The Seattle Mariners have spent most of this offseason attempting to bolster their roster after coming one win away from the first World Series appearance in franchise history this past season.

So far this winter, the Mariners have signed first baseman Josh Naylor to a five-year contract, backup catcher Andrew Knizner to a one-year deal, first baseman/outfielder Rob Refsnyder to a one-year contract and acquired high-leverage left-handed reliever Jose Ferrer in a trade with the Washington Nationals.

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Seattle has also been rumored to be involved in trade and free agent discussions with several other players this offseason.

Many Mariners fans would likely welcome several different additions as late Christmas gifts. Here’s who the M’s should add to the team:

Of all the players Seattle has been linked to, there’s been the most steam surrounding the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2025 All-Star.

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The Mariners’ interest in Donovan dates back to last offseason and it’s easy to understand why.

Donovan is under team control via arbitration through the 2027 season.

Donovan also fits into the team’s current and future roster holes well. He’ll be able to take over at second base in 2026, filling the hole left by Jorge Polanco’s departure to the New York Mets, and can slide to left field in ’27 if the club elects not to re-sign Randy Arozarena.

Donovan’s positional versatility, cheaper cost, less-committed years and age works for Seattle’s situation. It also makes him more of a desirable acquisition than Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, who the M’s have also been linked to.

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Donovan scored 64 runs in 118 games, and hit 32 doubles and 10 home runs with 50 RBIs in 2025. He slashed .287/.353/.422 with a .775 OPS.

The Mariners had three key free agents this offseason: Naylor, Polanco and third baseman Eugenio Suarez. It was considered that Suarez would be the most unlikely to return to the team.

Suarez was brought back to Seattle on July 31 in a trade with the Diamondbacks. Despite being one of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball this past season (49 home runs), his overall numbers decreased after he joined the Mariners.

He scored 27 runs in 53 games, and hit nine doubles and 13 home runs after the trade. He also chipped in with 31 RBIs and slashed .189/.255/.428 with a .683 OPS. He slashed .248/.320/.576 with an .896 OPS in 106 games with Arizona.

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Recently, there’s been more talk about a potential reunion between Suarez and Seattle.

Despite his numbers, Suarez still was able to make an impact when it mattered most. He hit two home runs in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Oct. 17, including a go-ahead, eighth-inning grand slam.

Suarez is a fan-favorite among Mariners fans and is one of the most-respected players in the clubhouse from his years with the club in 2022-23 and ’25. It would also allow Seattle to slowly bring in top prospect Colt Emerson, who has been speculated to be in the mix to be the team’s Opening Day third baseman.

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The bullpen has been an ever-changing, ever-evolving unit over the last several seasons.

This past season was no different.

Fairbanks is a free agent after spending the better part of seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s coming off a season where he posted a 2.83 ERA and had 27 saves in 32 opportunities in a career-high 61 appearances.

Seattle doesn’t need Fairbanks. It already has back-to-back All-Star closer Andres Munoz and has solid-to-elite set-up arms in Ferrer, Gabe Speier, Matt Brash and Eduard Bazardo. Ferrer also has experience as a closer with the Nationals.

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But 2025 proved, both with the Mariners and around the league, that a team can have no shortage of pitching. Adding Fairbanks, who could be cheap, would allow Seattle’s relievers to not be overtaxed, and would give them multiple late-game options.

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