Mariners 2025 Free Agents, Trade Targets, Offseason Guide After ALCS Loss
The 2025 Seattle Mariners seemed like a team of destiny at times, to the point where their first-ever World Series appearance almost felt like a sure thing.
But it was not to be. Even after 60 home runs from Cal Raleigh, a 30-30 season by Julio Rodríguez and a wildly productive trade deadline led to 90 wins and an AL West title 24 years in the making, the Mariners still bowed out of the playoffs in the ALCS after falling to the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games.
The Mariners head into the offseason knowing that they have the foundation to contend again in 2026. Raleigh and Rodríguez are going nowhere, and they also stand to return all five of their core starting pitchers and one of MLB's best closers, Andrés Muñoz. Further, they're sitting on the league's No. 1 farm system.
Many holes will have to be filled, however, including several in a lineup that was arguably the deepest in the American League by the end of the season. And for the president of baseball operations, Jerry Dipoto, the challenge is always how to make the most of a mid-sized budget.
Ahead, we'll get into which Mariners stand to become free agents and mull potential targets on the free-agent and trade markets, culminating in a prediction for what their 2026 roster will look like.
Traditional Free Agents
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1B Josh Naylor
Naylor was huge for the Mariners after they acquired him in July, posting a 138 OPS+ and 2.2 rWAR for them in 54 games. For an idea of how bad things were previously, Seattle got only 1.5 total rWAR from first base all year.
As a big-bodied first baseman who has averaged just 22 homers over the last four years, Naylor doesn't have the kind of profile that typically warrants a big payday. But some guys are just good ballplayers, and he fits the bill on account of how he puts the ball in play, runs the bases, plays solid defense and plays mind games.
The Mariners have been open about wanting to keep Naylor, who'll only turn 29 on June 22 next year.
3B Eugenio Suárez
Though Naylor was first to come over from the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Mariners' subsequent trade for Suárez was met with greater fanfare. For many fans, letting him go in a 2023 trade had been a mistake from the start.
However, the 34-year-old didn't deliver on the hype. Though he finished the year with 49 home runs and 118 RBI overall, he only had a .682 OPS and 0.3 rWAR in 53 games as a Mariner.
It seems possible that the Mariners will also try to bring Suárez back, but he doesn't feel as much like a must-have as Naylor.
LHP Caleb Ferguson
Ferguson was the Mariners' other addition at the trade deadline, and he was solid as a second lefty out of the pen in support of Gabe Speier down the stretch.
The 29-year-old nonetheless sustained a major strikeout drop from 2024 to 2025, going from 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings to just 7.0 per nine innings. He's another guy the Mariners can safely move on from.
Contract Option Decisions
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2B/DH Jorge Polanco: $6 million player option
Polanco vested this option when he reached his 450th plate appearance in September, and the chances of him opting in for 2026 have seemed slim ever since.
After battling through a knee injury for much of 2024, Polanco rebounded to post a career-high 134 OPS+ and hit 26 homers this year. Even though next year will be his age-32 season, he should be able to find a multi-year deal in free agency.
C Mitch Garver: $12 million mutual option
Garver signed a two-year, $24 million deal with Seattle off a World Series-winning run with the Texas Rangers in 2023. He didn't live up to it, posting an 85 OPS+ and -0.2 rWAR in two seasons as a Mariner.
Even if the Mariners didn't have top prospect Harry Ford standing by to inherit his job as Cal Raleigh's catching partner, Garver would likely be as good as gone.
RHP Andrés Muñoz: $6 million club option
This one is a layup. After back-to-back All-Star appearances and a 1.73 ERA to go with 38 saves in 2025, Muñoz is firmly entrenched as one of baseball's best closers.
Mind you, there is a good-faith discussion to be had about whether he should be on the trade block after his fastball velocity declined in the latter half of 2025. But it's a long shot, and his option is as good as picked up either way.
Biggest Needs
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First Baseman
If the Mariners were to let Naylor walk, the next man up at first base would be Luke Raley—and even that is assuming he'll avoid being non-tendered after an injury-marred year in which he managed -0.3 rWAR in 73 games.
The market for Naylor will likely land in the $40-60 million range, which is not the Mariners' typical comfort zone with free-agent hitters. They do like Naylor, though, and it can only help their cause that he genuinely enjoys hitting at T-Mobile Park.
Third Baseman
If Suárez leaves, the Mariners could turn back to Ben Williamson or perhaps see if fast-rising prospect Colt Emerson can handle third base next spring.
But since Williamson has a weak bat and Emerson is a natural (and good) shortstop, the Mariners should also be in the market for a new regular at the hot corner. All options on the trade and free-agent markets should be in play.
Designated Hitter
This was Polanco's spot for much of the year, and it still figures to be a priority even after he shifted back to second base and Dominic Canzone took over at DH.
Because Cal Raleigh's bat is too good to leave out of the lineup on days when he's not catching, the Mariners can't really have a full-time DH. They'll need to add someone who can also play the field, be it at second base or elsewhere.
Left-Handed Reliever
Gabe Speier is one of the best there is, but the Mariners' bullpen was more cohesive when it had a second lefty that allowed Dan Wilson to save Speier for high-leverage work.
The Mariners won't need anything fancy here. Just a serviceable left-hander who can get left-handed hitters out. Those types are a dime a dozen.
Free-Agent Targets
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First Base: Josh Naylor
Look, it's not complicated. Naylor has been a great fit in Seattle, and he should be within even the Mariners' limited price range. Fans will have every right to be disappointed if he doesn't come back.
If not Naylor, the Mariners could stretch their budget for Pete Alonso or perhaps go after Luis Arraez, whose unrivaled knack for making contact could be extra valuable in a lineup that still has issues with strikeouts.
Third Base: Munetaka Murakami
Murakami is expected to be posted for MLB teams by the NPB's Yakult Swallows, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Previously, Jon Heyman of the New York Post (and friend of B/R) had labeled the Mariners as a fit for him if they did.
Murakami isn't a household name in the States, and he has had some recent issues with injuries in Japan. On the other hand, he's hit as many as 56 homers in a season, and he hit 24 in only 69 games this year.
Designated Hitter: Rob Refsnyder
Refsynder isn't purely a DH, as he can play left field and right field and also has ample experience at second base and first base. What he mainly does no matter where he plays is punish left-handed pitching to the tune of a 129 wRC+ for his career.
He isn't a perfect facsimile of Polanco, but the Mariners will need to be wary of bringing him back. After the year he had, it would mean buying high.
Left-Handed Reliever: Drew Pomeranz
The Mariners actually had Pomeranz at one point in 2025, but let him go to the Chicago Cubs in a trade that brought back basically nothing.
The veteran went on to post a 2.17 ERA in 57 appearances with the Cubs, mainly by holding lefties to a .440 OPS. If the Mariners can get him back and plug him into Ferguson's vacated spot, they should.
Trade Targets
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Third Base: José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
Ramírez has been a speculative trade candidate for years, and now you wonder if the Guardians could actually be tempted to move him this time.
At 33 years old, he may only have so many seasons of MVP-caliber production left in him. And with $69 million left on his deal through 2028 and front office criticism coming from his mouth, the Guardians may be further tempted to offload him.
It's probably a long shot, but the Mariners should call about Ramírez anyway. With eight prospects in MLB Pipeline's top 100, they can make the Guardians an offer they can't refuse.
First Base: Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox
The Mariners reportedly turned down an offer involving Casas last winter, and it sure looks like they dodged a mistake after he badly injured his left knee.
The Mariners should certainly prioritize re-signing Naylor, but there would be some sense in circling back on Casas if they miss out. Even if he comes with major health questions, he should also still have significant upside.
Casas is only 25 and controlled through 2028, and his first three seasons in the majors yielded a 126 OPS+.
Designated Hitter: Yandy Díaz, Tampa Bay Rays
Díaz could be out there for the Mariners in free agency if the Rays decline his $12 million option, but that seems unlikely. He's a career .290 hitter with decent power.
The 34-year-old's salary could nonetheless make him a trade candidate, and he would be a fit with the Mariners even if they did bring back Naylor. He could play DH most days and platoon at first base as needed.
What should also be of interest to Seattle is that Díaz is an elite contact hitter, ranking in at least the 80th percentile for strikeout rate six years in a row.
Projected 2026 Opening Day Roster
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Starting Lineup
LF Randy Arozarena
C Cal Raleigh
CF Julio Rodríguez
1B Josh Naylor
DH Dominic Canzone
RF Victor Robles
SS J.P. Crawford
2B Cole Young
3B Ben Williamson
Naylor and the Mariners are too good for each other to part ways, but it's hard to imagine the club re-signing him and adding other new starters in free agency. That's just not their style.
Given how weak the back half of this lineup would be, the Mariners would need to be prepared to shake it up midway through 2026. But as we saw this year, they may indeed be willing to do so.
Bench
C Harry Ford
1B/OF Luke Raley
INF Leo Rivas
OF Rob Refsnyder
Refsnyder isn't as good a fit for this Mariners team as he is for the Red Sox, who have a largely left-handed lineup. We nonetheless like him as a platoon partner for Canzone, both of whom would also insurance for Robles if he can't recapture the magic he found in Seattle in 2024.
Starting Rotation
RHP Bryan Woo
RHP Logan Gilbert
RHP George Kirby
RHP Luis Castillo
RHP Bryce Miller
There's no need to reinvent the wheel here, though there is the question of whether the Mariners will trade Castillo. It'll be easier said than done, as he has a no-trade clause and is owed $24.15 million for the next two seasons—hefty sums for a declining pitcher.
Bullpen
RHP Andrés Muñoz
RHP Matt Brash
LHP Gabe Speier
RHP Eduard Bazardo
RHP Carlos Vargas
LHP Drew Pomeranz
RHP Casey Legumina
RHP Emerson Hancock
Pomeranz is the perfect candidate to fill Ferguson's spot, and don't underrate Hancock as a potential weapon as a full-time reliever. He's nastier out of the pen, with more zip on his fastball and tons of run on a sweeper that he can spot from a sidearm angle.
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
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