Víctor Robles gave the Mariners a real jolt last season, but that burst looks increasingly like a short-lived chapter. He was in Seattle for only a few months after signing on June 4, 2024, yet from June 5 through the end of the season he piled up 3.2 fWAR, good for 10th among MLB outfielders over that stretch. He outpaced Seiya Suzuki, Julio Rodríguez and Randy Arozarena in that window, which was enough to convince the Mariners to hand him a two-year extension.
The problem is what came next. Injuries and other issues knocked him back down to replacement level, and his $9 million option for next year is now expected to be declined.
If that happens, Seattle has work to do, and the fit has to be specific: a right-handed hitter and an outfielder. With Arozarena and Taylor Ward also headed toward free agency, and Luke Raley possibly on the move after his recent struggles, the Mariners need someone who checks the right boxes.
One name worth circling is Randal Grichuk. After a rough 2025, he bounced back in 2026 only after leaving the Yankees and joining the White Sox.
Signed to a cheap one-year deal to cover for an injured Austin Hays, Grichuk mashed to a 154 OPS+ with 15 home runs and 21 doubles in just 247 plate appearances. He did most of his damage against left-handed pitching, where he posted a 1.025 OPS, and he was used mostly as a pinch hitter, which has been his lane for years.
He still got into 54 games in the outfield and was average over 229 innings, but if Seattle comes calling, it’s clearly for the bat more than the glove.
Mauricio Dubón brings a different kind of appeal. Mariners fans have seen plenty of him from his long run with the Astros, and after nearly 500 games in Houston he was dealt to the Braves in exchange for Nick Allen.
That move paid off immediately. Dubón put up a 98 OPS+ and 2.7 rWAR in his final year before free agency, with his defense and versatility driving most of the value.
In 2026, he split time almost evenly between shortstop and left field. Offensively, his game resembles Luis Arraez in one key way: he puts the bat on the ball, but that comes with fewer walks, more chasing, and not much power.
Across 2,677 plate appearances, he has 51 home runs and has never ranked higher than the 14th percentile in average exit velocity. For Seattle, the draw is obvious - more balls in play and a utility piece who can handle almost anywhere.
And because he doesn’t fit neatly into one premium niche, he may not command the kind of long-term money that shuts the Mariners out.
Then there’s Tyrone Taylor, whose 2026 season quietly changed the conversation around him. His third year with the Mets got off to a strong start, then got even better after a trade to the Cubs at the deadline.
Over his final 82 plate appearances, he posted a 144 OPS+ with eight doubles and a home run, pushing his season OPS+ to 128. Taylor had long been known more for defense and speed, but this year gave him a stronger offensive case.
He fell short of qualifying in plate appearances, yet several of his numbers would have landed in the top quartile, including whiff rate, zone contact, strikeout rate and air pull. He still doesn’t hit the ball hard enough to be labeled a true slugger, and his 5.8% walk rate leaves something to be desired, but the new approach is enough to make him worth a look.
Defensively, Taylor’s role shifted in 2026 after spending almost all of 2025 in center field. With A.J.
Ewing in Queens and Pete Crow-Armstrong in Chicago, he moved around much more. If Seattle signed him, he’d fit in either corner, though his 85th percentile arm strength makes him a strong right-field option if Lazaro Montes isn’t already there.
In Other News...
Mariners Manager Search Just Got Tougher Before A Huge Deadline
The Mariners managerial search has taken another turn as the club works toward a late-October decision, with the front office still trying to settle on the right voice for the dugout. Rocco Baldelli had been viewed as a notable possibility after his time managing the Twins and his current role as a Dodgers special assistant, which made him a meaningful name in the process as Seattle sorts through its options.
Baldelli is no longer in the running, though, and his exit leaves the Mariners with a smaller pool as the deadline approaches. Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler remain among the reported candidates, and Seattle is still aiming to have its choice made by October 31, a timetable that suddenly looks a lot more important with another prominent name off the board. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Naylor Is Becoming Something Bigger Than A Mariners First Baseman
Josh Naylors place in Seattle no longer feels limited to what happens between first base and the batters box. Since arriving in a 2025 trade from Arizona, he has settled in as a familiar face around the city, showing up at Seattle sporting events and even taking in Kraken games like someone already deep into the local fabric. The commitment on the field matched the buy-in off it, and the Mariners clearly saw enough to make the relationship a long-term one.
The fit has only grown more interesting because Naylor is coming off an offseason wrist surgery tied to an issue from the 2026 season, a reminder that his next chapter will be shaped by both health and expectation. After his first full year in Seattle, his batting line gave the Mariners reason to believe the offense can keep benefiting from his presence, but the broader story is the way hes quickly become more than just another name in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Have One Award Race That Could Define Their Offseason
Cole Youngs first full big-league season has already put him in line for some notable recognition, with the Mariners infielder landing among the finalists for a major defensive honor at second base. It is the kind of development Seattle has been hoping to see from a young player who quickly became part of the everyday conversation around the club, especially on a roster that continues to value run prevention as much as anything.
Randy Arozarena is also expected to factor into award season as a Silver Slugger finalist and a candidate for the All-MLB Teams, while Luke Raley gives the Mariners another name in the mix as their finalist for the Heart & Hustle Award. The winners will be announced in early November, and for Seattle, these nods are more than just hardware talk - they are a reminder that this offseason could start with the organization learning which parts of its core are getting leaguewide validation. [Read more 🡒]