Seattle Mariners Didn't Make Moves, But Winter Meetings Still Went Their Way

The Seattle Mariners didn’t do any wheeling and dealing this week in Orlando, Fla. at the winter meetings, but they were still helped by what did transpire.

Let’s explain:

When Devin Williams left the New York Yankees for the New York Mets, the fear was that they were going to get super aggressive for Diaz, making life tougher for the Mariners in two regular season series – and in a potential postseason series. Furthermore, there was fear that he could end up with the Toronto Blue Jays, who just beat the Mariners in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

Instead, he went to the Los Angeles Dodgers, staying in the National League, and not going to either of the M’s American League competition.

Similarly, Schwarber, who hit 56 home runs for the Phillies in 2025, elected to go back to Philadelphia, rather than to the Boston Red Sox, who had interest in a reunion with him.

The Phillies and Dodgers are free to battle it out in the National League and if the Mariners meet either of them in the World Series, you take your chances.

Alonso did sign with an American League team – the Baltimore Orioles – but he didn’t sign with Boston, as he was projected by many to do.

We addressed the rest on the Refuse to Lose podcast on Wednesday night:

He didn’t end up with the A’s, the Astros, the Rangers, the Angels. That is a win as well. And Pete Alonso in Baltimore makes Baltimore better, which makes that division better, which makes that division harder to win and harder to win in. And look, if Pete Alonso steals away a win or two from the Red Sox, from the Blue Jays, from the Yankees, that makes it a little easier for the Mariners to get a better seed in the playoffs.

The Mariners’ goal for 2025 and beyond is to secure the top seed in the AL playoffs, and small advantages, like Pete Alonso taking wins away from divisional rivals, could be crucial for achieving this by ensuring home-field advantage in later playoff rounds.

And you think that’s hyperbole and you think that is picking out needles in a haystack, it’s not. We are talking about a Mariners team in 2025 that missed out on playing games six and seven of the ALCS at home. The Mariners lost games six and seven of the ALCS on the road. The goal is to get the number one seed and have games six and seven, should you need them again, at home, in your ballpark.

So if you are looking to do that in 2026, and that is the goal, it’s going to come down to little margins. And if Pete Alonso can help the Orioles knock the Blue Jays from 94 wins to 92, that could be all it takes to get the Mariners the number one seed. If he can knock the Yankees down a win or 2, knock the Red Socks down a win or 2, you’re talking about easier tiebreakers for the Mariners, and you’re talking about the ability to play games six and seven at home.

We talked more about this on the most recent episode of the podcast with ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney.

The Astros and Rangers didn’t do anything, which helps the Mariners also.

The Mariners are working to re-sign Jorge Polanco, but haven’t been able to do it yet. If nothing gets done before the Christmas holiday, there will probably be a lull in the action until after the New Year.

What will Mariners look for in spring training from Colt Emerson?

Could James Paxton come out of retirement for WBC?

Cal Raleigh gets his backup at WBC, here’s how it impacts the Mariners

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Seattle Mariners Didn’t Make Moves, But Winter Meetings Still Went Their Way

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