The Mariners have made their offseason marching orders pretty clear: fix the defense first, then worry about everything else.
At MLB’s general manager meetings in Las Vegas on Tuesday, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto laid out the club’s priorities in plain terms while speaking with MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
“The left side of our infield, the left side of our outfield are both areas of need. We feel like we’re versatile enough in those positions to mix and match and make it work,” Dipoto said. “A priority for us is to get better offensively, but the max priority is to button up our defense,”
He added, “A priority for us is to get better offensively, but the max priority is to button up our defense, so however that looks at the end of this and if that includes a star from the NPB then that would be even better.”
That emphasis makes sense after the year Seattle just had. By Baseball Savant’s fielding run value metric, the Mariners finished last in baseball at minus-59, a steep fall from their minus-26 mark in 2025, when they won the American League West and reached Game 7 of the AL Championship Series. Only the 2024 White Sox and the 2022 Nationals have been worse over the past five seasons.
The damage showed up in other places, too. Seattle was last in outs above average at minus-55 and finished 26th in defensive runs saved at minus-23. In the more familiar numbers, the Mariners ranked 18th with a .985 fielding percentage and committed 88 errors, the 13th-most in the majors.
The trouble was especially pronounced on the left side of the diamond. Seattle finished last in fielding run value at third base at minus-12, tied for last at shortstop with minus-15, and 29th in left field at minus-12. Those three spots accounted for nearly two-thirds of the team’s negative defensive value.
That could mean significant turnover. At least two of the three players who logged the most time at those positions - left fielder Randy Arozarena and shortstop J.P.
Crawford - are expected to be gone next season after reaching free agency. Reports surfaced Tuesday that the Mariners have already told Crawford they won’t bring him back, and Arozarena was extended a qualifying offer but is not expected to accept it.
If Seattle wants to patch those holes with proven defenders, there are some notable names available. Among the top defensive options in this year’s free-agent class are Mauricio Dubón, a three-time utility Gold Glove winner; Daulton Varsho, the 2024 Gold Glove winner in the outfield; and Ian Happ, a left fielder and four-time Gold Glove winner.
Seiya Suzuki is another name to watch. The right fielder just turned in his best defensive season, finishing with five outs above average and 14 defensive runs saved in 2026. The Seattle Times reported Tuesday that the Mariners have interest in Suzuki, whom they also pursued when he was posted by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball in 2021.
In Other News...
Mariners Outfield Pursuit Could Define Their Entire Offseason
The Mariners are heading into the offseason with a clear need in the outfield, and Seiya Suzuki has quickly emerged as one of the names to watch. Seattle is reportedly interested in the former Cubs outfielder, a player who fits the kind of impact bat the club has been hunting, and the team is even expected to lean on Ichiro Suzuki as part of its recruitment effort. With both Suzuki and Randy Arozarena having declined qualifying offers, the market is shaping up to be crowded for top-tier outfield help.
For Seattle, the timing matters as much as the target. The club is working with an estimated $30-35 million in payroll space, which gives it room to be aggressive but not reckless in a winter that could determine how the lineup looks for years to come. Arozarena is expected to draw plenty of attention elsewhere, and the Mariners appear unlikely to bring him back, which only raises the stakes on finding the right answer in free agency. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Face A Third Base Decision That Could Define Their Offense
The Mariners offseason search for offense is already circling one of the most important decisions on the roster, and it starts at third base. Seattle wants more impact at the position, but the front office also has to weigh defense, fit and how much room it wants to leave for the next wave of young talent. That makes the market complicated, even before the club gets into the familiar names that could be available.
Eugenio Surez, Alec Bohm, Edmundo Sosa and Brendan Donovan are all part of the conversation, each bringing a different blend of power, glove work and versatility. The wrinkle is that Seattle is also sorting through what comes next at shortstop, which only adds to the pressure to get the infield alignment right. However the Mariners handle it, this is the kind of decision that could shape not just the lineup, but the way the offense is built for the next few seasons. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners May Have Found A Versatile Infield Fix Worth Chasing
The Mariners are still looking for ways to sharpen the edges of their roster, and the infield remains one of the clearest places to do it. A veteran who can handle third base or shortstop would give Seattle the kind of defensive flexibility it has been chasing, especially with a right-handed bat attached to the package. Mauricio Dubn fits that profile as well as anyone on the market, thanks to his reputation as a dependable glove and his ability to move around the diamond.
For Seattle, the appeal goes beyond simply adding another utility piece. Dubns versatility would let the Mariners cover more than one need at once, which matters for a club trying to improve run prevention without boxing itself into one lineup alignment. The wrinkle is that he is also drawing attention elsewhere, so if Seattle does decide to push, it may have to act with some urgency to see whether it can make the fit work. [Read more 🡒]