The Mariners may be lining up Michael Arroyo for a much bigger role in left field, and the path there starts with Randy Arozarena’s future. If Arozarena turns down his qualifying offer and leaves in free agency, Seattle is preparing to give Arroyo a real chance to take some of those starts.
That’s been the big question around Arroyo for a while: where does his bat fit? Jerry Dipoto told Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times that the Mariners expect Arroyo to play more left field than second base in 2027.
Cole Young has locked down second, and the work Arroyo did at third base in spring training in 2025 was too much for his throwing elbow. Left field, for now, looks like the cleanest route to playing time.
Arroyo gave the organization plenty to like in 2026. Across 114 games between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma, he hit .283/.359/.471 with 18 home runs.
He had already logged 66 games in left field before Seattle brought him up in September, and then he made a quick impression in the majors by going 13-for-35 with a homer and a .953 OPS. Thirty-five at-bats only tell you so much, but the stronger case comes from the full season that got him there.
There’s still a health hurdle before any of that matters. Arroyo had an internal brace procedure to repair a partially torn ligament in his right elbow, and the Mariners are hoping he can DH in spring games before gradually moving back into left field. The club believes he can be ready for major league games by April, though how much he actually starts in the outfield will depend on how the throwing and defense look once he’s back in game action.
Seattle is also kicking around other options. Divish and Adam Jude reported that the Mariners are exploring the market for Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki, and they added that Brendan Donovan has been penciled in as the regular left fielder for 2027. Suzuki’s interest in Seattle isn’t clear, but the fit is obvious enough: his bat would help replace some of what Arozarena would leave behind, and the Mariners could slot that production into right field.
That’s where the roster puzzle gets tricky. If Suzuki is in right and Donovan is handling most of the work in left, Arroyo still needs starts.
Dominic Canzone and Lazaro Montes would also be looking for at-bats, and Canzone and Montes could get time at DH. But Cal Raleigh will need some of those DH starts whenever Seattle wants to keep his bat in the lineup while giving him a break from catching.
Donovan may be the key piece in all of this. His versatility gives Seattle a way to keep his bat in the lineup even when Arroyo gets the nod in left.
He could also be due for more days off after a left groin strain sent him to the injured list twice in 2026. Once Arroyo’s elbow is ready and he can handle left field, those openings could become his.
The Mariners can chase an established hitter like Suzuki and still leave room for Arroyo to matter. If Arozarena walks, Seattle has to replace that offense somewhere. The cleanest answer may be to add help and still give Arroyo enough starts to find out how much of the job he can handle.
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