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Mariners' latest flash of Randy Arozarena hope is the most obvious mirage ever

Sorry, Jim Bowden, but we're not buying it. Or Randy. Literally.
ByPaul Taylor
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Sep 27, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) acknowledges the crowd as he walks off the field during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Sep 27, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) acknowledges the crowd as he walks off the field during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In an ideal world the Mariners would re-sign Randy Arozarena to a long-term deal, as just reward for being their best offensive threat throughout the 2026 campaign. Come out of the haze of that ideal world though, and the overwhelming consensus is that the three-time All-Star will be taking his talents elsewhere next year. And yet there still seems to be some hope for a return to the Pacific Northwest, at least according to Jim Bowden.

Courtesy of The Athletic, Bowden has unveiled his top 40 MLB free agents for 2026-27 complete with rankings. And right up there in fifth place is Arozarena, further enhancing his standing as hot property ahead of the offseason. (Even allowing for whatever happens with the seemingly inevitable pending lockout by the owners.) However, what really jumps out about Bowden's take on the 2020 ALCS MVP is the list of team fits, which includes the Phillies, Braves, Reds and... Mariners!

We wouldn't blame any Mariners fan who has a sense of excitement after reading Bowden's comments, but at the same time it doesn't seem rooted in reality. Of course it would be fantastic to have Arozarena re-signing in Seattle following a career-year which saw him rank in the 98th percentile for Batting Run Value. However, with all due respect to the 1999 Baseball America MLB Executive of the Year, it's just not likely at all.

It's been an open secret since Arozarena's trade to the Mariners in July of 2024, that he never wanted to leave the Rays. The 31-year-old just never seemed to settle in Seattle, pining for his home in Tampa and often cutting a somewhat aloof figure in the clubhouse. As per Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, his preference is to play for a team in the east that also has spring training in Florida.

Bowden unwittingly contradicts why the M's would be a good fit for Randy Arozarena

However, let's just suppose for one moment that Arozarena is actually interested in a potential return to Seattle. Even in this unlikely scenario, Bowden's prediction for how much he will make on his next contract almost immediately takes the Mariners out of the equation. Bowden has the mercurial talent making $124 million over five years, but there's no way the M's will go over eight figures to bring him back.

It doesn't matter how much of a multi-faceted offensive threat Arozarena is. No matter that he led the AL with 113 runs in 2026, no matter that he is tied-second all-time in the AL with six 20-20 seasons, or whatever. As we wrote earlier this month, John Stanton and the rest of the ownership group don't spend big bucks on 30-somethings, instead preferring to invest on players in their 20s (and also usually for less money).

Overall, we have all the respect in the world for Bowden, but he has been increasingly off-base with his predictions in recent years. In this respect, he's wide of the mark once again in naming the Mariners as one of the best team fits for Arozarena next season. Not that we would have any issue with him being proven correct, but this latest flash of hope is effectively a nothingburger unworthy of getting hyped up about.

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