What are the biggest questions the Seattle Mariners must answer in 2025?

The Seattle Mariners enter the 2025 season with high expectations but plenty of questions. Last year, they fell just short of the postseason, largely due to inconsistent offense. Yet with the majority of the 2024 roster returning, the front office has shown faith in its core group.

Will that faith be rewarded, or will Seattle find itself scrambling for solutions at the trade deadline?

The 6 biggest questions the Mariners must answer

1. Can the offense take the next step?

Run production was again the Mariners' Achilles’ heel in 2024. Even while recognizing the issue, they’ve decided to run it back with a similar lineup. The front office is banking on bounce-back seasons from key contributors rather than making a splashy addition to fix the problem.

Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh remain the focal points of the offense, but one or two players cannot carry an entire lineup. If their support struggles to produce, Seattle could find itself once again among the league’s most inconsistent offensive teams.

The Mariners might hope for a delayed offensive boost — either by making a trade at the deadline or by bringing in prospects like Tyler Locklear, Harry Ford, or Cole Young. But waiting would be extremely risky. If the lineup struggles out of the gate and early-season losses pile up, pressure will mount for Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander to shake things up.

If the bats don’t respond, Seattle may have no choice but to explore midseason moves — whether they want to or not.

2. Will the rotation remain elite?

Seattle’s starting rotation has been the backbone of the franchise for multiple seasons, and once again projects to be among the best in baseball in 2025. However, the Mariners have been fortunate when it comes to health. In a sport where injuries are inevitable, they’ve largely avoided serious setbacks to their top arms. Can that luck hold for another season?

George Kirby, who will start 2025 on the IL with shoulder inflammation, and Logan Gilbert have continued their development into frontline starters, but depth will be tested if someone goes down. Luis Castillo is a proven ace, but he’s also entering his age-32 season, and even a slight decline will impact the rotation’s effectiveness. Meanwhile, Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller have electric stuff, but the organization will still need to keep a close eye on their workload.

For the Mariners to be true contenders, they’ll need their pitching staff to replicate last season’s dominance while also getting more run support.

3. How will the front office handle the payroll and roster moves?

Seattle’s front office has been notoriously cautious with spending, and that trend continued this offseason. The Mariners did extend Raleigh, a move that signaled a commitment to their core, but beyond that, they haven't taken on a ton of additional payroll.

So what happens if they find themselves in need of an impact bat midseason?

The easiest way to acquire a high-level hitter would be by trading from their pitching surplus, and there have already been rumors that Castillo would be a trade candidate if Seattle finds itself needing to balance the roster. Mitch Garver, who signed a short-term deal, could also be flipped if he has a strong showing and the Mariners decide to pivot.

Ownership has made it clear that major financial investments aren’t coming unless they’re allocated to their homegrown talent. If the Mariners want to improve midseason, it will have to come through player movement to avoid an influx of spending.

4. Can the bullpen hold up?

Seattle has had one of the most reliable bullpens in baseball over the past few years, but last season their arms became volatile. The Mariners have done well to develop and cycle through effective arms, but can they continue to pull it off?

Seattle has filled gaps with minor-league depth and low-cost acquisitions. The strategy has worked before, but it’s far from a guarantee. If Andrés Muñoz and a healthy Matt Brash remain elite, the back end should be strong, but injuries or unexpected regressions could quickly expose a lack of proven depth.

5. Who will lock down the keystone?

The Mariners have been content to let the second base situation play itself out, but eventually they will need a real answer. For now, Ryan Bliss appears to be in the lead for the job, with Dylan Moore in reserve.

However, the biggest question revolves around Young. If the top prospect continues to develop at Triple-A, he could force Seattle’s hand before the season is over. The Mariners haven’t closed the door on calling him up, and if the offense struggles, he might provide the spark they need.

The lack of urgency to solidify second base suggests the Mariners are still evaluating their long-term plan. But if they are serious about contending, they need to settle the position sooner rather than later.

6. How will the Mariners emerge on top of a crowded AL West?

The AL West continues to become a more competitive division. While the Houston Astros are no longer the overwhelming powerhouse they once were, they’re still a major threat. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers are looking to return to their 2023 World Series winning form, and even lower-tier teams like the Los Angeles Angels and Athletics could be unpredictable.

For the Mariners, the key will be keeping pace. They can’t afford to fall too far behind early in the season and expect to climb back. While there’s no clear favorite to dominate the division, Seattle can’t coast along.

The 2025 Mariners have the potential to be a serious contender — but only if they find answers to their lingering questions. The talent is there, the pitching is elite, and the core pieces are in place.

But for all their strengths, Seattle is will be walking a fine line. They're a team capable of winning the AL West, but also a team that could repeat last year's season and finish on the outside looking in. It'll be worth watching how the Mariners navigate their 2025 campaign.