Bo Bichette #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays jogs back to the dugout after the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at the Rogers Centre on April 9, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Despite plenty of trade speculation surrounding Ketel Marte and Brenden Donovan, the Seattle Mariners have yet to make a move on either player in the offseason. While Seattle has been linked to several infield options over the last few months, nothing has moved forward quite yet. Now, a new name has entered the mix, adding another layer to the Mariner’s offseason decisions.
On Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Mariners are a “potential landing spot” for All-Star infielder Bo Bichette. Seattle was not high on the list of potential teams in Heyman’s report. However, being mentioned puts the Mariners back into the broader conversation surrounding one of the offseason’s most talked-about infielders.
Mariner’s Interest in Bichette
Heyman offered few details on Seattle’s level of involvement. He noted only that the Mariners “haven’t been aggressive yet.” Ahead of Seattle, Heyman listed seven other potential destinations for the Blue Jays shortstop. These include the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets.
While the lack of specifics makes it difficult to know how realistic a deal might be, it is still noteworthy that the Mariners were included at all. Bichette has been at the center of persistent trade rumors throughout the offseason, and his name continues to surface as teams assess their infield needs and financial situations. For Seattle, the fit is obvious on paper. Bichette is a proven All-Star bat with postseason experience who could help stabilize an offense that has struggled with consistency.
At the same time, the Mariners’ current approach aligns with what has been seen from the club all winter long. Seattle has explored options, but has yet to commit to significant outside resources. Their decisions suggest that the front office may be waiting for trade prices to become more favorable.
Mariners Budget
The potential pursuit of Bichette would likely come down to finances. Based on what is known about the Mariners’ payroll, they aim to spend roughly the same in 2026 as they did in 2025. With much of that budget already allocated, adding a player with stunning contract demands would likely require significant roster moves.
To make Bichette fit, Seattle would likely need to offload some salaries through trades. They would potentially need to part with established players in order to create the flexibility needed. That may explain why the Mariners have not made many moves, despite being linked to high-profile names. They seem set on keeping as much of their core intact as possible in hopes of recreating their 2025 success.
Meanwhile, competition for Bichette appears to be heating up. According to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb and Ken Rosenthal, Bichette and the Phillies met earlier today.
For now, the Mariners sit on the edge of the Bichette conversation, a familiar position for the team this offseason. Whether that changes will depend on both budget considerations and how willing the front office is to push forward in pursuit of a major addition like Bichette, and at what cost it might come to the overall team.
Sydney Jones Sydney Jones is a sports writer covering all things Golf, Mariners, and Seahawks for Heavy.com. She has experience covering the intersection of sports and human interest stories for multiple publications. Originally from Montana, she recently relocated to Seattle and is enjoying the new experience of being surrounding by live professional sports and rooting for a common team while writing about them. More about Sydney Jones
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