The Seattle Mariners come into the offseason with a few pressing questions. They must figure out if they want to try and re-sign Jorge Polanco and Eugenio Suarez or let them sign elsewhere in free agency.
They could also use some more depth in the bullpen, which is expected to be one of their biggest priorities. They have a lack of left-handed options and ideally will look to acquire one over the winter.
There are quite a few on the open market who could be viewed as a solid option, like Hoby Milner or Tyler Rogers, even if he is a righty. Or, they could turn to the trade market to see if anything worth having is there.
Mariners linked to Phillies' left-handed reliever in latest trade rumors
One team to watch this offseason closely is the Philadelphia Phillies. It has been rumored that they could trade away one of Matt Strahm, Jose Alvarado, or Tanner Banks to help address other needs on the roster.
The Seattle Times' Adam Jude points to Matt Strahm as one that Seattle should take a closer look at. He has years of high-leverage experience and is coming off a season where he finished a career-high 19 games.
"The Phillies have three lefty relievers – Strahm, Jose Alvarado, and Tanner Banks – and they have reportedly received inquiries on all three this offseason. They could choose to move one to address another area of need on their roster. Strahm makes the most sense for the Mariners. The 34-year-old lefty has extensive experience in a high-leverage role, holding hitters to a.499 OPS in those situations in 2025, per Baseball Reference."
Unlike a Hoby Milner or a Tyler Rogers, Strahm relies on getting strikeouts. And he is the better option on paper for Seattle. However, unlike signing a free agent, the Mariners would have to lose some players to acquire Strahm.
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