The Seattle Mariners enter the Winter Meetings with a sense of urgency, opportunity, and unfinished business. After years of building, reshaping, and recalibrating their roster, Seattle finally enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2025—one that reinvigorated their fanbase and reminded the baseball world that the franchise has the talent and vision to compete at the highest level. Their 90-win campaign wasn’t just a statistical achievement; it marked a symbolic turning point. For the first time since 2001, the Mariners captured the American League West title, ending one of the longest division-title droughts in baseball. Along the way, they also made their first appearance in the American League Championship Series in over two decades.
Despite that success, their postseason run came to a disappointing end at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays. The ALCS loss stung, not only because Seattle was so close to returning to the World Series for the first time in franchise history, but because the series exposed certain vulnerabilities—most notably in the bullpen. Instead of sulking, the Mariners front office pivoted quickly into offseason mode. The first major move came with the re-signing of first baseman Josh Naylor, who agreed to a five-year extension that reinforced Seattle’s commitment to maintaining a strong offensive core.
Still, one signing—even an important one—does not complete an offseason blueprint. The Mariners know they must address other areas if they hope to move from “contender” to “favorite.” And as the Winter Meetings approach, reports indicate that the team has multiple irons in the fire across several positions. One area in particular stands out: the bullpen, which struggled during the ALCS and ultimately contributed to the team’s downfall against Toronto.
According to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, one reliever the Mariners have zeroed in on is St. Louis Cardinals left-hander JoJo Romero. The 29-year-old southpaw is coming off the best season of his career, a breakout year in which he posted a stellar 2.07 ERA across 65 appearances. His consistency, strike-throwing ability, and poise in high-leverage situations made him one of the most valuable bullpen arms in the National League.
Romero’s situation in St. Louis has also drawn attention across the league. He is entering the final year of his contract at a time when the Cardinals appear to be pivoting toward a large-scale retooling. With the organization prioritizing youth, controllable pieces, and long-term assets, it makes sense for them to shop a reliever whose value will likely never be higher. Teams looking to fortify their bullpens have taken notice, and Seattle is firmly in that mix.
From the Mariners’ perspective, pursuing Romero checks several strategic boxes. Not only would he provide stability late in games, but he would also give Seattle a much-needed high-leverage left-handed option—a role they lacked consistency in throughout much of the 2025 season. Romero has experience as both a setup man and a closer, which adds versatility to the back end of the bullpen. Pairing him with current closer Andrés Muñoz would create a formidable late-inning duo, one that could help Seattle shorten games and replicate the type of bullpen dominance that often defines postseason success.
However, there is a catch: interest in Romero is growing. Because multiple teams are expressing varying levels of pursuit, the price to acquire him may be steeper now than it would be midseason. With the trade deadline still months away, some clubs—including Seattle—must weigh the risk of paying more upfront versus potentially losing out to more aggressive suitors. But the Mariners don’t want to repeat their 2025 postseason disappointment, and they may decide that surrendering a slightly larger package of prospects is worth the upgrade.
Fortunately for Seattle, their farm system gives them flexibility. The Mariners have accumulated an impressive stockpile of young, controllable arms—exactly what the Cardinals are searching for. St. Louis has been vocal about wanting to add pitching depth that fits their long-term trajectory, and Seattle can offer that without compromising its own competitive core. That alignment of needs makes the Mariners and Cardinals natural partners in trade discussions.
Moreover, Romero might not be the only Cardinal Seattle has eyes on. Recent reports indicate that the Mariners also have interest in versatile infielder Brendan Donovan, another player who fits their desire to add contact hitting and lineup flexibility. While a Donovan trade would require a different—and likely more substantial—package, the fact that Seattle is engaged on multiple St. Louis players shows that conversations between the two front offices could take several paths.
As the Winter Meetings draw nearer, anticipation continues to build around what Seattle will do. With only two days remaining before executives from all 30 teams gather under one roof, the sense around the league is that the Mariners will be one of the most active clubs. Their competitive window is open right now, and after winning the division for the first time in nearly a quarter-century, the front office is motivated to ensure 2025 was not a one-off, but rather the beginning of a sustained era of contention.
The bullpen remains the most glaring area in need of reinforcement. During the regular season, Seattle’s relievers were mostly steady, posting strong numbers and helping the team stay afloat during stretches when the offense lagged. But the postseason is a different animal, and the unit faltered at precisely the wrong moment. Late-inning leads slipped away, matchups didn’t work out as planned, and the Mariners suddenly found themselves scrambling for reliable outs against a hard-hitting Blue Jays lineup. Those flaws loomed large in their ALCS defeat, and the front office has seemingly made it a priority to prevent history from repeating itself.
Adding a reliever like Romero would go a long way toward stabilizing the bullpen and creating internal competition. His left-handed dominance would also diversify the unit, giving manager Scott Servais more tactical options when facing power-heavy lineups. For a team like Seattle—built on pitching depth, run prevention, and timely hitting—strengthening the bullpen may be the single most impactful move they can make this winter.
And yet, the bullpen is only one component of a broader offseason strategy. The Mariners continue to scout the trade and free-agent markets for additional offensive reinforcements, rotational depth, and possible defensive upgrades. With the AL West becoming increasingly competitive, every move matters. Houston remains a perennial powerhouse, the Rangers still boast one of the most talented lineups in baseball, and the Angels’ willingness to spend remains a wild card. To retain their division crown, Seattle must push forward aggressively.
The Winter Meetings, historically, have served as a catalyst for blockbuster trades and landscape-shifting decisions. With the Mariners entering 2026 as a team on the cusp of elite status, the stakes are higher than ever. A key bullpen acquisition—such as Romero—could solidify their pitching staff and help address one of their most pressing postseason vulnerabilities. Securing additional lineup depth or a versatile infielder like Donovan could provide even more insurance for a long season.
For Seattle, this upcoming stretch is about momentum. They tasted postseason success last year, but the bitterness of falling short of the World Series lingers. With a strong core already in place and a fanbase more energized than it has been in decades, the Mariners understand what is at stake. The next few days could dictate the trajectory of their 2026 season—and influence whether this era of baseball in Seattle goes down as merely memorable or truly historic.
As the Winter Meetings begin, one thing is clear: the Mariners are not content with simply making it back to October. They want to go further, push deeper, and finally reach the elusive World Series stage that has evaded the franchise since its inception. Reinforcing the bullpen potentially with JoJo Romero—may be the first major step in turning that ambition into reality.
