Mariners extend Arozarena qualifying offer after career-best season

SEATTLE -- As Randy Arozarena eyes the possibility of a big payday in free agency, the Mariners have set themselves up with the chance to receive Draft pick compensation should he sign with another team.

Arozarena was one of eight free agents across MLB who received a qualifying offer before Monday’s 2 p.m. PT deadline for clubs to extend the one-year offer.

For 2027, it is valued at $23.15 million -- the mean salary of MLB’s 125 highest-paid players last season -- and those who were offered now have until Nov. 17 to accept or decline.

Arozarena, 31, just wrapped arguably the best season of his career and eyes his first foray into free agency. Moreover, he’s arguably the best hitter in this year’s class, which could mean a lucrative, multiyear pay day on the open market.

If Arozarena signs for $50 million or more with another team, the Mariners would receive a Draft pick between the first round and Competitive Balance Round A next year. If he signs for less than $50 million, which seems less likely, the compensation pick comes after Competitive Balance Round B.

Entering the 2026-27 offseason, only 157 players have ever received the qualifying offer and 18 have accepted, including a record four players accepting last offseason.

Since the QO system was implemented in 2012, the Mariners have extended it to just two players before Arozarena -- Kendrys Morales in 2012 (who rejected and then signed with the Twins) and Hisashi Iwakuma in 2015 (who rejected then later returned on one-year, $11 million deal).

The other seven players to receive a QO on Monday were Jake Bauers (Brewers), David Bednar (Yankees), Ryan Jeffers (Twins), Brandon Lowe (Pirates), Adrian Morejon (Padres), Trevor Rogers (Orioles) and Seiya Suzuki (Cubs).

Their decisions could also impact the Mariners’ offseason -- specifically the high-leverage relievers, Bednar and Morejon -- given that they could be among the club’s free-agent targets. Any team that signs a player who has rejected a QO is subject to a loss of one or more Draft picks.

In the Mariners’ case, because they are a team that receives revenue sharing, if they signed one of those players, they’d forfeit their third-highest selection in next year’s Draft, and if they signed two, they’d also forfeit their fourth-highest remaining pick.

Arozarena last year was worth a team-high and career-high 5.5 wins above replacement, per FanGraphs, which was tied for sixth-best in MLB. He also paced the Mariners’ leaderboard in every slash line category, with a clip of .281/.381/.484 (.865 OPS) to go with 26 homers, 34 doubles, two triples, 79 RBIs and 26 stolen bases.

Waiver claim
Also on Monday was the deadline for teams to adjust their 40-man rosters into offseason mode, now that it’s been five days since the World Series.

Transactional flurries ensued across the sport, including players being designated for assignment, waiver claims and minor trades.

The Mariners landed a reliever within that criteria when claiming right-hander Isaac Mattson from the Pirates. The 31-year-old made 38 appearances last season, with a 5.35 ERA (83 ERA+, where league average is 100), a 20.5% strikeout rate and a 10.2% walk rate across 38 2/3 innings. But he’s just one year removed from posting a 2.45 ERA (182 ERA+) in 44 outings.

Essentially, the Mariners are taking a flyer on a potential bullpen arm with upside -- an area that they’d excelled in for much of this era but did not have as much success last year. Of note, Mattson has one Minor League option remaining, giving him roster flexibility.

More roster moves
All teams also needed to return players from the 60-day injured list, and for Seattle that included seven players -- RHP Matt Brash (right lat strain), RHP Nick Davila (SC joint sprain), outfielder Brennan Davis (left hamstring strain), infielder Colt Emerson (left wrist tendon repair), RHP Logan Evans (right elbow surgery), INF/OF Luke Raley (left forearm strain), INF/OF Michael Toglia (right shoulder dislocation).

Doing so created a logjam that was cleared by five players clearing waivers and being outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma -- LHP Josh Simpson, RHP Troy Watson, infielder Weston Wilson, infielder Will Wilson and infielder Patrick Wisdom.

Seattle’s 40-man roster is now at 39 players.