We didn't want the offseason to come, but it's here, and there are many important benchmarks for the Mariners to hit before we get to spring training 2026.
Unfortunately, for the Seattle Mariners, the Major League Baseball offseason has come earlier than the organization and its fans wanted.
As a result of the Mariners loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night, Seattle is now tasked with trying to build a roster capable of going the distance. It won't be easy, but here are the dates you need to know, with help from Baseball America.
Day after World Series ends
Players become free agents, and this includes Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor.
The Mariners will have an exclusive window to negotiate with their in-house free agents before free agency truly opens up a few days later.
It's unlikely that they get anything done in this time.
Five days after World Series ends
Free agency begins in full, though it's likely to be slow for a bit. Teams can also issue qualifying offers to free agents that they may want to retain on one-year deals.
Because Naylor and Suarez were traded in-season, they can't be issued a qualifying offer, but the Mariners could give a qualifying offer of more than $20 million to Jorge Polanco.
If he accepts, he'll be a Mariner in 2026. If not? The Mariners will get a draft pick if he signs somewhere else.
It's unclear what the Mariners will do in this case. For example, they declined making a QO to both Mitch Haniger and Teoscar Hernandez when they had the opportunity to.
*Option decisions are also made by this day, so this is the official day for Polanco to decide on his player option, which he's certain to decline. The Mariners and Mitch Garver also hold a mutual option, which is certain to be declined by one or both parties.
Andres Munoz has a $7 million team option, which is sure to be picked up.
General managers meetings, Nov. 10-13
These are happening in Las Vegas, and it's where the groundwork will get laid for potential deals later in the offseason. Some people think the GM meetings have become more important than the winter meetings in terms of their meaning to the deal-making process.
Qualifying offer deadline, Nov. 18
If the Mariners offer a player a qualifying offer, they'll accept it by this date. If that player does not accept, they will stay in free agency, and the Mariners are free to negotiate with them there also, but they'll get a draft pick should they sign somewhere else.
Tender deadline, Nov. 21
The Mariners need to decide who to tender a contract to and who not to. Anyone who is under a long-term deal, like Julio Rodriguez, Luis Castillo or Cal Raleigh, is already set, but any player who is pre-arbitration or arbitration-eligible falls into this category.
Someone to watch out for is Trent Thornton, who is heading into his final year of arbitration, but is also coming back from Achilles surgery.
Winter Meetings, Dec. 8-11
The work from the generals managers meetings is likely to intensify here, and we might get some real deals done at this point. Juan Soto signed right around the winter meetings last season. If, say, Kyle Tucker were to sign here, then that would break the door down for other free agents.
Draft lottery held, Dec. 9
By virtue of missing the playoffs in 2024, the Mariners were in the draft lottery for 2025, and landed the No. 3 pick. No such luck this time around, as they'll be picking No. 27, however Joe Doyle of Overslot says they are likely to pick No. 24.
Pitchers and catchers report: mid-February
There is no set day yet for when Mariners pitchers and catchers will take the field in Peoria, Ariz., but it's typically around Valentines Day (Feb. 14). Because of the World Baseball Classic this year, it could be a little earlier.
Arbitration hearings, early March
Even though spring training has already begun at this point, this is when arbitration hearings are held for players who didn't agree to terms on their own.
World Baseball Classic, March 5-17
Several Mariners players will leave camp to represent their national teams at the highest level. It's expected that the Mariners could have several players play in the WBC, including Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, and Andres Munoz.
Cal Raleigh is already on the Team USA roster.
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