Adding contact, and doing it cheaply. Off Szn Plan 1.0

[Michael K.]

I didn't say walk away from, but I'm not convinced that aren't upgrades out there. If they aren't able to bring back Geno and go with Williamson, and can't bring back Naylor and go back to Raley....and end up with Polanco at DH and Cole Young at 2nd....you think the best we can do in the OF is Randy, Julio and Canzone? Welcome right back to the middle of the pack.

This team needs to stop settling for good enough, or OK. Canzone was neither of those in the playoffs.

[Michael K.]

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mar ... subscriber

As they look to build on their best finish in franchise history — one win shy of the World Series — Mariners ownership has committed to maintain a budget in that same range for 2026, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said.

“I would say similar to where we ended the year, as a starting point,” Dipoto said, when asked Thursday about the 2026 payroll.

So, not looking to spend more.

Based on current projections — between guaranteed salaries, team options and arbitration-eligible players — the Mariners have roughly $130-$135 million in commitments on the books for 2026. That should leave them roughly $30-$35 million, as of now, to spend this offseason.

A bulk of that is expected to be earmarked for Naylor, who enters free agency at 28 years old coming off the best season of his career.

But, what they do spend is all on Naylor. So, I guess you are right, we can probably expect to be watching Canzone hitting around 7th again this coming season. Probably with Williamson and Young behind him. I hope he is the guy you think he is and not the guy I think he is. I mean, he was absolute dogshit in the playoffs.

Jorge Polanco has a $6 million player option for 2026. If he declines it, he would become a free agent, and he’s a veteran the players have suggested they would like to bring back on a new deal, too.

That sounds like our "additions" will be keeping Naylor and Polanco.

[HawkandMariner88]

He says as a starting point. That tells me their open to the possibility of adding more.

[Michael K.]

He says as a starting point. That tells me their open to the possibility of adding more.

Last year they entered the season with

1. Victor Robles, RF
2. Julio Rodríguez, CF
3. Cal Raleigh, C
4. Randy Arozarena, LF
5. Luke Raley, DH
6. Jorge Polanco, 3B
7. Rowdy Tellez, 1B
8. Ryan Bliss, 2B
9. J.P. Crawford, SS
Starting pitcher: Logan Gilbert

They struggled to stay in contention right up until two big moves at the deadline. Knowing everything we know about the Mariners, what makes you believe they are going to begin next season spending more money? THAT was Jerry's idea of a good start to the season, and it got them a few outs from the WS. I expect them to pinch pennies again. At best we keep Naylor and Polanco. Which would still be a better opening day lineup than the one above.

Probably be -

C. Cal
1B. Naylor
2B. Young
3B. Williamson
SS. Crawford
LF. Randy
CF. Julio
RF. Canzone
DH. Polanco

So, what?

Julio
Cal
Naylor
Polanco
Randy
Canzone
Williamson
Young
JP

So, again, better than what we started with, but not nearly as good as what we finished with. Any Pitcher that gets through Polanco in April is going to breathe a lot easier than they did once they got through the cleanup spot in October.

[bpj]

I didn't say walk away from, but I'm not convinced that aren't upgrades out there. If they aren't able to bring back Geno and go with Williamson, and can't bring back Naylor and go back to Raley....and end up with Polanco at DH and Cole Young at 2nd....you think the best we can do in the OF is Randy, Julio and Canzone? Welcome right back to the middle of the pack.

This team needs to stop settling for good enough, or OK. Canzone was neither of those in the playoffs.

I wouldn't get stuck with Williamson or Young. They're the next guys that can force their way up, but can't have the red carpet rolled out for them in a starting position when they didn't earn it.

I'd prefer to keep Canzone over Arozarena, yes.

We could pay for 2/3 of a good player with what Arozarena's going to get paid.

[Lamda]

Could be the plan at 3B next year is to start the year with Williamson and he either hits his weight at least and keeps it or to have Emerson come up in July or August to take it over - assuming he doesn't shit the bed the first few months in AAA.

We all share the trepidation at the payroll - we know they don't have the balls to up it to 200 for example - it means they will start at 160 and might be willing to go up to 170 if something falls into their laps.

[Michael K.]

I wouldn't get stuck with Williamson or Young. They're the next guys that can force their way up, but can't have the red carpet rolled out for them in a starting position when they didn't earn it.

I'd prefer to keep Canzone over Arozarena, yes.

We could pay for 2/3 of a good player with what Arozarena's going to get paid.

I am in no way stuck on either Williamson or Young....I just know this organization, and I feel I have an idea of what Jerry wants to do. He isn't going to change his philosophy now, not after having a lead in the 7th inning of game 7 of the ALCS. They are going to save money in the off season, going to double down on draft, develop and trade, and if they are middle of the pack at the deadline they are going to hope to catch lightening in a bottle again.

I would be fine cutting Arozarena loose too. But I don't know that we are going to bring anyone in that is better. Maybe after how this team ended up? We will be a more interesting destination for Free Agents. But? I have no faith we are going to spend on any.

[Captain 97]

I just don't understand the hate for Randy. Dude had a 3.9 WAR and a 119 OPS+ and people want to cut him and spend draft capital to bring in Kwan who had a 3.7 WAR and a 96 OPS+ M's had the 4th highest WAR in baseball out of their Left fielders in 2025. Why don't we focus on the positions where we actually sucked. 3b 22nd, RF 22nd, and second base 17th.

Personally I am intrigued by 2 players on the trade market.
Brendan Donovan and Jarren Duran.

Donovan will be 29 next season and has 2 years of control left. He had a 119 OPS+ in 2025 (117 career) He has positional flexibility which will be huge if we need to create space for some of our up and coming infielders. He had a 2.7 WAR last season. BTV has him valued at 26.1 which be a package with someone like Arroyo or maybe Cinjente as the centerpice.

Duran will also be 29 next season and has 3 years of control left. He had a 114 OPS+ in 2025 (114 career)
He is a plus defender in the outfield who had a 4.7 WAR last season. BTV has him valued at 73 which means your probably giving up George Kirby and a couple of decent prospects to get him. I like the idea of doing that and signing a Free agent pitcher to take Kirbys spot. There are lots of guys out there depending on what you want to spend. You certainly have more leverage for signing FA pitchers than you do hitters in this park.

I would resign Naylor to a decent length contract and Polanco on a two year deal with some incentives

Then your looking at a lineup of

RF Duran 4.6 WAR
CF Julio 6.8 WAR
C Cal 7.3 WAR
LF Randy 3.9 WAR
1b Naylor 3.1 WAR
DH Polanco 2.6 War
2b Donovan 2.7 WAR
3b Williamson/Emmerson 1.3 WAR
SS JP 3.7 WAR

Thats 36 WAR out of your starting lineup. Yankees had the most prolific offense in Baseball this year and they got 30.5 WAR out of their top 9 position players.

[D-train]

I just don't understand the hate for Randy. Dude had a 3.9 WAR and a 119 OPS+ and people want to cut him and spend draft capital to bring in Kwan who had a 3.7 WAR and a 96 OPS+ M's had the 4th highest WAR in baseball out of their Left fielders in 2025. Why don't we focus on the positions where we actually sucked. 3b 22nd, RF 22nd, and second base 17th.

Personally I am intrigued by 2 players on the trade market.
Brendan Donovan and Jarren Duran.

Donovan will be 29 next season and has 2 years of control left. He had a 119 OPS+ in 2025 (117 career) He has positional flexibility which will be huge if we need to create space for some of our up and coming infielders. He had a 2.7 WAR last season. BTV has him valued at 26.1 which be a package with someone like Arroyo or maybe Cinjente as the centerpice.

Duran will also be 29 next season and has 3 years of control left. He had a 114 OPS+ in 2025 (114 career)
He is a plus defender in the outfield who had a 4.7 WAR last season. BTV has him valued at 73 which means your probably giving up George Kirby and a couple of decent prospects to get him. I like the idea of doing that and signing a Free agent pitcher to take Kirbys spot. There are lots of guys out there depending on what you want to spend. You certainly have more leverage for signing FA pitchers than you do hitters in this park.

I would resign Naylor to a decent length contract and Polanco on a two year deal with some incentives

Then your looking at a lineup of

RF Duran 4.6 WAR
CF Julio 6.8 WAR
C Cal 7.3 WAR
LF Randy 3.9 WAR
1b Naylor 3.1 WAR
DH Polanco 2.6 War
2b Donovan 2.7 WAR
3b Williamson/Emmerson 1.3 WAR
SS JP 3.7 WAR

Thats 36 WAR out of your starting lineup. Yankees had the most prolific offense in Baseball this year and they got 30.5 WAR out of their top 9 position players.

The irrational obsession with contact is bizarre here

[Michael K.]

The irrational obsession with contact is bizarre here

I think people see Toronto putting it in play and believe that is why they are winning. They slug as well. Having a combination is what is needed. Think about the games the Mariners won in the Post Season, in comparison to the ones they lost. It sure felt like we hit a lot of Solo HRs in the games we lost. Draw a walk and get a blooper before? Changes the game. One of the Solo HRs that Cal hit came leading off the inning right after Julio bounced into a double play with two on. If it's just one out? That is a three run bomb instead of a Solo HR. So, in that instance? Was contact what was needed? A fly out or a strikeout would have resulted in Cal getting to bat. We of course can't guarantee that he hits a bomb, but....