The offseason is officially underway and the Seattle Mariners and the rest of the major leagues are on the final day of the "quiet period" before players are allowed to sign with other teams.

There are several free agents the Mariners are expected to be in contention for, such as key players on the 2025 club — first baseman Josh Naylor and second baseman/designated hitter Jorge Polanco — and international players Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto.

Ahead of the free agency, Seattle made a move to add to its bullpen depth.

The Mariners acquired right-handed reliever Cole Wilcox from the Tampa Bay Rays in return for cash considerations Wednesday. Wilcox was added to the 40-man roster after the trade. Wilcox was designated for assignment by Tampa Bay on Nov. 3.

Wilcox was picked by the San Diego Padres in the third round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Georgia.

Wilcox was traded from the Padres to the Rays on Dec. 29, 2020, in the deal that netted San Diego left-handed starting pitcher Blake Snell.

Wilcox has been with Tampa Bay since the deal and made his major league debut this season.

Wilcox made one appearance in the majors against the Boston Red Sox on Sept. 19. He struck out one batter, walked three and allowed seven runs (three earned) on four hits in one inning pitched.

In the minor leagues this season, Wilcox posted a 3.70 ERA and fanned 63 batters in 58.1 innings pitched across 39 outings (one start).

Seattle's bullpen was in turmoil for the first half of the season. Due to injuries to the pitching staff, both starters and relievers, the Mariners had to dip into the minor league staff to shore up the staff in the major leagues.

The more depth Seattle has in its pitching, the better position it will be in to navigate injuries or setbacks next season.

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