4 Mariners mainstays likely entering their final weeks with the team before 2027

Even though Eugenio Suárez and Jorge Polanco left, the theme of last offseason for the Seattle Mariners was of the "run it back" variety. Now it hardly feels too soon to assume that the coming winter will bring major changes. September and (hopefully) October could be the last look at a handful of players in a Mariners uniform.

Since we're about to go deep on the 2026-27 offseason, we might as well address the elephant in the room. Yes, there is likely to be a lockout. And no, it should not be taken for granted that there will even be a season in 2027.

With that out of the way, it's time for a tip of the ol' cap to Mariners mainstays (i.e., not newcomers like Taylor Ward) who are likely to be playing elsewhere next season.

These 3 Mariners will probably be walking as free agents

Randy Arozarena, LF

There was that thing with Cal Raleigh. And that other thing with Luis Castillo. Yet even with those things looming in the background, nobody has done more to put a fun spin on a disappointing season than Arozarena. He was the club's lone All-Star in July and he just keeps coming through over and over again.

But are the Mariners going to be able to afford Arozarena as a free agent? It seemed doubtful even before he embarked on arguably the best year of his career. Now he has a strong case as the top bat on the upcoming market, which could set him up for a nine-figure price tag.

The Mariners very rarely go swimming in those waters. Robbie Ray and Robinson Canó are the only free agents they have ever signed for $100-plus million, and the Mariners ended up moving on from both contracts before they ended.

J.P. Crawford, SS

“I’m willing to help this team and I want to be a Mariner for life, right? I think this is the best way to do that.”

That was Crawford talking to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic back in May, right around when he was preparing to move to third base in deference to Colt Emerson. It was (and still) is a selfless decision that only further endeared Crawford to a fanbase that's been cheering him on since 2019.

Alas, the five-year, $51 million contract he signed once upon a time is coming to an end. The Mariners could bring him back, but it's hard to see it. Emerson is the team's shortstop of the future, after all. There's also the uncomfortable reality that Crawford is no longer an above-average player either offensively or defensively.

Victor Robles, OF

The Mariners can bring Robles back in 2027 if they want, but it would require picking up a $9 million club option. That's just not going to happen.

It was a fun story when he got a second wind with the Mariners back in 2024. And even now, Dan Wilson is arguably guilty of underusing Robles. Yet he also has an 81 OPS+ and -0.2 rWAR to show for the last two seasons. That's over just 92 games, an unfortunate byproduct of a handful of serious and nagging injuries. It's time to move on.

This 1 Mariner has a pretty good chance of getting non-tendered

Luke Raley, RF

The Mariners have 10 players who will be eligible for arbitration this winter, and nine of them are likely to go through the process and come out the other side with raises. The only exception is Raley.

Given how bad his 2025 season was, it was a minor surprise when the Mariners chose to tender him a contract for the 2026 season. It was likewise a nice surprise when he redeemed himself with a hot start to the season. Through the end of May, he had a .932 OPS and 13 home runs.

Then came collapse and injury, as Raley had a .441 OPS and two homers in his last 41 games before having season-ending surgery on his arm. It's a tough blow, but what matters either way is that his last 168 games have yielded a 97 OPS+ and -0.3 rWAR. The Mariners can get that kind of production from someone else without paying a raise on $2.05 million for it.

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