The Seattle Mariners will have just a month to make necessary news for the 2027 season, barring any unexpected changes in the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) between the MLB and MLB Players Association.
The Mariners will have openings at left field and third base with Randy Arozarena and J.P. Crawford hitting free agency, respectively. There's also an overarching need on the team for a right-handed hitter.
In addition to the position players needs, Seattle will also be in the market for a high-leverage bullpen arm.
The bullpen has been a consistent area in need for the team over the last two years. In 2025, the team acquired left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Pittsburgh Pirates, who was demoted to a low-leverage role by the end of that season before leaving via free agency.
This season, the team acquired right-handed reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Chicago White Sox. Dominguez has a slow start to his Mariners tenure before firmly entrenching himself into a high-leverage role.
Dominguez is set to return to the team on a $10.5 million salary in 2027.
Seattle's bullpen had a 5.80 ERA from July 1 to the end of the season. It finished the year with a 4.46 ERA, which ranked 27th in the majors.
The Mariners' bullpen will likely be in better shape entering 2027 with Matt Brash (assumably) healthy after missing the majority of the year with shoulder inflammation and Dominiguez set to return for a full year.
Seranthony Domínguez, 98mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/iyabnNN0t8
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 14, 2025
Even still, the noticeable decline of previously reliable arms, such as right-hander Eduard Bazardo and left-hander Gabe Speier, will put Seattle firmly in the market for a reliever. However, it might be put in a situation where it's priced out of a lot of the top arms.
The M's reportedly have $30-35 million in available payroll.
Raisel Iglesisas, a 36-year-old right-hander, will be a free agent after coming off a 2.55 ERA-season where he recorded 34 saves in 37 opportunities.
Despite his amazing season, Iglesias has a market value of two-years, $22.7 million, per Spotrac.
Iglesias and former New York Yankees reliever David Bednar will likely set the market on relievers this offseason. Bednar, 32-years-old, is coming off a year where he had a 2.47 ERA and had 34 saves in 39 opportunities. Bednar has a market value of three years, $47.1 million per Spotrac.
Kenley Jansen, Pete Fairbanks, Kaimi Taira (posted from Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan) are other relievers set to highlight the free agent class.
Theoretically, both projected deals and their annual value fall in line with what the Mariners would be able to spend, barring a bidding war.
The issue, one that Seattle has constantly found itself in the last several offseasons, is that agreeing to a contract with one of the top bullpen arms likely means it'll be unable to sign one of the top free agent hitters on the market. However, that might be a risk the Mariners need to make.
If Seattle views the bullpen as a higher priority than a right-handed bat or an everyday third baseman or left fielder, it can still acquire a Jansen, Fairbanks, Bednar, Taira or Iglesias, but it would likely come at the expense of finding an everyday player at the aforementioned positions.
The third base market is light this offseason. Teruaki Sato will be posted from Japan, and other established major leaguers set to hit the open market are coming off down or injured seasons, including Alec Bohm, Yoan Moncada (who the M's have had reported interest in the last two years) and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, among others.
Theoretically, the Mariners could splurge on a reliever (or two) this offseason while still having enough money to bring in a Moncada or Kiner-Falefa. The position group, despite having a series of players coming off down seasons, is still considered one of the most talented in the major leagues.