The Seattle Mariners came painfully close to reaching the franchise’s first-ever World Series. Their aggressiveness at the MLB trade deadline paid off, and as free agency heats up, all eyes are once again on Seattle’s front office.
The Mariners already have key internal decisions to make, with Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez among their notable free agents. Stars like Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez could have benefited from more consistent offensive support during the postseason.
Naylor was one of the few steady bats in the lineup, but his future with Seattle remains uncertain even though the Mariners want to bring him back. Still, Seattle could become an intriguing destination for a two-time Home Run Derby champion.
According to BetOnline, the Mariners are currently the favorites to sign New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso at +300, followed by the Boston Red Sox (+350) and Philadelphia Phillies (+450).
Mets to Let Pete Alonso Walk in Free Agency
The Mets might be ready to move on from Alonso this offseason. Sports Illustrated’s Pat Ragazzo reported that the team is expected to let him leave in free agency unless he agrees to a team-friendly deal.
“According to a rival NL scout, the Mets recognize that their clubhouse is in need of a culture shift following last season’s slow collapse,” Ragazzo wrote in his November 8, 2025, article, “What I’m Hearing About the Mets’ Offseason Plans.”
“The expectation is that the Mets will float utility man Jeff McNeil on the trade market and let franchise cornerstone first baseman Pete Alonso walk in free agency unless he takes a team-friendly deal.”
Pete Alonso’s Market Value: 5 Years, $147 Million
If Alonso lands in Seattle, he’d bring an elite resume. The five-time All-Star—honored in each of the past four seasons—hit a career-best .272 in 2025 with 170 hits, 126 RBIs, and 38 home runs. After completing a two-year, $54 million deal, Alonso opted out to test the free agent market. Spotrac projects his market value at five years and $147 million.
Will Seattle Make a Major Splash Beyond Naylor?
How aggressive Seattle becomes in free agency could depend on whether they manage to re-sign Naylor. In an interview with MLB Network Radio, Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said that bringing Naylor back is the organization’s top offseason priority.
“For whatever reason, he’s just always seen the ball well at T-Mobile (Park) and sort of instantly took off from the moment we acquired him,” Hollander told Seattle Sports. “And it was a great fit and it is definitely a priority for us this offseason. If (Naylor isn’t the Mariners’ No. 1 priority), I don’t know what else would be. He’s No. 1 right now.
“There’s no advantage to hiding the ball, to telling people that. … It was awesome. It was a great fit for the two months, and we’d like to make it last a lot longer. He fits in our clubhouse. Positionally, he fills a position of need. It’s a real left-handed bat that plays an excellent first base, that runs the bases well. He does a lot of things well.”
If the Mariners truly hope to capture their first World Series title, their front office may need to do more than just bring back the current roster. A pursuit of Alonso would be costly, but as contenders know well—there’s always a price to pay for a championship run.