season.
A Low-Cost, High-Upside Bet
On the surface, using four players to cover one outfield spot and a DH role might feel like overcomplicating things. But from a roster-building standpoint, it’s a savvy move.
The combined cost of Robles, Refsnyder, Raley, and Canzone is a fraction of what it would’ve taken to land someone like Kyle Tucker in free agency. And while none of these players individually move the needle like Tucker might, the Mariners are betting on value in the aggregate - a strategy that’s worked for plenty of successful teams in recent years.
They’ve committed to Robles for another year, extended Raley rather than letting him walk, and added Refsnyder with a clear role in mind. It’s not the kind of offseason that grabs headlines, but it’s a calculated effort to build depth and versatility.
The Mariners may not have made the loudest moves this winter, but they’ve made deliberate ones. And as the season unfolds, this outfield rotation could prove to be one of the more quietly effective strategies in the league - especially if it helps keep the lineup fresh and productive deep into the summer.