Seattle Mariners 2026 Deals: Six of Seven Arbitration-Eligible Players

Seattle Mariners Arbitration Update: Contracts Agreed, One Case Headed for a Hearing

The Seattle Mariners hit a key point in their offseason as MLB’s arbitration deadline arrived. With most of their business done, the club agreed to one-year contracts with six out of seven arbitration-eligible players. That leaves just one unresolved case.

This situation shows how the Mariners value their core guys and how the front office keeps a close eye on payroll. There’s a lot to unpack here.

Mariners Reach Agreements Ahead of Arbitration Deadline

As Thursday’s deadline passed, the Mariners found common ground with most of their arbitration-eligible players. President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has always preferred to avoid the drama of arbitration hearings.

Seattle finalized one-year deals with Randy Arozarena, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Gabe Speier, Matt Brash, and Luke Raley. These contracts bring some roster stability heading into spring training.

Only Bryce Miller Remains Unsigned

The only exception is right-hander Bryce Miller, whose case looks headed for an arbitration hearing unless something changes last minute. Miller filed for $2.625 million, while the Mariners countered at $2.25 million.

If they don’t settle, both sides will make their arguments to a three-person arbitration panel just before spring training. Dipoto’s record here is interesting—Seattle’s only gone to arbitration once since 2020, so this standoff feels unusual.

Evaluating Bryce Miller’s Complicated Case

Miller’s arbitration numbers tell a messy story. Injuries limited him to just 18 starts in 2025.

The results weren’t great—his least effective season so far.

Regular-Season Struggles, Postseason Impact

He posted career-worst marks in several categories: a 5.68 ERA, 3.4 walks per nine innings, a 1.406 WHIP, and only 7.4 strikeouts per nine. That’s a big reason why the Mariners made a conservative offer.

Still, Miller’s camp will point to his ability to show up in big moments. He made two pivotal postseason starts against Toronto and helped stabilize the rotation when the pressure was highest.

Big Raises for Seattle’s Core Players

While Miller’s situation hangs in the balance, the rest of the arbitration class did well for themselves. Seattle’s agreements show confidence in a roster built around young, controllable talent.

Arozarena Leads the Way

Randy Arozarena landed the biggest deal, signing for $15.65 million in his final year of arbitration. That’s a big jump from his $11.3 million salary in 2025 and speaks to his value both on the field and in the clubhouse.

On the pitching side, Logan Gilbert agreed to $10.927 million in his third arbitration year. George Kirby settled at $6.65 million in his second.

What It Means for the Mariners Moving Forward

All told, the seven arbitration-eligible players account for a $6.7 million increase over the $26.4 million they earned last season. The Mariners’ 40-man roster is now full.

Any further additions will mean someone else has to go. That’s just how it works.

Strategic Stability Heading Into Spring Training

Seattle was one of just 18 MLB teams with players who exchanged arbitration figures rather than agreeing outright. That puts them squarely in the middle of a league-wide trend.

The Mariners managed to settle six of seven cases. That really says something about their disciplined approach to negotiation.

Spring training’s almost here, and folks are wondering about Bryce Miller’s status. Whether they find a compromise or go through arbitration, how his case wraps up will shape Seattle’s financial and competitive plans for the season.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Seattle Mariners agree with 6 of 7 arbitration-eligible players