The Seattle Mariners need an infield upgrade after a disappointing 76-86 season, identifying a left-side fix as their top priority at the MLB general managers meetings in Las Vegas.
Seattle president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander face an offseason with roughly three weeks until the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires, according to Yahoo Sports. Following the hiring of former Chicago Cubs player development director Jason Kanzler as manager, Dipoto said that the club is actively pursuing one to two hitters, at least one reliever, and a veteran infield presence.
The club’s defense ranked as the worst in MLB by some metrics last year, with the left side of the infield serving as a particular soft spot, per The Seattle Times. The right side is settled with Gold Glove second baseman Cole Young and first baseman Josh Naylor, who signed a five-year, $92.5 million deal last November.
The Mariners are exploring external trade targets to fill the gap while maintaining roster flexibility with 21-year-old Colt Emerson, who is viewed as a viable option at either shortstop or third base. Finding a third baseman would also allow veteran Brendan Donovan to play primarily in left field.
“We really appreciate the fact that Colt is versatile enough to go be our best third baseman on any given day,” Dipoto said, according to The Seattle Times.
“Our resting point right now is that we go into the season and Colt is our shortstop, but we don’t want to limit ourselves or limit our targets in an offseason acquisition to just a third baseman,” Dipoto added, as reported by The Seattle Times.
Seattle has evaluated several external trade candidates, including Miami’s Otto Lopez, Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson, Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz, and Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, though various organizational hurdles and high asking prices complicate potential blockbusters. The club has also kept tabs on Houston’s Jeremy Peña, Baltimore’s Jordan Westburg, San Francisco utility infielder Casey Schmitt, and Oakland’s Zack Gelof.
For a veteran infield presence, reunion candidates include former corner infielders Carlos Santana and Eugenio Suarez. Suarez played for Seattle during their 2025 postseason run to the American League Championship Series before hitting 26 home runs for Cincinnati last season, while Santana previously helped the franchise break its playoff drought in 2022.
Dipoto noted during the meetings in Las Vegas that the left side of the infield and the outfield represent clear areas of need for the organization as they seek to remake the roster. The team is also targeting an upgrade on the left side of the infield through trade discussions, while keeping an eye on the free-agent market for corner outfield help and bullpen depth.
Among potential targets on the trade market, Miami Marlins infielder Otto Lopez was highlighted as an ideal fit. Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña represents another potential trade target, as a former Gold Glove winner who worked closely with new manager Jason Kanzler during their time together in Houston.
Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg has also been discussed as a possibility. Westburg missed the entirety of the 2026 season following Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, but shares a close childhood friendship with Mariners pitcher Bryce Miller.
In the relief market, veterans such as Jonathan Loaisiga are drawing attention after strong campaigns. Loaisiga posted a 2.42 ERA across 67 innings last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, positioning himself for a multi-year major league contract.
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