The Seattle Mariners were the surprise team of the past season. They were the “underdog story,” and after falling one game short of the World Series, they didn’t waste time getting to business. Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander walked into the winter knowing one truth—they couldn’t let go of Josh Naylor. Not after the eclectic jolt he gave the team. And definitely not after the way the clubhouse lit up after he came in.

Plus, their offense sagged for years, without a real answer at first base. They needed Naylor anyhow.

But while everything is exceptional about this homecoming, ESPN just highlighted a major flaw. ESPN’s David Schoenfield highlighted, “He’s not a star — 3.1 WAR in 2025 was a career high — but he’s a safe, predictable player to bank on for the next few years. This deal runs through his age-33 season, so maybe there’s some risk at the end of the contract, but for a team with World Series aspirations in 2026, the Mariners needed to bring Naylor back. The front office will be happy with this signing and so will Mariners fans.”

Sometimes you have to turn a blind eye to things, and the Mariners did just that.

On Sunday night, the Mariners pulled the trigger. Jeff Passan broke the news that the Mariners and Naylor had agreed to a five-year deal. This makes him the first major free agent to come off the list. No slow play or waiting for the winter meetings. The Mariners had decided what they needed to do before. Hollander had said, “It was a great fit, and it’s definitely a priority for us this offseason—if not this one, I don’t know what else would be; he’s No. 1 right now.” And they were not lying. So, the grim aspect of Schoenfield is something the front office knew, but decided to go for it.

Given that Cal Raleigh needed this backing, this is a move that makes a lot of sense, too. And honestly, who can blame them for a reunion? Naylor’s run after the deadline was lights out—a .299 average, 33 RBIs, nine homers, and 19 steals in just 54 games. His energy was simply contagious and lit up the entire fanbase. Plus, his love for hitting at T-Mobile Park is a rare gift in itself. Meanwhile, there is other news that may have gone under the rug with this high-profile news, but it is definitely a huge addition for the team.

Mariners add a sneaky-important arm

While most of Sunday night’s buzz in Seattle was around the splashy Josh Naylor coming back deal, the Mariners actually slipped in another move. And sure, it did not grab headlines, but it could matter a lot when summer comes. Jerry Dipoto added more pitching depth and got left-handed reliever Robinson Ortiz from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for minor league right-hander Tyler Gough.

The team announced the news shortly after the Naylor news broke, and also noted that the 40-man roster is not sitting at 39 players. As far as Ortiz is concerned, he is 25 years old and coming off a strong season from within the Dodgers system. He has worked across High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. In fact, in Triple-A Oklahoma City alone, he had posted a 2.76 ERA in 25 appearances.

Those are solid numbers in a league where ERA tends to balloon up. He wrapped up 2025 with a 3.19 ERA in 48 appearances, striking out 72 in 59.1 innings. It is great for a pitcher who is still fine-tuning his command. His arrival didn’t have much fanfare, and it’s fine. These are the low-key strategic moves that winning teams make. These low-risk bets on arms could turn to become meaningful contributors. Seattle Mariners’ bullpen finished 2025 ranked ninth in MLB with a 3.72 ERA, and adding a lefty who is young only strengthens the team heading into next season.

If Ortiz does end up impressing in spring training, who knows? He could end up on the opening day roster, too. If not, he is still just a call away in Triple-A, busy developing the Mariners’ pitching-first philosophy. For him, it’s a win-win.

One thing is for sure: the Mariners are stacking depth everywhere—they have no plans to slow down.