The Seattle Mariners find themselves in a familiar situation this offseason so familiar, in fact, that it feels like a conversation that was already exhausted a year ago. Yet here they are again, retracing the same steps, revisiting the same rumors, and being linked to the same names. After the excitement surrounding the Josh Naylor signing faded, the Mariners returned to a state of relative silence, doing little to hint at their next move. And when a franchise remains quiet for too long, the rumor mill begins spinning on its own. In today’s MLB landscape, simply being mentioned as a possible suitor for a free agent or trade candidate can be treated as meaningful progress, even if no real negotiations are happening behind the scenes.
As the winter progresses and the calendar inches closer to spring training, the shape of Seattle’s eventual Opening Day roster remains cloudy. There is no definitive answer yet regarding which players will break camp with the big-league club, which prospects may force their way into consideration, or which external additions the front office might still be targeting. But while the roster picture is far from complete, the team’s most pressing needs are relatively easy to diagnose—especially if the organization wants to position itself as a serious contender heading into the 2026 season. At the top of that list is a legitimate upgrade at third base.
The idea of upgrading the hot corner isn’t new. The Mariners’ struggles to find consistency at third base have been a theme for several seasons, and while the front office has explored multiple avenues, they have yet to land on a long-term answer. The free-agent market could theoretically offer a solution, but only if Seattle is willing to open its wallet on a level it has rarely demonstrated. Alex Bregman is the marquee name available, a player whose combination of defense, plate discipline, postseason pedigree, and offensive production would instantly elevate the lineup. But signing Bregman would require a massive multi-year financial commitment likely one that exceeds what the Mariners have shown any appetite for in recent years.
Once Bregman is removed from the list of possibilities, the remaining free-agent options for third base quickly become unremarkable. Many come with injury concerns, defensive limitations, aging curves that raise red flags, or offensive profiles that don’t significantly move the needle. For a franchise that appears to be in a delicate phase of its competitive timeline a period where every roster move must be calculated and purposeful settling for a stopgap simply for the sake of filling a spot would be a poor choice.
That leaves the trade market, which Seattle explored previously. In fact, this exact discussion was held roughly a year ago, and it centered around the same player whose name has resurfaced now: Alec Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies.
According to a recent ESPN piece authored by insiders Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel, Bohm’s chances of being traded this offseason sit at roughly 50 percent. The Mariners were listed among seven potential landing spots, a sign that industry evaluators see a logical fit on paper between Seattle’s needs and Bohm’s availability. To Mariners fans, this report may feel like déjà vu, as Bohm’s name was floated in similar trade conversations the prior offseason.
But if that’s the case, then a fair question emerges: if Bohm was such a good fit, why did the Mariners enter the 2025 season with Jorge Polanco manning third base instead?
The answer lies in the Phillies’ initial asking price. A year ago, Philadelphia reportedly sought either George Kirby or Logan Gilbert in exchange for Bohm. That type of proposal was completely disproportionate, bordering on unrealistic, especially when considering Bohm’s value at the time. He had accumulated 3.8 rWAR in his career and carried a respectable but hardly elite 104 OPS+ heading into the 2024–25 offseason. Asking for one of Seattle’s frontline young starters a pair of players viewed as foundational pieces was an immediate non-starter. Naturally, negotiations went nowhere.
Fast forward to now, and Bohm’s outlook has become even less appealing. His 2025 campaign did little to improve his trade value and may have even diminished it. Although he finished the season with a .287 batting average an impressive number at face value it masked several troubling trends. His OPS+ dipped to 102, signaling that he was barely above league average offensively. His doubles total cratered from 44 the previous year down to just 18, a massive drop that reflected not only a decline in his extra-base power but a decline in the quality of his contact.
Bohm’s approach at the plate continues to prioritize contact above all else. While that trait can be valuable when paired with strong plate discipline or meaningful gap power, Bohm lacked both in 2025. His walk rate held at a modest 5.8 percent, and his barrel rate ranked in the bottom 25 percent of all qualified hitters. The comparison to Luis Arráez isn’t far off both hit for average, avoid strikeouts, and pride themselves on elite bat-to-ball skills. But Arráez excels because his contact profile is extraordinarily efficient and because he brings defensive versatility. Bohm, meanwhile, combines average-only hitting with limited defensive contributions and almost no added value on the bases.
Defensively, Bohm has hovered slightly below league average at third base throughout most of his career. While he has shown flashes of improvement at times, he has yet to sustain performance that would make him a plus defender at the position. Pair that with his struggles as a baserunner he ranked near the bottom of the league in baserunning value in 2025 and it becomes clear that his overall profile is increasingly narrow.
And then there’s the cost. Bohm is projected to earn around $10.3 million through arbitration next season. For a player with diminishing power, questionable plate discipline, below-average defense, and limited baserunning value, that salary is not insignificant. It’s one of the reasons the Phillies appear highly motivated to find him a new home; shedding his salary could free up resources for other areas of need.
To entice teams, Philadelphia might lower their asking price dramatically. They may even offer Bohm at a discount that requires only minimal prospect capital or no major league talent in return. But even at that reduced price, the question becomes: is he worth the roster spot?
For Seattle, the answer increasingly appears to be no.
Part of the hesitation stems from internal comparisons. Ben Williamson, for example, quietly produced nearly the same amount of rWAR as Bohm last season despite receiving far fewer plate appearances. Williamson offers better defensive value, sharper instincts, and perhaps more untapped potential. Giving him more opportunities could produce better returns at a fraction of the cost.
But more importantly, adding Bohm could block the Mariners from acquiring a more impactful player down the road. Seattle’s front office seems to understand that the organization is at a pivotal point. Decisions made this offseason will shape the franchise’s long-term trajectory, especially as they build around their core of young pitching and carefully chosen offensive pieces. Bringing in a player who offers marginal improvement or in Bohm’s case, possibly no improvement at all would be a short-sighted move that does not align with their broader strategy.
Ultimately, the Mariners need a third baseman who more closely fits the traditional prototype: someone with real power potential, consistent plate discipline, and the ability to anchor the left side of the infield. Bohm checks only one of those boxes, and even then, his reliability is questionable.
As the offseason continues, Seattle may indeed pursue an infielder, but all signs point to the organization targeting a different profile altogether. Whether that means trading for another player, waiting for a better opportunity to present itself, or elevating an internal option like Williamson, the team appears poised to take a more patient and calculated approach.
Whatever happens, one thing seems clear: the Mariners are unlikely to revisit the Alec Bohm experiment for 2026. The conversation may be recurring year after year, but this time the conclusion feels more definitive. The Mariners have evolved past the point where adding Bohm would make meaningful sense. And if they truly want to contend, they must resist the temptation to settle and instead focus on making the right move at the right time.
