Mariners urged to pursue left-handed reliever to help bolster the bullpen

Jared Bloom

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Mariners urged to pursue left-handed reliever to help bolster the bullpen image

The MLB Winter Meetings begin on Monday, and fans should be ready for a plethora of free-agent signings and trades being made. This is really when the offseason starts to get underway, and some big names could be off the board earlier than expected. 

The Seattle Mariners are coming off a great season, but will look to take the next step this offseason. They have some key players on the open market, like Jorge Polanco and Eugenio Suarez. 

However, they could also make some upgrades in their bullpen, and are expected to do so. Specifically, they are looking for a left-handed reliever, and lucky for them, there are quite a few out there to be signed. 

Mariners urged to pursue left-handed reliever to help bolster the bullpen 

One intriguing left-handed reliever on the open market is Hoby Milner. He spent the 2025 season with the Texas Rangers, where he appeared in 73 games, compiling a 3.84 ERA across 70.1 innings of work. 

What sets him apart from other left-handed relievers is his arm slot. He throws from a low 3/4 slot, which could be quite difficult for a left-handed batter to pick up. 

The Seattle Times' Adam Jude points to Milner as a great option for the club this winter. 

"The Mariners are prioritizing the addition of another left-handed reliever to complement Gabe Speier, who made a career-high 76 appearances in the regular season this year. Milner pitched for the Rangers in 2025 on a one-year, $2.5 million contract."

Milner would pair well with Gabe Speier and could take this bullpen to the next level. However, with an uptick in his walks this past season, that may be something that he will want to work on over the offseason.

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Editorial Team