The Seattle Mariners are facing a significant change to their minor league system following the conclusion of the 2026 Major League Baseball season. A total of 36 players from the organization are set to enter minor league free agency, giving the franchise several roster decisions to address as it prepares for the next season.
Under MLB’s minor league free agency rules, players on minor league contracts whose agreements expire become eligible to test the open market five days after the conclusion of the World Series. This annual process allows eligible players to explore opportunities with other organizations rather than remain tied to their previous clubs.
The 2026 offseason is no different. With the World Series completed, players whose minor league contracts expired at the end of the season are now eligible to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Every MLB organization faces this situation, although the number of players involved varies considerably from one franchise to another.
Baseball America compiles the annual lists of minor league free agents across MLB organizations, providing a useful overview of the players who are becoming available. Most teams typically have a combination of young players who have spent several seasons developing in the lower levels, experienced professionals who signed short-term minor league agreements, and prospects who have yet to establish themselves as major league options.
However, Seattle’s list stands out because of its size.
The Mariners have 36 players entering minor league free agency, an unusually large group that includes pitchers, catchers, infielders and outfielders. Several names will be familiar to baseball followers because they have previously attracted attention as prospects or accumulated experience at the major league level.
Mariners Have 36 Players Entering Free Agency
According to the list compiled by Baseball America, 36 players from the Mariners organization are eligible to become minor league free agents following the 2026 season.
The group includes 19 right-handed pitchers, four left-handed pitchers, two catchers, one first baseman, three third basemen, two shortstops and five outfielders.
Here is the complete list of Seattle’s departing minor league players:
Right-handed pitchers
- William Armbruester
- Taylor Dollard
- Dane Dunning
- Scott Effross
- Carson Fulmer
- Nick Garcia
- Domingo González
- Ben Hernandez
- Nick Hull
- Nolan Kingham
- Conor Larkin
- Pedro Lemos
- Adam Leverett
- Gabe Mosser
- Jean Muñoz
- Adrián Quintana
- Houston Roth
- Troy Watson
- Simeon Woods Richardson
Left-handed pitchers
- Jhonathan DÃaz
- Caleb Franzen
- Lael Lockhart
- Josh Simpson
Catchers
- Jacob Nottingham
- Jakson Reetz
First baseman
- Patrick Wisdom
Third basemen
- Andy Ibáñez
- Luis Suisbel
- Will Wilson
Shortstops
- Axel Sánchez
- Weston Wilson
Outfielders
- Daniel Amaral
- Stuart Fairchild
- Connor Joe
- César Quintas
- Sammy Siani
The distribution shows that pitching accounts for the largest share of the players leaving the organization through minor league free agency. Seattle has 23 pitchers on the list, including 19 right-handers and four left-handers. The remaining 13 players cover the various offensive positions.
For the Mariners, this represents a substantial number of minor league contracts reaching their expiration point at the same time. It also creates an opportunity for the organization to reconsider how it wants to allocate roster places and which players it would like to retain.
Several Familiar Names Feature on the List
Although minor league free agency lists frequently contain players who have received limited attention outside their respective organizations, Seattle’s group includes several recognizable names.
Among the position players, Jacob Nottingham, Jakson Reetz, Patrick Wisdom, Andy Ibáñez, Will Wilson, Weston Wilson, Stuart Fairchild and Connor Joe are particularly notable.
These players have either attracted attention during their development as prospects or experienced opportunities in the major leagues. Their presence makes Seattle’s list more interesting than a collection of relatively unknown minor league players.
Nottingham and Reetz are the two catchers included in the group. Both have previously been associated with professional baseball at higher levels, giving Seattle two experienced catching options among the players whose contracts have expired.
Patrick Wisdom is another recognizable name. The first baseman has previously established himself as a major league player, making his inclusion notable compared with the younger prospects who typically appear on minor league free agency lists.
Andy Ibáñez also brings major league experience to the group. The third baseman has been among the recognizable position players associated with this offseason’s list.
Will Wilson and Weston Wilson are two additional names worth watching. Both are listed as infielders, although they occupy different positions in Seattle’s organizational breakdown. Their availability gives other clubs an opportunity to evaluate whether either player could fit into their future minor league plans.
The outfield group also contains players with recognizable professional backgrounds. Stuart Fairchild and Connor Joe are among the names that stand out, alongside Daniel Amaral, César Quintas and Sammy Siani.
For organizations looking for additional depth, these players could attract interest depending on their individual circumstances, performance histories and the opportunities available elsewhere.
Importantly, becoming a minor league free agent does not automatically mean a player will leave professional baseball or that another organization will sign him. It simply means the player is no longer restricted by his expired minor league agreement with Seattle and can explore other opportunities.
Pitching Group Includes Experienced Players
Seattle’s list is particularly large on the pitching side, with 23 pitchers becoming eligible for minor league free agency.
While many of the names may be less familiar to casual MLB followers, several have previously received attention because of their professional experience.
Dane Dunning, Carson Fulmer and Simeon Woods Richardson are three of the more recognizable pitchers included in the group.
All three have connections to major league baseball, making their inclusion noteworthy. Their experience separates them from some of the less established arms on the list, who may have spent most of their professional careers working through the minor league system.
Scott Effross is another name that stands out among the right-handed pitchers. Taylor Dollard and William Armbruester also feature in the group, alongside Nick Garcia, Domingo González and the other pitchers whose contracts have expired.
The left-handed pitching group consists of Jhonathan DÃaz, Caleb Franzen, Lael Lockhart and Josh Simpson.
With 23 pitchers included, Seattle could face several decisions about how much of its existing minor league pitching depth it wants to preserve. Organizations generally need a steady supply of pitchers across their affiliates, particularly because injuries, promotions and performance changes can quickly affect the available depth.
The Mariners will therefore have to assess their current pitching requirements and determine whether any of these players remain suitable candidates for new agreements.
However, the expiration of a contract does not mean Seattle has already decided against retaining the player. The organization can still negotiate new minor league deals with eligible players if it believes they can contribute to its system.
Seattle Could Still Bring Some Players Back
Despite the number of players entering free agency, the Mariners are not necessarily losing all 36 permanently.
Minor league free agency gives eligible players the opportunity to negotiate with other organizations. It does not prevent their former clubs from making new offers.
Seattle can still approach players on the list and attempt to bring them back on fresh contracts. Whether that happens will depend on the organization’s evaluation of each player, its roster requirements and the opportunities available to both sides.
Some players may prefer to remain with an organization where they are already familiar with the coaching staff, development structure and facilities. Others may decide that moving to another franchise offers a better opportunity to reach the major leagues or secure a more suitable role.
The same applies to Seattle. The organization does not necessarily need to retain every eligible player. It can focus on those it believes have the best chance of contributing to its minor league system or providing useful organizational depth.
This is a normal part of MLB’s offseason business, even though the Mariners’ total of 36 players makes their situation particularly noticeable.
Mariners Face the Task of Replenishing Their Minor League System
The most immediate consequence of this large free agency group is the need to maintain adequate organizational depth.
Minor league systems require a constant flow of players. Young prospects move through different levels, established players receive promotions, and others leave through trades, releases or free agency. Without regularly adding replacements, organizations can find themselves short of players in particular positions or levels.
Seattle will need to consider how its minor league rosters look heading into the next season and whether additional signings are necessary to fill the spaces created by departing players.
The Mariners could pursue new minor league free agents from other organizations, sign international or domestic players where appropriate, or reach agreements with some of their own eligible players.
The offseason also gives the franchise an opportunity to identify areas where it needs additional depth. With so many pitchers appearing on the list, maintaining a balanced supply of arms across the minor league affiliates will likely be one of the considerations.
The position-player group also requires attention, particularly when considering the need to maintain sufficient coverage at catcher, infield and outfield positions.
For Seattle, the challenge will be finding the right balance between retaining familiar players and creating opportunities for new additions.
The organization has several decisions ahead, but the list itself does not indicate that all 36 players will be replaced immediately or that the Mariners intend to move in a particular direction.
What it does establish is that a significant number of players are now free to explore opportunities outside Seattle.
As the offseason progresses, the Mariners are expected to make additional minor league roster moves as they work to maintain the depth of their organization. Some familiar names could return, while others may continue their careers with different MLB franchises.
The 36-player list is therefore an early indication of the amount of roster activity Seattle could face during the offseason. With contracts expiring across several positions, the Mariners have plenty of work to do as they prepare their minor league system for the 2027 campaign.
