All-Star let go by Rangers is a high-risk insurance policy for a key Mariners need

For the Rangers, 2023 seems like more and more of an anomaly with each passing year. The season that saw the franchise win their first World Series is also the only season they've made the playoffs since 2016.

As a result, a few of the players who were integral to their championship push are now a part of the team's recent move to clean house at the non-tender deadline. One of the players to become a free agent seemed like he'd be a franchise cornerstone, but could now fill a role for a division rival.

Since being non-tendered, Adolis García could be a depth piece for the Seattle Mariners in right field

It still wasn't to the level of his outstanding 2023 campaign, but all things considered, Adolis García actually had a pretty good season in 2025. Sure, he only posted a 93 OPS+, but he had 16 Defensive Runs Saved, the third-most of any outfielder. He still ended up being worth 2.7 rWAR, much better than the measly 0.3 he accumulated over the entirety of 2024. So why was he let go?

MLB Trade Rumors estimated that he'd be owed $12.1 million in arbitration this year, a non-trivial sum. While that probably isn't an unrealistic amount for a team that had a total payroll of $225.8 million in 2025, the reality is that García will probably never be the same hitter who posted a 127 OPS+ with 39 home runs in 2023.

Although he has just over five years of service time, he didn't play his first season until he was 28 years old. He'll be 33 by the time Opening Day rolls around, and he unfortunately seems to have aged quicker than most. His bat speed and quality of contact numbers have gradually slipped and 2025 saw his chase, whiff, and walk rate fall to the bottom quartile of qualified hitters. With a slate of young, talented outfielders like Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter coming up, it was difficult for Texas to justify holding a roster spot for García.

On the other hand, this could be an opportunity for the Mariners to give the Rangers a taste of their own medicine. Throughout the 2025 season, Texas picked up more than a few players that were let go by Seattle, including Rowdy Tellez, Sam Haggerty, and Dylan Moore. More importantly, García could end up filling a potential need for next year.

The first year of the Victor Robles extension was disappointing. Severely limited by a shoulder injury he sustained at the beginning of the year, he posted a 77 OPS+ over 114 plate appearances and had -3 Defensive Runs Saved, giving him a total of -0.2 rWAR. He had some big moments but remained cold in the playoffs, slashing .111/.314/.185 in 10 games.

García isn't perfect either but, for the right price, he could add some affordable upside potential for Seattle. He wasn't the only one on the Rangers whose offensive approach has suffered. Under the masterful instruction of Edgar Martínez, there's a chance he could work with his diminishing power to become a smarter and more patient hitter. He and Robles could either split time in right field or have one take over as the starter. Either option could make the outfield picture in Seattle even more well-rounded.

If the Mariners don't end up pursuing his services, his departure from Texas is still great news for Seattle either way. If they're willing to non-tender Jonah Heim and Adolis García, it indicates that the Rangers are headed into full rebuild mode. Rumor has it that they're even considering trading Corey Seager, who has powered their lineup since joining the team in 2022. Along with an Astros roster that seems like a shadow of its former self, things are falling into motion that could make it time for Seattle to dominate the AL West for the foreseeable future.