The Seattle Mariners’ season ended abruptly in Toronto, leaving a palpable sense of disappointment within the organization. At the end-of-season press gathering, team leaders Jerry Dipoto, Justin Hollander, and Dan Wilson openly expressed their feelings about the ALCS loss. The focus now shifts to addressing the team’s needs for the upcoming season, particularly in key areas such as first base, third base, and the bullpen. Despite the sting of defeat, the Mariners are determined to improve and build upon their successes from the 2025 season.
This article delves into the Mariners’ reflections on their season, their offseason priorities, and their plans for incorporating young talent into the roster. General Manager Justin Hollander emphasized the need to continuously improve and highlighted pitching as a crucial area of focus. With a commitment to developing homegrown players, the Mariners aim to create a sustainable and competitive team capable of contending for a World Series title.
Reflecting on the Season’s End
The Mariners’ season concluded with a loss that resonated deeply within the organization. Jerry Dipoto, Justin Hollander, and Dan Wilson each conveyed the disappointment and frustration stemming from the abrupt ending. Hollander described the feeling as “hollow,” while Wilson acknowledged the lingering “sting.”
“It leaves you feeling hollow,” Hollander said. “It’s hard right now.”
Dipoto initially struggled to articulate his feelings, ultimately settling on “disappointed.” The emotional toll was evident, underscoring the team’s investment and desire for a different outcome. Despite the setback, the focus quickly turned to evaluating the season and identifying areas for improvement.
Offseason Priorities: Addressing Key Needs
Looking ahead, the Mariners have identified several key areas to address during the offseason. Dipoto highlighted first base, third base, and the bullpen as primary areas of focus. The team will also assess the readiness of its young players to contribute at the major league level.
“First base, third base and bullpen,” answered Dipoto when asked for their offseason needs. “Those will be our primary areas of focus. Then, trying to determine the readiness of our young guys.”
Dipoto indicated that the team’s financial resources would be similar to the end of the previous year. This provides flexibility to pursue upgrades through free agency and trades, while also maintaining a focus on developing internal talent.
Payroll Flexibility and Potential Moves
The Mariners’ payroll for the 2025 season was approximately $164 million, ranking 15th in Major League Baseball. This represented an increase from the previous year’s $149 million. The team has expressed interest in re-signing second baseman Jorge Polanco, who is expected to decline his $6 million player option.
The situation with Eugenio Suárez is less clear, but the Mariners have conveyed their appreciation for the veteran third baseman. Whether the team focuses on improving existing relievers or pursuing established options remains to be seen, but pitching will be a key area of focus.
Focus on Pitching Depth
General Manager Justin Hollander emphasized the importance of pitching depth, stating that a team can never have enough pitching. Injuries exposed the team’s vulnerability in this area during the 2025 season, highlighting the need to bolster the pitching staff.
“I’m always going to lean toward you can never have enough pitching,” Hollander said. “We’ve been really, really blessed with tremendous talent and tremendous health until this year. And this year we had some of the health bug bite us and we got exposed for part of the season just where we really felt like we were a little naked in terms of the next guy up over and over and over again.”
Hollander praised the contributions of young pitchers like Emerson Hancock and Logan Evans, who stepped up when needed. However, he stressed the importance of adding more pitching depth to withstand the challenges of a long season.
Integrating Young Talent
The Mariners have a number of highly ranked prospects moving through their farm system. While prospects like Cole Young and Ben Williamson received significant playing time in 2025, the path for young players may be different in 2026.
Dipoto acknowledged that the team has a “built-out, mature team” with several star players. As a result, the Mariners will need to be more selective in how they integrate young players. However, these prospects are expected to play a significant role in the team’s future.
Aiming for the World Series
The Mariners’ ultimate goal is to win the World Series. Despite the disappointment of falling short in 2025, Dipoto and Hollander remain committed to building a team capable of achieving this objective. They recognize the need to improve and strive for more in the upcoming season.
“We can’t rest on our laurels,” said Hollander. “We weren’t good enough. We were good enough to win the division. We were good enough to win a series. Those are great things and I don’t want to diminish those at all. I’m really proud of some things we accomplished this year, but there’s still more things to go and we need to get better, we need to do more, we need to be better.”
The Mariners understand the importance of continuous improvement and are determined to build upon their successes from the 2025 season.
Final Thoughts
The Seattle Mariners are determined to learn from their disappointing end to the 2025 season. Addressing needs at first base, third base and in the bullpen will be key as they retool their roster for 2026. While integrating young talent will be more selective with the current stars, developing homegrown players remains a priority.
The organization understands the need to improve and do more to reach their ultimate goal. By focusing on key areas and continuing to develop talent within the system, the Mariners will strive to sustain a competitive team capable of winning the division and ultimately competing for a World Series title. The sting of the abrupt end will serve as motivation for the team to return stronger and more determined in the upcoming season.
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