Randy Arozarena's salute to Seattle sure feels like a goodbye to the Mariners

If overshadowing an emotional day at T-Mobile Park with the news of Dan Wilson's ouster was the Seattle Mariners' plan, well, that plan sucked. Yet Sunday's farewells are not to be overlooked, and that goes for one you might have missed on the part of Randy Arozarena.

For all the negative things that can be said of his tenure as the Mariners' manager, Wilson nailed it by tapping Arozarena and J.P. Crawford, both of whom are pending free agents, for early exits from Sunday's Game 162 finale. Each was treated to an adoring and very much deserved ovation, and Arozarena then sent a message of his own to the camera when he got to the dugout.

He saluted, pointed to the "S" on his cap, and saluted again.

We can play dumb and think that maybe this was just the 31-year-old's way of saying, "Thank you." There's no rule that says the Mariners can't re-sign him as a free agent, and they should certainly want to after the year he had. He was the team leader with 5.5 rWAR, 26 home runs and an .865 OPS.

But, alas, I think we all know a "Goodbye" when we see one. And it almost certainly will be. Arozarena is sure to seek a nine-figure contract as a free agent, and the Mariners are likely too risk-averse to humor any such player who makes any such demand while in his 30s. Besides, he may prefer the East Coast anyway.

If this is goodbye, then Randy Arozarena should know he's always welcome in Seattle

Arozarena was only with the Mariners for two seasons and change, and it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Him turning into a pumpkin with a .574 OPS in the 2025 playoffs was an overlooked tragedy. Then there was the thing with Cal Raleigh in the World Baseball Classic this year. And yeah, his effort level was too often lacking.

And yet, dude was a two-time All-Star. Dude also produced 10.5 rWAR, the third-best mark ever by a Mariners left fielder. Dude was also the best reason to watch the Mariners on a day-to-day basis this year, including when he had that game in August.

Arozarena absolutely deserves to go out there and grab every last dollar he can find. It would be a shocker if he ended up south of $100 million with his next contract. If one had to guess, the final figure will be closer to $150 million.

He probably won't get such a huge payday from the Mariners, but the days of Seattle fans holding such decisions against the player are over. Even if Arozarena's next visit to T-Mobile Park is in an enemy uniform, he should be able to count on a warm reception anyway.

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