3 free agents Mariners should consider to fill Victor Robles' shoes on the bench

For a few months in 2024, Víctor Robles was one of the best outfielders in baseball. He signed with the Mariners on June 4th of that year and appeared in his first game for Seattle the next day. From June 5th through the end of the season, he accumulated 3.2 fWAR, 10th in MLB among outfielders and more than Seiya Suzuki (3.1), Julio Rodríguez (2.9), and Randy Arozarena (2.3) over the same span.

Though he was a former top prospect, he had struggled to find success with the Nationals after a breakout 2019 season but this hot stretch was enough to convince the Mariners' front office that he was back, signing a two-year extension after just a few months. Sadly, injuries and other factors quickly saw him regress to a replacement level player, meaning his $9 million option for next year will more than likely be declined. In that case, who are some strong candidates to take his spot?

The Mariners shouldn't get just anyone. It'll almost certainly need to be a right-handed hitter, something Seattle has been searching for since the most recent trade deadline, and he'll need to be an outfielder. In addition to Robles leaving, Randy Arozarena and Taylor Ward will also be departing for free agency. Given his recent struggles, Luke Raley could also be a candidate to walk away from the team. Given those two primary qualifications there are a few free agent targets that fit the bill better than others.

These are the free agents the Mariners should consider as replacements for Victor Robles

Randal Grichuk

Following an immensely disappointing season in 2025, Grichuk revived his career in 2026, but only after leaving the Yankees and joining the White Sox. After signing a cheap, one-year deal to replace an injured Austin Hays, Grichuk went on an offensive tear, hitting to a 154 OPS+ with 15 home runs and 21 doubles in just 247 plate appearances.

He was exceptional against southpaws, posting a 1.025 OPS against left-handed pitching and was primarily used as a pinch hitter, just like he has over the past few years. He did still manage to play 54 games in the outfield and was perfectly average across 229 innings. Either way, if Seattle does pursue him, it won't be for his glove but for his bat.

Mauricio Dubón

Mariners fans should be well-acquainted with Dubón since he played almost 500 games for the Houston Astros. In his final year before free agency, he was traded to the Braves in exchange for Nick Allen. He thrived with his new team, posting a 98 OPS+ with 2.7 rWAR largely due to his defensive contributions and utility. In 2026, he split his time pretty evenly between shortstop and left field.

Throughout his career, Dubón's offensive profile has been similar to that of someone like Luis Arraez. He's great at getting his bat to the baseball but this comes at the cost of walks, an increased chase rate, and decreased power. Over 2,677 plate appearances, Dubón has hit just 51 home runs and has never ranked higher than the 14th percentile for average exit velocity.

For Seattle, his primary value add would be putting some more balls in play and being a utility piece capable of playing nearly any position on the field. More importantly, because he's a well-rounded player without one area of expertise, he likely won't be fielding many large, long-term offers this winter, giving the Mariners a better chance of coming out on top at the negotiating table.

Tyrone Taylor

Taylor's third year with the Mets was already off to a great start but after moving to the Cubs at the trade deadline, he started to reach a new career peak. In his final 82 plate appearances of the season, he posted a 144 OPS+ with eight doubles and a home run, bringing his season OPS+ to 128. Primarily seen for his defensive and baserunning prowess in the past, 2026 helped establish his reputation as a capable hitter.

Though he fell short of having enough total plate appearances to be considered qualified, many of his numbers would've ranked in the top quartile including whiff rate, zone contact, strikeout rate, and air pull. He doesn't hit the ball hard enough to be considered a true slugger and his walk rate of 5.8% leaves a little to be desired but his revised hitting approach warrants a closer look.

He spent almost all of his time in 2025 playing center field but moved around much more in 2026 with the arrival of A.J. Ewing in Queens and the presence of Pete Crow-Armstrong in Chicago. If he does join Seattle, he'd be solid in either corner but his 85th percentile arm strength makes him a solid candidate for right field if Lazaro Montes isn't there already.

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