Hey everyone, remember me? I’ve been biding my time in the offseason with Seahawks football and avoiding ALCS highlights. With the new year upon us, it seemed a good time to look at what the Mariners have done these past couple months to give us any hope of another playoff run. While Jerry Dipoto rarely gives our fanbase something to smile about from the months of November to February, he’s been hard at work in the office this winter. Unless Jerry pulls one more rabbit out of a hat, it feels safe to say the Mariners offseason is over, so let’s look at where the team stands going into the 2026 season.
Ins:
Josh Naylor (resigned for 5 years): A+ move. I’ve talked at length about how good this is.
Jose Ferrer (trade with Nationals): B+. The Mariners clearly see Ferrer as an elite reliever, trading away Harry Ford for him. Losing Ford isn’t actually that bad though (I’ll get into it later). Bullpen help was a need, as having to rely too heavily on Munoz, Brash, Bazardo, and Spier was what ultimately ended last season. Additionally, the bullpen needed another lefty with the loss of Ferguson. A good pickup in a place of need.
Rob Refsnyder (1-year deal): B. Refsnyder is a solid depth piece and a sure platoon guy for how he crushes lefties. I look forward to his short but entertaining highlight reel.
Andrew Knizner (1-year deal): D. This guy is nothing. I’d honestly prefer we resign Mitch Garver over this guy. Obviously he’s a backup catcher but there’s no reason to use a roster spot on a guy who will obviously not produce. Confusing pickup.
Cooper Criswell (trade with Mets): B-. This is a solid project guy.
Brendan Donovan (trade with Cardinals): A. While the price to get him was steep, losing a few top prospects is a worthy trade to get one of the most consistent hitters at the 2nd base position. Donovan brings a .281 average over his four years in St. Louis, along with Gold Glove caliber defense. A truly strong 2nd baseman to shore up a large hole left by Jorge Polanco. A very needed move and a very good sign that the front office cares about winning.
Outs:
Jorge Polanco (Mets): D-. Devastating loss. Polanco was the clutch hero and a severely underrated part of the Mariners machine all season. Losing him means losing a steady bat, a 2nd base glove, and a lot of fans’ hearts. Good luck in New York Polo, we thank you deeply for your service.
Harry Ford (Nationals): A-. I know I said we wasted a spot on Knizner but honestly the backup catcher is a waste entirely, Cal Raleigh takes away any need for a good backup catcher and the Mariners traded Ford away when they could get the most value from him. Nice knowing you, Prince Harry.
Caleb Ferguson (Reds): B+. Whatever, man. He wasn’t great for us.
Gregory Santos (Giants): B+. He really could’ve been good for us if he wasn’t hurt the entire time he was a Mariner. Unfortunate how it went.
Eugenio Suarez (Reds): C-. This one stings. I know he didn’t play the best in his second stint with the Mariners, but Geno is and will forever be a legend in Seattle. His contract for the Reds felt like one that the Mariners could have matched, and with a hole remaining at 3rd base, the loss of Geno is a tough pill to swallow.
Ben Williamson (Rays): B-. Williamson was a solid player at times last year, and I expected him to be the starting third baseman going into the year until the Donovan trade. Williamson was a great glove and a middling bat, but showed enough promise for me to be excited to give him a chance. Not having him puts third base into question, but if losing him is what it took to get Donovan, I would make that trade any day.
The Mariners are probably not as good as they were at the end of last season, but they are decidedly better than they were at the start of last season. Rowdy Tellez, Ryan Bliss (miss him), and Luke Raley all started on Opening Day last year. The main question mark remaining is 3rd base, and if I had to guess, the current plan is to either move Donovan there or give Cole Young a shot at it. Colt Emerson will probably start the year in AAA, but could be called up at any moment. While the loss of Polanco and Suarez definitely sets the Mariners back going into the 2026 season, the team is still in a really good place and feels to be in a position to make another run at October. Final offseason grade: B+.
Go M’s,
Henry “Dylan Moore got signed by the Phillies and I’m so sad about it” Neiman
Solid breakdown. The Donovan trade really does feel like the front office finally committing to winning now instead of waiting for prospects. Giving up Ford makes sense given Raleigh's durabilty, but that third base situatoin is still sketchy unless Young steps up immediately.