After falling just short of a World Series berth, the Seattle Mariners enter the offseason facing a number of important decisions. Their postseason run ended in the American League Championship Series, a reminder of how close they are to being a true championship contender but also of how many choices must now be made to continue building a roster capable of taking the final step. The front office now turns its attention to shaping the 2026 roster, and several major questions are already emerging.
Two of the biggest storylines revolve around veteran third baseman Eugenio Suárez and first baseman/designated hitter Josh Naylor. Both players produced strong performances during the 2025 season, contributing heavily to Seattle’s playoff push, and both are now scheduled to hit free agency. Their situations have become a focal point for fans and analysts alike, as the Mariners must decide whether to commit to long-term deals or explore other avenues to fill those key spots in the lineup. Because they played pivotal roles in the offense over the past year, any decision involving them will significantly influence the team’s identity and the makeup of the everyday batting order going forward.
Despite those looming decisions, the organization has already taken concrete action in one area. Before addressing Suárez, Naylor, or the rest of their offseason priorities, the Mariners made an early, decisive move involving one of their most valuable arms. The team held a contract option worth $6 million for star closer Andrés Muñoz, which would lock him in for the 2026 season. For Seattle, evaluating that option required very little deliberation. Muñoz has been one of the most reliable pieces in their bullpen, consistently demonstrating late-inning dominance and an ability to shut down opponents in critical moments. With his electric fastball, swing-and-miss stuff, and calm presence under pressure, he has earned the trust of both his teammates and the coaching staff.
According to reporting from Francys Romero of beisbolfr.com, the Mariners chose to exercise that club option, officially securing Muñoz for another year. This move signals the team’s commitment to keeping the core of a strong bullpen intact as they pursue the goal of returning to the postseason and pushing beyond the ALCS finish that left them just short of a pennant. By taking care of Muñoz’s contract situation immediately, Seattle is able to enter the remainder of the offseason with one less question mark and with a sense of stability at the back end of the bullpen.
While much uncertainty still surrounds the future of several position players, this decision demonstrates that the Mariners are determined to maintain strengths where they already exist. Keeping Andrés Muñoz in Seattle provides a foundation that can anchor the bullpen while the front office turns its attention to the more complicated decisions still ahead.
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According to reporting from Romero, the Seattle Mariners have officially chosen to exercise their club option on reliever Andrés Muñoz for the 2026 season, picking up the $6 million cost attached to that year. The decision wasn’t surprising in the slightest, and the source indicates it was viewed internally as a routine and almost automatic move. Muñoz has steadily positioned himself as one of the most overpowering late-inning arms in Major League Baseball, making the cost of the option extremely favorable relative to his performance level and his value in the leaguewide marketplace.
Muñoz is still only 26 years old, and the Mariners control his future for several more seasons thanks to a contract that includes club options not only for 2026 but also for 2027 and 2028. This structure gives Seattle flexibility and long-term cost certainty. The dollar figures climb gradually: after the $6 million option in 2026, the contract allows the team to retain him for $8 million in 2027 and $10 million in 2028. Even as the financial commitment increases year to year, the amounts remain modest for a pitcher performing at a dominant, All-Star caliber level.
Because of how steady and dominant Muñoz has been, there was essentially no debate within the organization about whether the 2026 option would be picked up. His pitching style, velocity, and ability to command the late innings have made him a core part of Seattle’s relief corps. He doesn’t just fill a bullpen slot—he defines the bullpen’s identity.
For a Mariners team that leans heavily on pitching and defense to win games, having a weapon like Muñoz at the back end of games is crucial. The team views him as an anchor, someone they want managing the highest-leverage situations for multiple seasons. As long as he continues to pitch at anything close to his current level, there’s little doubt that Seattle will seriously consider exercising the later club options as well.
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Muñoz is coming off yet another elite season, reinforcing why the Mariners value him so highly. In 2025, he recorded his second consecutive All-Star selection and delivered dominant numbers from start to finish. Across 64 games, he posted a microscopic 1.73 ERA, recorded 47 saves, struck out 83 hitters, and worked 62.1 innings with remarkable consistency.
Every aspect of his performance underscored his value: he limited damage, missed bats at a high rate, and excelled in tight, pressurized environments. Very few relievers in baseball reach that level of production, especially across back-to-back seasons, which further highlights how impressive his trajectory has been.
His postseason performance only strengthened his standing. During the playoff run, spanning both the ALDS and ALCS, Muñoz didn’t allow a single earned run. In seven appearances, he pitched 8.1 innings of scoreless baseball, earning two saves while keeping opposing hitters off balance and unable to string together offensive threats. High-pressure innings in October often determine the outcome of entire seasons, and Muñoz showed repeatedly that he could handle those moments without faltering. When games tightened, when the crowd got loud, and when the season was at stake, he remained composed and effective.
Given all of that, bringing him back for 2026 at such a team-friendly salary is a significant win for Seattle’s front office. The Mariners will enter next season with a top-tier closer already in place, giving them stability as they build the rest of their bullpen and address other roster decisions during the offseason. Muñoz doesn’t just fill a role—he gives the entire bullpen structure. With him at the back end, the Mariners can shape the middle innings around matchups and leverage instead of scrambling to find someone to close games.
The expectation internally is that the Mariners will remain playoff contenders, and Muñoz is a major part of their path back to October baseball. He is not only the most trusted late-inning reliever but arguably one of the most valuable pitchers on the team. The combination of age, production, and reasonable contract terms makes him one of the better long-term investments the Mariners have.
Simply put, the move ensures that the Mariners retain one of baseball’s most explosive relievers, someone who can finish games and thrive against the toughest lineups. Muñoz is expected to continue being the heartbeat of Seattle’s bullpen, and the team believes he will play a central role in future postseason pushes.
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