The Seattle Mariners’ Offseason Moves and Missed Opportunities

The Seattle Mariners have likely made their final move of the offseason, but now is the time to reflect on what has transpired. While there are still some lingering questions, the bulk of their offseason activity has come to a close. This moment provides an opportunity to look ahead with optimism, but also to take a step back and assess whether any decisions might be regretted in the future.

One of the most glaring missed opportunities is the failure to sign Jorge Polanco before the New York Mets swooped in and secured his services. The Mariners could have also pursued Kazuma Okamoto and Ketel Marte more aggressively, but those players are no longer available.

Another potential misstep involves the trade that sent Harry Ford to Washington in exchange for Jose A. Ferrer in December. This deal has sparked some debate about whether the Mariners accurately assessed the value of Ford’s market.

Evaluating the Trade for Jose A. Ferrer

At this point, the Mariners seem satisfied with the trade, even going as far as to praise Ferrer as a significant acquisition. Jerry Dipoto, the team’s general manager, has called Ferrer “the No. 1 trade target on our list.” There is some merit to this assessment. Ferrer is a left-handed reliever with a career 4.36 ERA, but he throws strikes and possesses a 100 mph fastball along with a changeup and slider that can miss bats. With proper development, he could become a valuable asset in the bullpen.

However, there are two key points worth considering. First, Baseball Trade Values rated the trade as a major overpay for Seattle. While this may be harsh, it is fair to question whether the Mariners got the best possible return for Ford. Ford was ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 42 overall prospect last year and is now their No. 9 catching prospect at the start of 2026. While there are concerns about his ability to stick behind the plate, he has the potential to become one of the more dynamic two-way catchers in MLB if he can develop.

Given that Ford was always going to be blocked by Cal Raleigh in Seattle, a trade made sense. However, this brings up the second issue: could the Mariners have made a better trade?

Exploring Potential Alternatives

There is strong demand for catching talent across MLB this winter. The Philadelphia Phillies needed a catcher before signing J.T. Realmuto for $45 million, and the Minnesota Twins had a similar need before acquiring Victor Caratini for $14 million. Reports from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Sean McAdam of MassLive indicate that the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox are also looking for catching upgrades.

This situation raises interesting possibilities. Given the Rays’ past interest in Ford, could the Mariners have used him to outbid the Pittsburgh Pirates for Brandon Lowe? If Ford were still with the team, could they have interested Boston in a trade involving Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu, or even a player like Kristian Campbell?

Of course, these moves might not have been feasible due to the priorities of the Rays and Red Sox. However, it is reasonable to argue that the Mariners should have explored these options. If such trades were possible, then the decision to acquire Ferrer could be seen as either short-sighted or outright blind.

Moving Forward

This isn’t necessarily a complaint, but rather a form of concern trolling. Regardless of the outcome, Mariners fans will have to continue hoping that Ferrer proves to be the valuable addition the team claims he is. For now, all they can do is cross their fingers and wait for the results of the trade.