Seattle Mariners News

Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor was one of the first dominoes to fall in free agency this past winter, re-signing with Seattle on a five-year contract in mid-November. Naylor posted an excellent season in 2025 across 604 plate appearances split between the Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks, slashing .295/.353/.462 with 20 home runs, 92 RBI, 81 runs scored, and 30 stolen bases. The 28-year-old's speed breakout was the most surprising aspect of his profile, as he had logged just 22 combined steals across the three seasons before 2025. 19 of Naylor's stolen bases came in the 54 games he played for Seattle, so the Mariners could be encouraging him to run even more in 2026. With just a 6.6% barrel rate in 2025, Naylor's underlying power metrics suggest that he may not provide surplus fantasy value in the home run category. However, he struck out at just a 13.7% rate last season, and should have an opportunity to collect counting stats given his everyday role in the top-heavy Mariners lineup. RotoBaller currently ranks Naylor as the number eight first baseman in traditional rotisserie scoring fantasy formats.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez got off to another slow start in 2025 and was hitting just over .207 at the end of April, but the 25-year-old Dominican eventually figured things out, tying a career-high with 32 home runs while adding 95 RBI, 106 runs scored, and 30 stolen bases in a league-high 710 plate appearances over 160 regular-season games. The three-time All-Star and former American League Rookie of the Year has been a 20-homer, 20-steal player in all four of his big-league seasons, with two of them being 30-30 campaigns. He's the youngest player in MLB history with four 20-20 seasons. On top of J-Rod's strong 2025 season, he had a career-low 24.1% strikeout rate. There aren't many better power/speed options to target in the late-first, early-second round of fantasy baseball drafts than Rodriguez.

The Seattle Mariners have acquired catcher Jhonny Pereda from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations. Pereda has found a new home after being designated for assignment by the Twins on Friday. The Twins removed Pereda from their 40-man roster to make room for Victor Caratini. The expectation is that Pereda will compete for the backup gig during Spring Training. He slashed .246/.325/.333 with four RBI across 28 games with the Athletics and Twins last season. The 29-year-old posted strong numbers in Triple-A and deserves a shot to earn a 26-man roster spot. Even if he makes the roster, Pereda isn't going to play very often with Cal Raleigh playing almost every game.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller is looking for a bounce-back 2026 season, and he reported on X that he's added 12 pounds this offseason and gained a little velocity. Miller went a solid 12-8 in 31 starts in 2024, with a 2.49 ERA and 3.58 FIP. He battled multiple injuries in 2025, making 18 starts and pitching about half the innings of the previous season, while going a disappointing 4-6 with a 5.68 ERA and a 5.17 FIP. Miller is still expected to be a key part of the team's rotation in 2026, and potentially, the extra bulk will make him more durable and give him some extra velocity to be more effective this season. He'll definitely be a pitcher to watch early in spring training to see if he can get things going in the right direction.

Seattle Mariners second base prospect Michael Arroyo is quickly ascending the system and nearing Triple-A. In 2025, Arroyo began the season at High-A but needed only 65 games to move up to Double-A Arkansas. With High-A, Arroyo posted a .269/.422/.512 line with 14 doubles, 15 home runs, and three stolen bases. Through his first 56 games at the Double-A level, the team's No. 5-ranked prospect continued to perform at a high level, posting a .255/.376/.341 line with two home runs and nine stolen bases. While his power production declined, he still showed an elite eye at the plate, holding a 39:30 K:BB. Additionally, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reported that Arroyo began seeing time in the outfield during winter league games, which could open even more opportunities for the young hitter. Managers should monitor his progress as he could earn an early-season promotion to Triple-A.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo broke through to the ranks of ace territory in 2025, posting a 15-7 record with a 2.94 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 198 strikeouts across 186 2/3 innings pitched (30 starts). Woo recorded an elite 22.2% K-BB rate and owns a WHIP of 0.98 across 395 2/3 career innings. Entering his age-26 season, Woo should be in a position to build upon his 2025 performance and continue to establish himself as one of the best pitchers in MLB. He also has the benefit of pitching in one of baseball's most pitcher-friendly environments in Seattle. If there's any concern for fantasy managers, it's Woo's questionable injury track record. He dealt with an elbow ailment that limited him to 22 starts in 2024. Still, Woo is a young pitcher with upside who carries clear fantasy SP1 potential heading into 2026.

The New York Mets have traded right-handed pitcher Cooper Criswell to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for cash considerations. Criswell was designated for assignment by the Mets following the trade for Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers. Criswell was the odd man out in New York, but should compete for a 26-man roster spot in camp with Seattle. Last season, Criswell posted a 3.57 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and a 9/5 K/BB ratio across seven appearances with the Boston Red Sox. Criswell registered a 4.08 ERA in 26 games (18 starts) with Boston during the 2024 campaign. This is a low-risk move for the Mariners, who could get a decent swingman in Criswell.

Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Lazaro Montes will likely begin the 2026 season with Double-A Arkansas, but should be in the mix to push for a promotion to the top level given his previous experience at Double-A. In 2025, the budding power hitter began the campaign with High-A Everett, where he spent 51 games back in 2024. During his second stint with High-A last season, Montes held a .268/.387/.572 line with 12 doubles, 18 home runs, and three stolen bases. He struck out 83 times and drew 48 walks. This performance earned him a mid-season promotion to Double-A, where he saw his production take a slight step back. While he still launched 14 home runs over a 64-game stint, his average fell to .213, and his K:BB (86:35) declined as well. If the 6-foot-5 slugger can show progress early in the season at Double-A, Seattle could look to promote him after the opening months. If he can lower his strikeout rate and show stable power production, a late-season MLB debut would not be out of the question.

The Seattle Mariners announced they have signed starting pitcher Bryce Miller to a one-year deal, avoiding arbitration. According to Adam Jude of the Seattle Times, Miller had asked for $2.625 million and the Mariners filed at $2.25 million. They ultimately met right in the middle, as his new deal will pay him $2,437,500 in 2026. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the deal also includes a club option for 2027. The option is worth $6.075 million and comes with a $15,000 buyout, bringing the guaranteed amount of his new deal to $2,452,500. The 27-year-old is coming off a career-worst season, during which he amassed a 5.17 FIP and exactly 0.0 fWAR, despite making 18 starts. He tossed a career-low 90.1 big-league innings while allowing 7.37 K/9, 3.39 BB/9, and an alarming 1.69 HR/9. Miller enters 2026 as the No. 5 arm in a strong, young pitching rotation that also includes Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, and George Kirby. He ranks as the #68 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest draft rankings for fantasy baseball.

Seattle Mariners top prospect Colt Emerson is a name to keep a close eye on during camp, as he could push for an early MLB debut in 2026. Last summer, the No. 9-ranked prospect in the sport according to MLB Pipeline began the season in High-A and finished the season with Triple-A Tacoma. With High-A, Emerson posted a .281/.388/.453 line with 16 doubles, 11 home runs, and six stolen bases. Through his first taste of Double-A, Emerson held a .282 AVG with a solid .790 OPS across a 34-game stint. Then, during his brief six-game taste of Triple-A, Emerson continued to play at a high level, hitting two home runs with a .364/.444/.727 line. While Emerson figures to earn a full stint at Triple-A to start 2026, he could debut in Seattle much earlier than expected if he can continue his current trajectory.

The Seattle Mariners are set to acquire right-hander Yosver Zulueta from the Cincinnati Reds, according to Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com. Zulueta was designated for assignment earlier today following Cincinnati's official signing of Pierce Johnson. The return for the Reds is currently unknown. Seattle's 40-man roster is full, so a corresponding move will be required to complete the transaction. Zulueta, 28, has spent the majority of his professional pitching career in the minor leagues and in his native Cuba. Over five minor-league seasons, he has compiled a 3.73 ERA and 1.38 WHIP, striking out 300 batters across 234 innings. In the majors, he owns a 5.32 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 11 walks in 23 2/3 innings. At this point, Zulueta does not appear likely to make the Mariners' Opening Day roster, and even if he reaches the big leagues in 2026, he is unlikely to provide fantasy value.

The Seattle Mariners and right-hander George Kirby have agreed to a $6.55 million contract for 2026 to avoid arbitration, according to MLB insider Robert Murray. In 2025, Kirby went 10-8 with a 4.21 ERA (3.39 SIERA) while recording 137 strikeouts in 126 innings. Most notably, the 27-year-old, long known as a command-focused pitcher, posted a career-high 26.1% strikeout rate last year. Although right-shoulder inflammation sidelined him for nearly three months at the start of the year, he is expected to be fully healthy for the 2026 season. From a fantasy perspective, Kirby has the potential to be a top-10 starting pitcher if he can remain healthy and maintain a strikeout rate above 25%. That said, to guard against any lingering shoulder issues, it would be wise to hedge your bet by drafting a few more reliable starting pitchers.

Outfielder Randy Arozarena and the Seattle Mariners avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $15.65 million deal, a source told Francys Romero. It's a raise of more than $5 million for Arozarena as he enters his final year of arbitration eligibility. The 30-year-old made his second All-Star appearance in 2025 and helped carry the Mariners to the playoffs, slashing .238/.334/.426 with a .760 OPS, a career-high 27 home runs, 76 RBI, 95 runs, and 31 stolen bases in 160 regular-season games in his first full year in Seattle. It was a nice bounce-back campaign for the veteran outfielder. For fantasy baseball purposes, the Cuban native is a pretty good bet to provide 20-plus home runs and 20-plus stolen bases as long as he stays healthy. Arozarena has also averaged 75 RBI and 87 runs scored the past five seasons, so he contributes consistently across the board for fantasy managers.

The Seattle Mariners signed free-agent first baseman/third baseman Patrick Wisdom to a minor-league deal on Wednesday that includes an invite to spring training, sources told Aram Leighton of Just Baseball Media. The 34-year-old veteran spent last season in Korea with the Kia Tigers, where he hit an impressive 35 home runs on his way to a 126 wRC+. He has a 105 wRC+ in seven major-league seasons, but also an elevated 36.7% strikeout rate. Wisdom has hit .209/.291/.459 with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, and Texas Rangers. In 2024 with Chicago, he slashed just .171/.237/.392 with eight home runs, 23 RBI, 16 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 75 games played. Wisdom still has some pop in his bat, but he'll be a long shot to carve out significant playing time for the M's in 2026.

Infielder Cole Young is expected to be the Seattle Mariners' primary second baseman in 2026, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. The report also effectively shuts down any possibility of a Ketel Marte trade. If Seattle does acquire infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan, he would likely slot into the outfield or at third base rather than second. Young spent most of last season in Triple-A, where he hit .277/.392/.461 with five homers and four steals over 245 plate appearances. After getting the call to the big leagues, the 22-year-old didn't exactly light it up, posting an 80 wRC+ across 257 plate appearances. Even so, the M's still appear ready to commit to their former first-round pick out of Pennsylvania. From a fantasy standpoint, Young is basically free right now with an ADP around 700.8, though that figure will almost certainly rise as draft season moves along. For now, the left-handed hitter is mainly a 15-team middle infield option, but he's a name to keep on your radar heading into 2026.

The Seattle Mariners have signed free-agent first baseman/outfielder Rob Refsnyder on Monday, according to Jeff Passan. The deal is reportedly a one-year contract worth $6.25 million for the 2026 campaign. The journeyman has spent each of the last four seasons as a part-time player with the Boston Red Sox. Refsnyder mostly plays against left-handed pitching, but has excelled enough at that to carve out a decent career for himself. Last season, Refsnyder slashed .302/.399/.560 with seven home runs and 25 RBI against southpaws. The 34-year-old figures to be a platoon option at both first base and right field, and possibly sees time at designated hitter, making him mainly an option in AL-Only Leagues.

The Seattle Mariners acquired left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer from the Washington Nationals in exchange for catching prospect Harry Ford. The 25-year-old has thrown 142 1/3 career innings with a 4.36 ERA (3.24 SIERA), 121 strikeouts, and a 1.26 WHIP. In 2025, he abandoned his four-seam fastball and posted a career-best 21.9% strikeout rate alongside a career-low 4.9% walk rate. Overall, he recorded 11 saves for Washington last season, finishing with a 4.48 ERA across 76 1/3 innings. Seattle apparently felt it needed another left-hander for the back end of its bullpen and paid a steep price to get one. According to MLB Pipeline, Ford is a top-50 prospect and widely regarded as one of the best up-and-coming catchers in the minor leagues.

The Washington Nationals acquired catching prospect Harry Ford by trading away left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners. The 22-year-old is an MLB Pipeline top-50 prospect who slashed .283/.408/.460 with 16 home runs, 68 runs, 74 RBI, seven steals, and a 125 wRC+ in 458 plate appearances at AAA last year. The Mariners already have All-Star Cal Raleigh behind the dish, which apparently made Ford expendable. For the Nationals, they land a top prospect that can quickly take over for Keibert Ruiz and Riley Adams. Ruiz hasn't come close to replicating his 2023 breakout season, when he slugged 18 home runs with a .274 xBA and a 10.3% strikeout rate. Last year, Ruiz hit only two home runs in 267 plate appearances while battling symptoms from a concussion he sustained on June 23. Ford was called up at the end of last year and may be the Nationals' starting catcher at some point in 2026.

First baseman Josh Naylor and the Seattle Mariners are finalizing a five-year contract on Sunday evening, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Mariners will now keep Naylor around for the foreseeable future after acquiring him at this year's trade deadline from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 28-year-old Canadian left-handed slugger hit .299 (58-for-194) with nine home runs, 33 RBI, 32 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases in 54 regular-season games after being traded to Seattle. Overall, he slashed a strong .295/.353/.462 with an .816 OPS, 20 home runs, 92 RBI, 81 runs scored, and a career-high 30 stolen bases in 147 games in his seventh year in the majors. Naylor ranked in the 66th percentile in xwOBA, 42nd percentile in xBA, and 43rd percentile in hard-hit rate, suggesting his 31-homer campaign in 2024 is a ceiling that could be hard to reach again. Fantasy managers also shouldn't expect a repeat in the steals department, with his previous high-water mark in that category being 10.

The Seattle Mariners exercised right-handed closer Andres Munoz's $6 million option for the 2026 season on Tuesday, a source told Francys Romero. It was an expected move for the Mariners to keep one of the most dominant relievers in baseball around for another year. The 26-year-old Mexican reliever was an All-Star for a second straight year in 2025, finishing the regular season with a tidy 1.73 ERA (2.43 FIP), 1.03 WHIP, a career-best 38 saves, 83 strikeouts, and 28 walks in 62 1/3 innings out of the bullpen for Seattle. The Mariners could keep the 26-year-old around through the 2028 season, too, as they have an $8 million option on him for 2027 and a $10 million option for 2028. Munoz's walk percentage has been in double digits each of the last three years, but he's made up for it by striking out 32.6% of the batters he's faced in the last three seasons.