Am Bored So Here's My Off Season Plan

[Big_Maple]

2026–27 Seattle Mariners Realistic Offseason Blueprint
This pragmatic plan adheres to the Mariners' actual spending boundaries under John Stanton and Jerry Dipoto. It balances one marquee offensive signing (Seiya Suzuki) with the club's elite homegrown youth movement, while avoiding long-term, high-risk financial commitments to relievers.

1. Offseason Transaction Summary
Departures & Rationale
    • Randy Arozarena (LF): Extended a Qualifying Offer ($23M approx.) which he declines to seek a $100M+ long-term deal on the East Coast. Letting him walk nets Seattle a valuable compensatory draft pick.
    • J.P. Crawford (SS), Taylor Ward (OF), Hoby Milner (LHP): Allowed to walk in free agency. This clears low-contact profiles from the lineup and opens up 40-man roster slots.
    • Víctor Robles (OF): Club option declined ($500k buyout) following a massive 2026 performance regression.

Free Agent Signings
    • OF Seiya Suzuki (4 years, $100 MM): The primary offseason splash. He brings an elite walk rate and a 30-home run ceiling to anchor the corner outfield.
    • LHP Adrian Morejón (2 years, $20 MM): The lone multi-year bullpen splash. Seattle uses a high average annual value ($10M AAV) to secure his 99 mph fastball on a short-term commitment.
    • LHP A.J. Minter (1 year, $7.5 MM): A classic Mariners "bounce-back" target signed to a team-friendly, one-year deal for late-inning depth.

Trades
    •    None. By leaning on elite internal prospects, Seattle keeps its entire premier starting rotation completely intact.

Opening Day Lineup
Brendan Donovan takes over a full-time, everyday role at third base. Colt Emerson and Cole Young anchor the middle infield, while 19-year-old phenom Lázaro Montes enters a heavy RF/DH platoon to weaponize his massive left-handed power.

Brendan Donovan - 3B - Elite OBP Catalyst
Cole Young 2B - Homegrown Durability & High Bat-to-Ball Skill
Julio Rodríguez - CF - Franchise Centerpiece
Seiya Suzuki- LF/RF - Free Agent Splash (Premium Power/Contact)
Josh Naylor - 1B - Middle-of-the-Order Contact Hitter
Cal Raleigh - C - Elite Power Behind the Dish (hoping he bounces back from his down year)
Colt Emerson - SS - The Phenom Shortstop (Takes over for JP)
Lázaro Montes - RF/DH - Homegrown Solution (Raw Left-Handed Power)
Luke Raley - DH/OF - Left-Handed Platoon Advantage (god, but Jerry loves platoons)

    •    The Bench (4-Man): Jhonny Pereda (C), Dominic Canzone (OF), Weston Wilson (Utility), Michael Arroyo (Infield Utility).
    •    Infield Safety Net: If Emerson requires rest, Young slides to shortstop, allowing top-prospect Michael Arroyo to step directly into second base.

The Starting Rotation
Seattle rolls out the most dominant, cost-controlled five-man rotation in baseball, officially graduating Kade Anderson into the 5th spot following his dominant late-2026 debut starts.

    1    Logan Gilbert (RHP)
    2    George Kirby (RHP)
    3    Bryan Woo (RHP)
    4    Bryce Miller (RHP)
    5    Kade Anderson (LHP)
    ◦ Depth: Emerson Hancock (RHP) and Logan Evans (RHP).
 
The Bullpen
Andrés Muñoz anchors the 9th inning after his $9M option is exercised. Shorter, high-AAV contracts for Morejón and Minter build a late-inning wall without locking up long-term payroll. I didn't have the time or inclination to round out the bullpen, so it's half baked.

Middle Relief (6th): Find some decent righty (RHP)|Seranthony Domínguez (RHP)
Bridge Setup (7th): A.J. Minter (LHP) | Find some righty to slot here (RHP)
Primary Setup (8th): Adrian Morejón (LHP) | Gabe Speier (LHP)
The Closer (9th): Andrés Muñoz (RHP) (With Matt Brash returning mid-season via IL-60)

Estimated Financial Summary

    •    Total Offseason Spending: $132,500,000 guaranteed.
    •    2027 Net Payroll Added: ~$36,000,000.
    •    The Reality: This plan keeps the budget highly efficient, lands an impactful middle-of-the-order bat, elevates elite prospects, and leaves ample financial flexibility for the mid-season trade deadline.

Shred away, friends!

[Optimistic M's Fan]

Thats funny, I was just saying that we should add Suzuki. I think a proper trade for a good SS like Gunnar, Otto or CJ. We can trade Hancock or Kirby plus any minor leaguers not named Sloan and pull that off. We need 2 damn good relief pitchers and I would happily roll with that. It frees up Donovan to do what he does best and be a proper utility. Same for Arroyo who can fill in at 2nd and outfield. Creates a better bench and shores up our shortcomings from this last season while keeping a realistic budget and being a hell of a lot more competitive.

[harmony]

Do the Mariners non-tender these reilievers (with projected 2027 arbitration salaries)?

Jose A. Ferrer $1.6 million
Eduard Bazardo $1.5 million
Cooper Criswell $900,000
Carlos Vargas $800,000
Michael Rucker $800,000

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/ ... -2027.html

[GL_Storm]

Do the Mariners non-tender these reilievers (with projected 2027 arbitration salaries)?

Jose A. Ferrer $1.6 million
Eduard Bazardo $1.5 million
Cooper Criswell $900,000
Carlos Vargas $800,000
Michael Rucker $800,000

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/ ... -2027.html

I'm sure we'll see changes to the bullpen, but it shouldn't be driven by those salary projections.

[D-train]

2026–27 Seattle Mariners Realistic Offseason Blueprint
This pragmatic plan adheres to the Mariners' actual spending boundaries under John Stanton and Jerry Dipoto. It balances one marquee offensive signing (Seiya Suzuki) with the club's elite homegrown youth movement, while avoiding long-term, high-risk financial commitments to relievers.

1. Offseason Transaction Summary
Departures & Rationale
    • Randy Arozarena (LF): Extended a Qualifying Offer ($23M approx.) which he declines to seek a $100M+ long-term deal on the East Coast. Letting him walk nets Seattle a valuable compensatory draft pick.
    • J.P. Crawford (SS), Taylor Ward (OF), Hoby Milner (LHP): Allowed to walk in free agency. This clears low-contact profiles from the lineup and opens up 40-man roster slots.
    • Víctor Robles (OF): Club option declined ($500k buyout) following a massive 2026 performance regression.

Free Agent Signings
    • OF Seiya Suzuki (4 years, $100 MM): The primary offseason splash. He brings an elite walk rate and a 30-home run ceiling to anchor the corner outfield.
    • LHP Adrian Morejón (2 years, $20 MM): The lone multi-year bullpen splash. Seattle uses a high average annual value ($10M AAV) to secure his 99 mph fastball on a short-term commitment.
    • LHP A.J. Minter (1 year, $7.5 MM): A classic Mariners "bounce-back" target signed to a team-friendly, one-year deal for late-inning depth.

Trades
    •    None. By leaning on elite internal prospects, Seattle keeps its entire premier starting rotation completely intact.

Opening Day Lineup
Brendan Donovan takes over a full-time, everyday role at third base. Colt Emerson and Cole Young anchor the middle infield, while 19-year-old phenom Lázaro Montes enters a heavy RF/DH platoon to weaponize his massive left-handed power.

Brendan Donovan - 3B - Elite OBP Catalyst
Cole Young 2B - Homegrown Durability & High Bat-to-Ball Skill
Julio Rodríguez - CF - Franchise Centerpiece
Seiya Suzuki- LF/RF - Free Agent Splash (Premium Power/Contact)
Josh Naylor - 1B - Middle-of-the-Order Contact Hitter
Cal Raleigh - C - Elite Power Behind the Dish (hoping he bounces back from his down year)
Colt Emerson - SS - The Phenom Shortstop (Takes over for JP)
Lázaro Montes - RF/DH - Homegrown Solution (Raw Left-Handed Power)
Luke Raley - DH/OF - Left-Handed Platoon Advantage (god, but Jerry loves platoons)

    •    The Bench (4-Man): Jhonny Pereda (C), Dominic Canzone (OF), Weston Wilson (Utility), Michael Arroyo (Infield Utility).
    •    Infield Safety Net: If Emerson requires rest, Young slides to shortstop, allowing top-prospect Michael Arroyo to step directly into second base.

The Starting Rotation
Seattle rolls out the most dominant, cost-controlled five-man rotation in baseball, officially graduating Kade Anderson into the 5th spot following his dominant late-2026 debut starts.

    1    Logan Gilbert (RHP)
    2    George Kirby (RHP)
    3    Bryan Woo (RHP)
    4    Bryce Miller (RHP)
    5    Kade Anderson (LHP)
    ◦ Depth: Emerson Hancock (RHP) and Logan Evans (RHP).
 
The Bullpen
Andrés Muñoz anchors the 9th inning after his $9M option is exercised. Shorter, high-AAV contracts for Morejón and Minter build a late-inning wall without locking up long-term payroll. I didn't have the time or inclination to round out the bullpen, so it's half baked.

Middle Relief (6th): Find some decent righty (RHP)|Seranthony Domínguez (RHP)
Bridge Setup (7th): A.J. Minter (LHP) | Find some righty to slot here (RHP)
Primary Setup (8th): Adrian Morejón (LHP) | Gabe Speier (LHP)
The Closer (9th): Andrés Muñoz (RHP) (With Matt Brash returning mid-season via IL-60)

Estimated Financial Summary

    •    Total Offseason Spending: $132,500,000 guaranteed.
    •    2027 Net Payroll Added: ~$36,000,000.
    •    The Reality: This plan keeps the budget highly efficient, lands an impactful middle-of-the-order bat, elevates elite prospects, and leaves ample financial flexibility for the mid-season trade deadline.

Shred away, friends!

Nice job!! Really well researched and well done. I think that team could get us back to the playoffs for sure.

But just a couple unforced errors takes it from and A to an A-. One pretty major and one minor.

In what world is Raley and his 0.0 WAR and .723 OPS (.441 from June 1st on) and is still on the 60 day IL a starter and Canzone and his 2.7 WAR and .820 OPS on the Bench.

Also there is negative infinity chance Weston Wilson and his horrid D and pathetic bat are on this team. -0.7 WAR and a pathetic .589 OPS.

Other than that though it is great!

[D-train]

Thats funny, I was just saying that we should add Suzuki. I think a proper trade for a good SS like Gunnar, Otto or CJ. We can trade Hancock or Kirby plus any minor leaguers not named Sloan and pull that off. We need 2 damn good relief pitchers and I would happily roll with that. It frees up Donovan to do what he does best and be a proper utility. Same for Arroyo who can fill in at 2nd and outfield. Creates a better bench and shores up our shortcomings from this last season while keeping a realistic budget and being a hell of a lot more competitive.

That would be great but I just don't think Jerry moves his $100M golden boy to 3B. Puts too much pressure on his bat. I think he would be lucky to be a 1-2 WAR player at the hot corner....

[D-train]

Do the Mariners non-tender these reilievers (with projected 2027 arbitration salaries)?

Jose A. Ferrer $1.6 million
Eduard Bazardo $1.5 million
Cooper Criswell $900,000
Carlos Vargas $800,000
Michael Rucker $800,000

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/ ... -2027.html

Only Rucker. Jerry non tender a guy that he traded a first round pick for?

[D-train]

They will non tender Raley and replace with a RH bat.

[AZOldDawg]

I like Suzuki but think we need another right handed bat. I would see if we could deal for Acuna or either Lopez or Walls I would be static. I could handle Cazone and Arroyo at DH

[D-train]

Instead of Weston Wilson I would go with Mauricio Dubon:

• UTL Mauricio Dubón. The 32-year-old Dubón, a former Astro, is the quintessential utility player. He has played every position except catcher during his career, including at least 169 games at four different positions, and has two American League utility Gold Gloves to show for it. He’s also played at least 132 games in each of the past four seasons.

Dubón put together his best offensive year this season with Atlanta, producing a .276/.321/.399 slash line with career highs of 12 homers, 28 doubles and 73 RBIs. His 99 wRC+ was also a career best.

Dubón’s defense and versatility would be the biggest reasons to bring him in. But it’s also worth noting that while he has been just a league-average bat at his very best, he’s been a much better hitter against left-handed pitching during his career, an area Seattle struggled mightily in during ’26.

https://sports.mynorthwest.com/mlb/seat ... nt-targets