The Seattle Mariners were one of the most disappointing teams in baseball in 2026, finishing at 76-86 and in third place in the American League West.

The M's were also a generally unhealthy team in 2026, with players missing more than 1,450 total days to injury as a result of 29 separate IL stints.

However, with the new league year getting ready to start, guys will come off the injured list and be returned to the 40-man roster, so let's cover some details here.

The day after the World Series ends, all players who are free agents will enter the free agent pool and depart the 40-man roster. This means that Randy Arozarena, JP Crawford, Hoby Milner, and Taylor Ward will all exit, opening up four spots on the 40-man.

The Mariners will have five days to exclusively negotiate with their own free agents, and to offer Arozarena a qualifying offer, and after that five-day window, the new league year will begin.

Some players, like Brock Rodden and Brendan Donovan, ended the season on the injured list, but not on the 60-day IL. These players are already on the 40-man roster and are currently accounted for.

Beyond that? Matt Brash, Nick Davila, Logan Evans, Colt Emerson, Will Wilson, Brennan Davis and Luke Raley all ended the season on the 60-day injured list. As a result, they are currently off the 40-man roster.

It's obvious that the Mariners will want to retain Brash, Evans, Emerson and Raley. At the very least, those four players can take the 40-man roster spots of the departing free agents.

If the Mariners want to keep any of the other three? They will have to make additional roster moves.

The Mariners hold a team option on outfielder Victor Robles that is expected to be declined. The M's will also have the first five days after the World Series to exercise or decline that. Assuming they do decline, then Robles's exit will open up another 40-man roster spot.

Until all this happens, the Mariners will focus on hiring a new manager to replace Dan Wilson. We know that they are interviewing Joe Espada, formerly of the Houston Astros, and they are also interested in former Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. He was let go after the 2025 season and spent this season working with the Los Angeles Dodgers.