> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Hindsight is 20/26: Re-Grading the Mariners’ Offseason Moves - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/revisiting-offseason-moves-seattle-mariners-grades-brendan-donovan/ - Published: 2026-09-05T00:32:28.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:55:20.000Z - Author: Nick Lee - Tags: Analysis, Mariners, Brendan Donovan, Jose A. Ferrer, Josh Naylor The MLB regular season is heading into a sprint to the finish. There are roughly four weeks left until the playoff picture is set. The Seattle Mariners still have a chance to be in the dance, though those hopes are fading with each loss, including a series-opening defeat at the hands of the lowly Athletics on Thursday. The Mariners certainly made moves over the offseason to try and capitalize on their trip to the ALCS last year. But fans definitely felt like they could’ve done even more, and the results on the field only have provided more evidence for that argument. Let’s revisit some of the biggest moves the Mariners made last offseason and see how things played out. Certainly, the benefit of hindsight makes this a little unfair. Some moves that aren’t exactly looking like “A-plus” moves now felt like it back then, in the moment. ### **Traded for INF/OF Brendan Donovan** The Mariners swung a deal before Spring Training for Donovan, thinking he would be a big piece of the top of their lineup as a table-setter after several strong seasons with the Cardinals. They liked his gritty style of play and ability to get on base consistently. Donovan is a consistent ball player, with a career .362 on-base percentage. When he has been on the field in a Mariners uniform this season, Donovan has been as advertised at the plate. His .371 on-base percentage leads the squad. Unfortunately, that is with only 39 games played. Donovan has missed 101 games this season, which certainly can be put on the list of reasons why the Mariners have floundered below expectations. It seems unfair to give this trade a failing grade given that, when on the field, Donovan remains a solid player. Seattle sent Ben Williamson to the Rays as part of this three-team deal. Don’t look now, but Williamson has a higher WAR in 2026 than Donovan, mostly due to the Seattle infielder’s injury-plagued year. *Grade: C-* ### **Traded for LHP Jose A. Ferrer** Harry Ford rose to Seattle’s fourth-best prospect in 2025, ranking 65th overall per MLB Pipeline. Trading him away was significant, even if he was blocked at catcher by Cal Raleigh. Trading him to acquire a middle reliever with a career 4.36 ERA in parts of three seasons was certainly a risk. The Mariners liked what the southpaw Ferrer offered to their bullpen, however, and they pulled the trigger, dealing the young catcher as part of a package to the Nationals. The lefty has had an uneven season with Seattle. Ferrar started off hot, posting a stifling 1.55 ERA in his first 32 appearances with the club, dating through early June. Since then, however, it has been a slog through the summer. In the subsequent 32 appearances, he owns a 5.90 ERA while allowing five homers and walking half as many as he is striking out. Given Seattle parted with a prized prospect in Ford to get Ferrer, he needs to get some *big* outs down the stretch for the Mariners when it really counts. *Grade: B-* ### **Re-signed Josh Naylor to a five-year, $92.5 million contract** The Mariners kicked off the festivities during the 2025 trade deadline by acquiring Naylor in a deal with the Diamondbacks. It seemed like a match made in heaven. He said all the right things and the fans grew to love him down the stretch of the 2025 season. In 54 games in a Mariners uniform, he posted an .831 OPS and slugged nine homers. Then he batted .340 in the postseason, with three homers all coming in the ALCS against the Blue Jays. Re-signing Naylor seemed like a no-brainer. Most Mariners fans were overjoyed when the news broke that Seattle and the veteran first baseman had agreed to a new deal to keep him here through 2030\. Unfortunately, things have soured this season. His slugging percentage is down a full 100 points from last year, dipping his OPS+ from 139 with the run in Seattle last season to just 99 so far this year. Perhaps next year, the pressure will be less with the new deal farther in the rearview mirror and Naylor bounces back. For now, he is one of the biggest disappointments of this Mariners team. *Grade: D* ### Signed Rob Refsnyder to a one-year, $6.25 million contract We don’t need to beat this one to death. In search of a lefty-mashing, right-handed bat, the Mariners landed on Refsynder. That was an unmitigated disaster. In 53 games, totaling 129 plate appearances, he hit just .140 with four homer and a putrid 34 OPS+. His .211 on-base percentage ranked 419th among the 420 batters this season with at least 120 plate appearances. After a lengthy injured list visit, he was promptly released by the team in early August. *Grade: F* ### **Letting Jorge Polanco walk** Polanco was a hard player to figure out for Mariners fans. In 2024, he hit just .213 with a meager 92 OPS+. Then in 2025, something clicked. He hit 26 home runs with a stellar .821 OPS in the regular season. October came and Polanco got even hotter. “Playoff Polanco” was born when he collected three hits, including two homers, in ALDS Game 2 against the Tigers. That included taking Tarik Skubal deep to increase their lead late. He hit a three-run homer to give Seattle a lead in Game 2 of the ALCS. Fans were split on how to handle him as a pending free agent. The organization eventually let him walk, as he signed with the Mets. With the benefit of hindsight, that was a good move. Essentially, they replaced him with Cole Young going full-time and trading for Brendan Donovan. Meanwhile, Polanco was having a miserable season for the Mets, batting .148 with a horrid 21 OPS+, before being lost for the season with an injury. *Grade: A* ### **Let Eugenio Suarez walk** This was another move that somewhat split the fanbase. Eugenio “Geno” Suarez was a huge fan favorite. The clubhouse adored him. He came over from Arizona along with Naylor at the 2025 deadline. He struggled for the most part in his Seattle reunion. But he will always be fondly remembered for his grand slam off of current Mariner Seranthony Domínguez to propel the Mariners to a victory over Toronto in Game 5 of the ALCS. That put them up three games to two in the series and on the doorstep of a World Series berth. What happened after that wasn’t his fault. Much like Polanco, Suarez signed elsewhere, opting for another reunion, this time with the Reds. Also like Polanco, Suarez struggled mightily this year. Despite hitting 20 homers, his OPS was barely over .700 and the team recently designated him for assignment. The Mariners passed on a third tour of duty and he cleared waivers and is back with the team. Doesn’t sound like Seattle is missing much, minus the good vibes in the clubhouse. *Grade: B*