The Seattle Mariners offseason could determine the franchise's success for years to come.

The Mariners are coming off their most impressive postseason run in franchise history, having advanced to Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

Seattle has the foundation of the team secured for the next several years. The surrounding pieces to that foundation will determine whether the M's can get over the hump and make their first-ever World Series.

Seattle Times reporter Ryan Divish spoke to Mariners general manager Justin Hollander during MLB general manager meeting in Las Vegas, and Hollander laid out some of the team's focuses this offseason.

In a story from Divish, Hollander said the team is focused on running it back and having the 2026 team be as much of a one-to-one return from the club that made it to the ALCS in 2025.

On top of that goal, Hollander said adding bullpen help is a priority.

“The bullpen will be an area of focus for us this offseason, both because of some of the attrition that took place during the year and the realities that our high-leverage group just worked really hard for an extra month of the season," Hollander said in Divish's story. "We would be silly not to expect that to take a toll over time. ... Making the bullpen deeper and longer is important."

Relievers were a focus for Hollander and the rest of Seattle's front office during the trade deadline. On top of acquiring first baseman Josh Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suarez, both from the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team traded for left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Mariners were in trade discussions for other high-leverage relief help and reportedly had an offer in place for Minnesota Twins righty Jhoan Duran. The Twins opted to make a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies instead and Duran pitched the final two months of the season with the National League East champions.

Ferguson, an unrestricted free agent, posted a 3.27 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched across 25 appearances with Seattle. He had three postseason outings and had a 16.88 ERA and fanned two batters in 2.2 innings.

Duran had a 2.18 ERA and struck out 27 batters in 20.2 innings pitched across 23 outings with the Phillies. In the postseason, he fanned seven batters in 3.2 innings across three appearances and didn't allow an earned run.

The Mariners have their high-leverage arms returning in 2026, including two-time All-Star closer Andres Munoz, Matt Brash, Eduard Bazardo and Gabe Speier. If Seattle is able to add more high leverage options to the bullpen, it could boast one of the best pitching staffs in baseball going into 2026.

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