The Mariners have enough work to do at the plate without putting Randy Arozarena’s production on their list of offseason needs. Despite divided feelings about Arozarena, there’s a problem with letting him walk. Seattle would enter an offseason devoted to improving its offense by creating another sizable hole in it. Before we applaud the fact that the Mariners would “save money” (which would be a weird thing to applaud), we need to see who is standing in left field and where the missing offense is coming from.

Arozarena finished 2026 with a .281/.381/.484 slash line, 26 home runs and 26 stolen bases. An offense that disappointed still had a hitter getting on base at a .381 clip and doing damage once he got there. Doesn’t Seattle need more of that? Watching it leave would simply make the assignment harder.

The Athletic projects a five-year, $124 million contract for Arozarena and lists the Mariners among his best fits.…