"It looks like the club will keep spending at at least this higher level in 2026, as president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto told the Seattle Times' Adam Jude and other reporters at the season wrap-up press conference on Thursday. When asked what the Mariners' payroll for next season, Dipoto said " I would say similar to where we ended the year, as a starting point," with the potential to boost spending during the season for trade deadline additions."
"bringing in left-hander Caleb Ferguson from the Pirates. These swaps added roughly $9.5MM to Seattle's payroll but the money was clearly worth it. Naylor went nuclear during the remainder of the regular season and through the playoffs, Ferguson pitched well in the regular season, and Suarez was a little more inconsistent but had some big postseason moments (like his two homers in Game 5 of the ALCS)."
The Mariners finished 2025 with a franchise-record payroll estimated between $165.2MM and $166.2MM, topping the prior roughly $161.8MM figure. The club plans to begin 2026 at a similar payroll level, while retaining flexibility to add salary during the season for trade-deadline acquisitions. Midseason trades for Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarez and Caleb Ferguson increased payroll by about $9.5MM and delivered significant on-field contributions in the regular season and postseason. Spending had been restrained in recent offseasons due largely to uncertainty over TV broadcasting rights, but ownership approved a larger budget this summer as contention deepened.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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