4 Mariners potential free agent signings that would hurt more than they help

Now that the World Series is finally over, the offseason can officially begin. The first major milestone is the deadline for contract options and qualifying offers, after which we'll get a clearer idea of which players will actually be up for grabs on the free agent market.

The Mariners have plenty of options to look at this winter, but who are some players that, while potentially tempting on paper, would probably be more trouble than they're worth?

4 free agent signings that would hurt the Mariners more than help them

Starling Marte

There's some uncertainty in Seattle when it comes to right field. A year marred by injury and lukewarm numbers for Victor Robles means the future of the position is by no means guaranteed. Robles could bounce back and repeat the success he had with the team in 2024 or it could be more akin to his final few years with the Nationals. Dominic Canzone hasn't yet proven himself to be an everyday player, and Luke Raley may be on a different team by next season.

It's probably not a position that the front office wants to spend much money on, so there's a chance they sign a decent player to a short-term deal to bridge the gap until they're able to call up one of their top prospects. On paper, Starling Marte seems to fit the bill. He had a respectable 111 OPS+ over 329 plate appearance with the Mets and at 37 years old, probably won't get more than a two-year deal. He has stated that he wants to continue playing despite lingering knee issues, and could be a strong veteran presence in any locker room.

However, he'd probably fit in better with a team that's still on the brink of becoming a contender, one with young talent that needs a little help to reach the next level. The Mariners, on the other hand, are already there and should look to win now. Because of his age and injury status, Marte is inherently limited to working as a bench bat and a designated hitter. Even if he were to play for league minimum, Seattle would be remiss not to use that roster spot for someone who can have a more tangible impact on the team's championship pursuit.

Marcell Ozuna

There are a lot of parallels between Marcell Ozuna and Starling Marte. Both have been around the league for quite some time and both have been relegated from the outfield to being designated hitters. The big difference is that Ozuna has been far more effective in the past few years, going so far as to place fourth in NL MVP voting in 2024 with a 154 OPS+ over 688 plate appearances.

Unfortunately, it seems like he too has begun to slow down due to injuries, in his case a torn hip. As a hitter that's largely dependent on the long ball, the negative effects were largely apparent this year. After a stellar year at the plate in 2024, Ozuna was only able to muster a 113 OPS+ across 592 plate appearances in 2025. He was still more productive than league average but there's a good chance that this is only the beginning of the end for him. He'll be 35 years old by mid-November and even if he is available on a team-friendly contract, might be another in a long line of underwhelming Mariners to fill the DH role.

Yoán Moncada

Now that Eugenio Suárez is a free agent, Seattle must find someone to fill the hot corner once again. None of the currently available internal options are particularly alluring, which makes this a likely priority for the front office to fill this winter. One candidate could be Yoán Moncada, who had a great year by his stands with the Angels. He posted a 116 OPS+, the best mark in a season with more than 50 plate appearances since 2021. But a closer look under the hood exposes other major issues.

He only managed to play in 84 games for Anaheim this year, once again held back by recurring injuries. He missed time for a right thumb sprain in April and right knee inflammation in June. So while he was effective when healthy, his ability to stay on the field isn't much better than it was in his final years with the White Sox. At just 30 years old, he still has time to get his career back on track, but with their competitive window growing smaller by the day, the Mariners need players that can deliver more definitive results.

Gleyber Torres

Cole Young didn't have the most productive year at second base. There's a good chance he'll take a big step forward in his sophomore year as many top prospects often do, but he could also need more time, necessitating a big-league ready player at the position. Gleyber Torres is arguably the best available option and had a good year in Detroit, accumulating 2.9 rWAR. He got off to a great start in the first half of the year, posting an .812 OPS before seeing a steep decline after the All-Star break.

Depending on what he's looking for, there could be a path for him in Seattle. If he's looking for another short-term deal to revitalize his value, then perhaps it could work as a Mariner. However, since his time with the Tigers already served that purpose and he's now about as productive as he can be, this is probably the winter where he pursues a longer-term deal while he's still young. With a slate of top middle infield prospects knocking on the door of the big leagues, the Mariners are likely to have too many options at second base as is. Torres may be a tempting acquisition target now but his upside is limited and would only inhibit the return on investment for Seattle's best young talent like Colt Emerson and Michael Arroyo.