3 reasonable moves Mariners can make to disrupt their stale core this offseason

We're obviously not rooting against the Seattle Mariners, but we've come to peace with the likelihood that their season is pretty much over. There's enough uncertainty in their future to make one more than a little uncomfortable, and yet we propose: What if they can get better?

It's only natural to think about big moves the Mariners might make this winter. We've already nudged-nudged, winked-winked in the direction of Gunnar Henderson and Seiya Suzuki. And yes, that was us who posted about making a call to the Cincinnati Reds about Elly De La Cruz.

Of course, this is dream-world stuff. What about real-world ideas for making the Mariners better this offseason? What do those entail?

These 3 moves would help the Mariners wash away the bad taste of the 2026 season

While the Mariners must first decide if Jerry Dipoto and/or Dan Wilson (not bloody likely, as they say across the pond) are coming back in 2027, the good news after those decisions is that the team will have real ways to improve via the trade and free-agent markets.

On the trade market, they can and should leverage their surplus of starting pitchers and maybe one or two of their top prospects. On the free-agent market, they should have enough flexibility for a marquee signing even if Randy Arozarena goes beyond their reach. His free agency will clear a $15.65 million salary. Also hitting the market is J.P. Crawford, who's earning $12 million.

The needs? We're talking at least two bats, preferably for third base and left field. And given how dismal the bullpen has been this year, a late-inning reliever must be on the menu as well.

Trade George Kirby to the Chicago Cubs for Matt Shaw

The Cubs and Mariners just feel destined to make a trade, don't they? The North Siders are going to need starting pitching this winter, and it should surprise nobody if they start poking around Logan Gilbert ahead of his walk year in 2027.

Yet since Gilbert is the closest thing to a No. 1 the Mariners have, they could try to reinvigorate the interest in George Kirby that the Cubs reportedly had before the trade deadline. He occupies more of a sweet spot as a trade candidate for Seattle. He seems to have done all he can as a Mariner, yet is still a talented hurler with club control through 2028.

Matt Shaw isn't as established as Kirby, but he was a top prospect just last year and he's still only 24 years old. He's proven himself to be a talented defender at third base, which should appeal to the Mariners. Their -11 Defensive Runs Saved at third is the worst such mark among AL clubs.

The Mariners would have until 2031 to unlock Shaw's bat, and he's already making progress in that regard. Since a slow start to 2025, he has a 121 wRC+ dating back to last year's All-Star break.

Sign Ian Happ as a free agent

Is this a reach? It might be a reach. But then again, you generally don't see Ian Happ ranked among this winter's top 10 free agents even though it stands to be an extremely weak crop. He could be had for a relative discount.

The 32-year-old Happ doesn't have Arozarena's star power, but he's churned out 20-plus homers like clockwork during the 2020s, and he stands a strong chance of winning a fifth Gold Glove this year. Once again, that should appeal to a Mariners team that has had to live with subpar defense in left field since Arozarena came aboard in 2024.

Would Happ and Shaw ably fill the shoes of Arozarena and Crawford from an offensive perspective? It isn't a given, but the idea would be to gladly take the defensive upgrades and hope it results in a broader pivot toward run prevention. As it is, the Mariners' poor defense is a critical design flaw.

Besides, it's clear even now that any offensive turnaround in 2027 will have to be spearheaded by incumbents. Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, Josh Naylor and Brendan Donovan must be better, and there will hopefully be more to mine from Cole Young, Colt Emerson and Lazaro Montes.

Acquire Orion Kerkering fro

Pick a Jose A. Ferrer trade. Any Jose A. Ferrer trade. Which is to say: A trade in which the Mariners make a move for an underachieving reliever with the idea to turn him into a bullpen stalwart. If you're a ball-knower, you probably have a fave you're willing to stump for. Ours is Orion Kerkering.

He was a hot-shot prospect when he came up with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023, and then he put it all together in 2024. Or at least, so it seemed before his returns began to diminish. He only has a 4.12 ERA this year, with a career-worst 1.97 K/BB ratio. He's effectively been usurped by Jonathan Bowlan as the Phillies' primary setup guy.

It isn't unreasonable to think that the Phillies would listen on Kerkering ahead of his first year of arbitration-eligibility in 2027. The Mariners should want the 25-year-old righty because his stuff is electric, consisting of a 97.0 fastball and a nasty sweeper. He's also incorporated a splitter this year, a pitch that the Mariners might work with him on using more.

It was Harry Ford who had to go so that the Mariners could have Ferrer. If Kerkering is going to require a similar sacrifice, one wonders if Dipoto would be willing to part with Michael Arroyo. Talented hitter though he may be, how he fits in Seattle going forward is very much unclear.

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