The Seattle Mariners are already preparing for the possibility of moving forward without Randy Arozarena. The star outfielder has entered free agency and is unlikely to return to Seattle. Although Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto would prefer to retain the veteran slugger, his asking price appears to be beyond the team’s budget. Consequently, the organization has begun exploring alternative options in the outfield.
MLB insider Jon Morosi recently reported that the Mariners have expressed interest in signing Ian Happ. According to Morosi, Seattle has several reasons for pursuing the free-agent outfielder. One of Dipoto’s primary priorities this offseason is improving the team’s defensive performance. The Mariners recorded 88 errors last season, slightly above the league average. Happ, meanwhile, has established himself as an excellent defender, having earned four Gold Glove Awards during his time with the Chicago Cubs.
Additionally, incoming Seattle manager Jason Kanzler already has a connection with Happ from his time in Chicago. Kanzler most recently served as the Cubs’ director of player development, giving him familiarity with the veteran outfielder. Although multiple teams are expected to pursue Happ, Seattle could benefit from its existing connections when negotiating with the free agent.
Happ also offers considerable offensive value beyond his defensive abilities. He owns a career .783 OPS in the major leagues and is closing in on 200 career home runs. Despite experiencing a slight statistical decline in 2026, he still managed to hit 24 home runs and score 89 runs. The veteran recently completed a three-year, $61 million contract with Chicago.
Signing Ian Happ Could Help the Mariners Save Money
Even after a somewhat disappointing season, Happ is projected to secure a contract in a similar financial range to his previous deal. The Athletic’s Tim Britton recently predicted that the former Cubs outfielder could receive a three-year, $63 million contract in free agency. Meanwhile, Britton’s colleague, Jim Bowden, previously forecast a two-year, $45 million deal for the slugger. Although the contract lengths differ, the average annual values of both projections are relatively close.
While neither projected contract would be inexpensive, Seattle could still save money by pursuing Happ instead of bringing back Arozarena. According to Britton’s projection, the Cuban outfielder could command a four-year, $108 million deal this offseason. If Dipoto decides to pursue Happ instead, the Mariners would potentially have additional financial flexibility to address other weaknesses on the roster.
Nevertheless, Morosi’s report has not generated an overwhelmingly positive response among Mariners fans. Much of the concern centers on the belief that Happ represents a considerable offensive downgrade from Arozarena. A comparison of their 2026 performances shows that the Cuban slugger held the advantage in nearly every major offensive category.
Seattle Would Not Have to Sacrifice a Draft Pick to Sign Happ
Despite the concerns surrounding his offensive production, the Mariners could certainly find worse options than Happ. The veteran is widely regarded as the third-best outfielder available in this year’s MLB free-agent market. Arozarena generally leads the rankings, while another Cubs standout, Seiya Suzuki, occupies the second spot.
However, Suzuki is expected to command a contract in a similar financial range to Arozarena, potentially making him a less attractive alternative for Seattle. There is also another important factor working in Happ’s favor.
The Mariners could sign Happ without surrendering a draft pick. Chicago chose not to extend a qualifying offer to the former Gold Glove winner, meaning interested teams would not face draft-pick compensation for signing him.
The Cubs did extend a qualifying offer to Suzuki, however. As a result, any team that signs the Japanese outfielder would have to forfeit a valuable future draft pick. This additional cost could make Happ an even more appealing target for Seattle as Dipoto looks to strengthen the roster while maintaining financial flexibility.
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