When the offseason begins at the beginning of November, the Seattle Mariners will only have a month of free agency before the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the MLB and MLB Players Association expires. In that brief month, the team will have to find a plan to replace the most effective hitter on the team last season.
Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena is set to hit free agency after a career-best season that saw him slash .281/.381/.484 with an .865 OPS in 154 games. He hit 34 doubles, two triples and 26 home runs with 79 RBIs and stole 26 bases in 34 opportunities.
There's a chance Arozarena is the most sought-after hitter in free agency in a class that is, overall, weak compared to previous seasons. Based on several reports, Seattle isn't expected to match the high numbers that Arozarena is predicted to be offered on the open market.
You cannot stop Randy Arozarena 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Fb5EmmtU8v
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 23, 2026
This poses a question as to what Seattle will do to replace Arozarena's production and spot on the field.
The Mariners have two possible replacements currently on the major league roster: top 100 prospect Michael Arroyo and utility player and 2025 All-Star Brendan Donovan.
Neither player is a perfect substitution for Arozarena. Arroyo is still unproven after receiving his major league call-up in September. He received 35 at-bats across 15 games.
Donovan was limited to just 39 games this season due to three stints on the injured list and mainly played third base when he was healthy.
Despite the questions that comes with both players, they are the current favorites to take over for Arozarena, barring Seattle bringing another left fielder into the organization, such as pending free agent Seiya Suzuki.
However, a recent development for one of the Mariners' newest and most promising prospects in the Arizona Fall League could provide another option.
Per a post on "X" from Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners), typical catcher Boston Smith played left field for the Peoria Javelinas in the AFL on Thursday.
Smith was acquired by Seattle in a trade that sent veteran starting pitcher Luis Castillo to the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 2.
The 23-year-old catcher was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Wright State by the Washington Nationals.
Smith was drafted by the Nationals to the White Sox March 28 of this year in return for Curtis Mead. He was a quick riser in both team's farm systems and was promoted to the Double-A Birmingham Barons on July 1.
The Mariners assigned Smith to the Double-A Arkansas Travelers upon his acquisition, where he posted solid numbers.
In 33 games in Arkansas, Smith slashed .238/.363/.516 with an .879 OPS and hit five doubles, a triple and nine homers with 26 RBIs. Across all stops this past season, his first year in the minor leagues, Smith had a slash line of .274/.424/.566 with a .990 OPS in 112 games and hit 12 doubles, four triples and 31 home runs with 84 RBIs and swiped 11 bags in 17 attempts.
Boston Smith adds to his MiLB-leading OPS (1.067) with his 28th homer of the year!@Mariners | @ARTravs | @MsPlayerDevpic.twitter.com/PPCDGITcX2
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 21, 2026
Smith didn't play left field while with the Travelers, but did record 14 games at the position while in the White Sox's farm system.
Seattle's front office has said before that it views its Double-A affiliate, which is the most one-to-one environment to T-Mobile Park in terms of park factor, as the benchmark teams need to clear for the organization to feel comfortable with a prospect at the major league level.
Jhonny Pereda, who's still under pre-arbitration, will likely enter 2027 as the team's backup catcher to Cal Raleigh. The team has another fringe-top 100 prospect, Luke Stevenson, currently assigned with the High-A Everett AquaSox.
If the team believes that Smith could contribute in 2027 and wants to avoid a logjam at catcher and a potential future blockage to the big leagues for Stevenson, then getting Smith more reps in left field could be the easiest way to make that happen.