Mariners insider brings offseason plans for bullpen into sharp focus

Compared to other seasons in the not so distant past, Seattle doesn't have as many glaring holes to fill this offseason. Nonetheless, while the core of the team will remain the same and the rotation is as solid as they come, the front office still has a considerable amount of work to do. The team watched three of its starting infielders become free agents, and while it would make sense for the Mariners to pursue reunions with at least two of them, a competitive market may drive costs past Seattle's financial limitations.

The lineup isn't the only aspect of the roster that needs some polish. Nearly every MLB organization undergoes a bullpen shuffle in the winter, and the Mariners are no exception. The lack of reliever depth may have cost Seattle their first trip to the World Series and it's a problem they're trying to fix. Unfortunately, that's a lot easier said than done, especially given their aforementioned payroll ceiling.

The Mariners are hoping to add reliever depth, but won't be willing to break the bank for it

In a recent article for The Seattle Times, Ryan Divish reported that Seattle is looking for an experienced leverage arm and a left-handed option. The search criteria make sense, especially when considering how things fell apart in the ALCS. In an apparent attempt to save his best arms for an anticipated contest against the Dodgers, Dan Wilson ended up deploying Eduard Bazardo in a crucial game situation, a costly mistake that may have been avoided if he had just one more high-leverage option outside of Matt Brash and Andrés Muñoz.

The Mariners have also been lacking left-handed pitching across the board over the past few years. Following Tayler Saucedo's rapid regression, Gabe Speier was left to hold down the fort as the sole southpaw for much of 2025. Caleb Ferguson was acquired at the trade deadline and pitched well for the remainder of the regular season but proved unreliable in the playoffs, posting a 16.88 ERA over his three outings.

In addition to knowing what they want, Seattle's front office also knows how much, or how little, they want to pay for it. They're already saving a considerable amount of money thanks to the team-friendly extension they signed with Muñoz years ago, but Divish posited that they want to spread money out across multiple arms, avoiding anything longer than a two-year deal.

This seems to be at odds with their own aspirations, as this year's class of free agent relievers is heavily skewed towards the elite arms. The cream of the crop like Edwin Díaz, Robert Suarez, and even Devin Williams (if you believe he can bounce back) will be searching for deals in the $50 - $80 million range over three or four years, far too expensive for the Mariners. The names that seem more in line with Seattle's budget are Kyle Finnegan and Luke Weaver, neither of which are quite as dominant as their pricier counterparts.

The left-handed options are even more limited. Taylor Rogers, Andrew Chafin, Caleb Thielbar, and Hoby Milner could move the needle, but it'd be surprising if they ended up as anything more than middle relievers or setup men. Then again, the bullpen is always the most mercurial aspect of any roster, so any arm could vastly exceed expectations.

Because of the turnover, the bullpen is often an overlooked aspect of any team. But with the right pieces, it can be just what Seattle needs to get to the next level. Finding someone to fit the Mariners' exact requirements won't be straightforward, but at least the organization knows what they need to be successful in 2026.