The Seattle Mariners traded for Boston Red Sox right-handed prospect Alex Hoppe on Tuesday, giving them another intriguing bullpen arm possibility for 2026. However, since the Mariners didn't have a 40-man roster spot available, they had to make a corresponding roster move.

That move? Designating left-hander Tayler Saucedo for assignment.

The Seattle native was well-liked by fans for his engaging personality and his local ties, and he left a heartwarming message on social media in wake of the news.

What an incredible dream come true these past 3 years has been. It was an honor to be able to wear that Seattle Mariners jersey everyday. Thank you to my teammates and to the fans for changing my life. So many moments I’ll carry with me forever. Seattle will always be home.

The options for Saucedo moving forward

Because he was designated for assignment, the Mariners can look for trade partners for Saucedo. However, if they can't find one, he could be non-tendered, which would lead to him becoming a full-fledged free agent.

About Saucedo's career

Now 32, Saucedo has spent parts of five seasons in the big leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays and Mariners. He was solid in 2023, going 3-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 52 games, and he repeated that in 2024, going 2-0 with a 3.49 in 53 games. However, he struggled in limited action in 2025, going 0-0 with a 7.43 ERA in 10 appearances (13.1 innings).

About the Mariners bullpen now

Andres Munoz, Matt Brash, Gabe Speier and Eduard Bazardo would figure to have prominent roles once again, and Carlos Vargas seems capable of holding down a swing role again.

The other three spots in the 'pen? Seattle would likely want to get one more lefty in, and then they can draw from a collection of interesting arms, including former trade acquisition Gregory Santos and youngster Troy Taylor.

However, Hoppe fits into that mix, as does Trent Thornton, who is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Cole Wilcox and Ryan Loutos were also acquired this offseason and are on the 40-man roster, meaning that the race for the last bullpen spots could be an interesting one through the spring.

And of course, there's the chance that the M's will go out and acquire another bullpen arm this offseason. We recently wrote about their financial situation in the wake of the Josh Naylor contract news becoming official.

Josh Naylor's Contract Structure Gives Seattle Mariners More Opportunities This Winter While $92.5 million is a lot of money over five years, the M's will have more money than expected through the rest of the winter.

Related Mariners Stories

LATEST PODCAST IS OUT: Brady Farkas is back for the the latest episode of the Refuse to Lose podcast! He covers the Josh Naylor news from every angle including the message it sends to the clubhouse and fanbase. Also, what's next for Seattle? LISTEN HERE:

DON'T YA KNOW: Former Mariners infielder Robinson Cano played his final game in the United States on Saturday in an emotional sendoff. CLICK HERE: 

TIME TO MOVE ON: The Josh Naylor signing has officially turned the page on the M's offseason, at least to me. CLICK HERE: 

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