Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon
Scores
All Scores Triple-A Scores Double-A Scores High-A Scores Single-A Scores Rookie Scores
Schedule
Complete Game Schedule Triple-A Schedule Double-A Schedule High-A Schedule Single-A Schedule Rookie Schedule Sync Schedules
Teams
Teams by Affiliate Teams by Name Teams by Class Teams by League Ballparks
Watch
Watch Games Subscribe Highlights Prospect Highlights Streaming FAQ Help Center Gameday Audio Podcast Bally Sports Live
Tickets
Tickets
Shop
MiLB Store Auctions Shop Copa Shop Marvel
Standings
Full Season Rookie Leagues Playoffs
Stats
Full Season Rookie Leagues Trending Players Top Prospect Stats
News
Pipeline Transactions Copa de la Diversión Baseball Traveler MiLB App MiLB Newsletters Sweepstakes & Contests
Prospects
Top 100 Top 30 by Team Top 50 International Draft Top 250 Trending Players
Playoffs
MLB

Rainiers Offseason Tracker

By Andy Helwig
January 15, 2026

With the offseason now in full swing, moves are being made, contracts are getting signed and the stove is hot. While many keep their focus on Major League signings across the league, the Mariners have made a handful of moves that could fill out the Rainiers’ roster in 2026. Here

With the offseason now in full swing, moves are being made, contracts are getting signed and the stove is hot. While many keep their focus on Major League signings across the league, the Mariners have made a handful of moves that could fill out the Rainiers’ roster in 2026. Here are some of the offseason pickups that could potentially suit up for Tacoma this season. This article will be updated as transactions are made official, with players listed alphabetically.

Disclaimer: these are not official roster announcements, merely projections of players that may play for Tacoma in 2026

Cooper Criswell - RHP

The Mariners acquired Criswell via a trade (in exchange for cash) on January 23 after he had been designated for assignment (DFA) by the New York Mets. The 29-year-old has split the last two seasons between the Big Leagues in Boston and Triple-A Worcester. Last year with the WooSox, Criswell went 4-2 with a 3.70 ERA (65.2 IP/27 ER), issuing 28 walks while striking out 68. His time in the Major Leagues has been split between starting and relieving, with more favorable splits as a starter. In 2024, his first extended taste of the Majors, Criswell ranked second among qualified American League rookies in ERA (2nd - 4.08) and win percentage (2nd - .545). He was incredibly consistent with the Red Sox, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 16 of his 18 MLB starts (and two or fewer in 14 of them). Criswell offers a changeup, sinker, cutter and sweeper, getting a good amount of swing-and-miss.

Brennen Davis - OF

A former top prospect in the Chicago Cubs system, Davis signed a minor league contract with the Mariners on December 18, 2025. Davis had spent the bulk of his career with Chicago after they drafted him in the second round of the 2018 draft. In 396 games across seven minor league seasons, Davis has hit .242 with 68 doubles, three triples and 65 home runs, driving in 204 runs. While injuries have gotten in the way, Davis has maintained solid power, cranking 17 home runs in just 50 games last season between Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and minor league rehab assignments with the FCL Yankees and Double-A Somerset. The key for him in 2026 will be staying healthy, as he looks to eclipse 100 games played in a season for the first time in his career.

Randy Dobnak - RHP

Dobnak skyrocketed through the Minnesota Twins' organization in 2019, going all the way from High-A to the Major Leagues. From 2020 through last season, Dobnak bounced between the Major Leagues and Triple-A, both as a starter and a reliever. Signed out of independent baseball by Minnesota in 2017, Dobnak owns a career ground ball rate of 56.8%. He has utilized a sinker and slider combination to keep the ball on the ground and in the yard. Dobnak became Triple-A St. Paul's first 10-game winner in 2024, when he went 12-7 with a 4.25 ERA. The right-hander was traded in 2025 from Minnesota to Detroit as part of the Chris Paddack deal. Between St. Paul and Triple-A Toledo, Dobnak went 2-8 with a 5.84 ERA. Dobnak signed a minor league contract with Seattle on November 17, 2025.

Dane Dunning - RHP

A 2023 World Series Champion, Dunning had quite the resume when the Mariners signed him to a minor league contract on January 22. The 31-year-old is a two-time Texas Rangers Pitcher of the Year (as selected by the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of the BBWAA) and was the first rookie to ever win the award in 2021. He had been a starter for most of his career, but has pitched out of the bullpen in the Big Leagues in the last couple seasons. He'd line up to be a starter in Tacoma, primarily utilizing a cutter and sinker combination, using a changeup and slider as his primary off-speed pitches. Last season, Dunning split time between Texas and Atlanta, as well as their Triple-A affiliates. In the minors, Dunning went 4-2 with a 4.67 ERA, walking 23 and striking out 65 over 69.1 innings. Dunning will fit the mold of strike-throwers that have been in Tacoma, with a solid 7.6% walk rate.

Alex Hoppe - RHP

One of the first moves of the offseason by Seattle, Hoppe was acquired via trade with Boston on November 18 in exchange for C Luke Heyman. The right-handed flamethrower got his first taste of Triple-A experience last season, making 37 relief appearances for Triple-A Worcester. He went 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA, allowing 31 earned runs in 61.1 innings. Hoppe was originally drafted by the Red Sox in the sixth round in 2022 out of UNC Greensboro, rapidly climbing the minor league ladder. He struck out a career-high 73 hitters last season, allowing 34 walks. Hoppe boasted one of the fastest fastballs in Triple-A last season, averaging 98.1 miles per hour. Additionally, he keeps the ball on the ground, much like many Rainiers pitchers in 2025. His 57.4% ground ball rate was one of the best in the circuit.

Ryan Loutos - RHP

After bouncing between three different organizations in 2025, the Mariners claimed Ryan Loutos off of waivers from the Washington Nationals on November 6, 2025. Loutos started the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Memphis in the St. Louis system, then was traded to Los Angeles (NL), where he made two appearances for the Dodgers and seven for Triple-A Oklahoma City and finally claimed by Washington, making 10 outings for the Nationals and 23 for Triple-A Rochester. In 38 combined Triple-A appearances, Loutos went 4-1 with a 3.50 ERA, allowing 17 earned runs in 43.2 innings. He walked just 19 while striking out 42, holding the opposition to a .220 batting average. Loutos averages 95 miles per hour on his fastball, but capitalizes on his off-speed pitches to get chase outside the strike zone, leading to a solid 48.8% ground ball rate. Loutos spun a scoreless frame in his MLB debut in 2024, which can be seen here.

Brian O'Keefe - C

A familiar face to Rainier fans, O'Keefe was signed to a minor league contract on January 30. The 32-year-old backstop suited up for the Rainiers from 2021-23, appearing in 230 games. Last year, O'Keefe started with Triple-A Omaha in the Kansas City Royals system, hitting .158 with five doubles and four home runs in 43 games. He was released on June 23, finishing the season in independent baseball with the Lake Country Dockhounds of the American Association. He finished strong, hitting .288 with 12 doubles and eight bombs in 42 games. O'Keefe swung the bat well in his time in Tacoma, hitting .247 with 49 home runs and 137 RBI in his 230 games as a Rainier.

Robinson Ortiz - LHP

In another November trade by the Mariners, they acquired left-handed reliever Robinson Ortiz from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for RHP Tyler Gough on November 16, 2025. Ortiz was recently selected by the Dodgers to the 40-man roster on November 6 to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Ortiz began the season with Double-A Tulsa, but got his first crack at Triple-A on August 12, making 15 appearances for Oklahoma City down the stretch. With the Comets, Ortiz went 1-0 with a 2.76 ERA, allowing five earned runs in 16.1 innings, holding opponents to a slim .190 batting average. Ortiz limits hard contact well with a slider that grades out as his best pitch, getting good swing-and-miss.

Jhonny Pereda - C

The Mariners acquired Pereda on January 27 in exchange for cash, after he was designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins. The 29-year-old backstop originally signed with the Chicago Cubs out of Venezuela back in 2013. He made his Major League debut with Miami back in 2024, making brief appearances with the Athletics and the Twins in 2025. Despite bouncing up-and-down from the Major Leagues, Pereda performed well in only 47 minor league games. He hit .308 with 11 doubles, one triple and four home runs with 25 RBI, sporting an .887 OPS. In 30 Major League games, he hit .246 with six doubles and an OPS of .658. By nature of his trade to Seattle, Pereda is on the Mariners' 40-man roster, and will likely have a chance to compete for the back-up catching job with Andrew Kninzer, who signed a one-year, Major League contract. In his time at Triple-A last season, Pereda threw out 13 of 41 potential base-stealers.

Jakson Reetz - C

Reetz signed a minor league contract with Seattle on January 24, bringing a wealth of experience. He's got 781 minor league games under his belt since 2014, playing for six different organizations. His 2025 campaign was split between the Mets and Orioles systems, playing 65 games last year. He hit .192 with seven doubles and 11 home runs, driving in 31 runs between Norfolk and Syracuse. In 2022, Reetz was tabbed the Southern League MVP and an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star with Milwaukee when he hit 22 home runs with a .281 batting average in just 64 games with Double-A Biloxi. Behind the plate, Reetz eliminated over 35% of potential base-stealers with Sacramento. While Reetz has not seen much Big League time (two games in 2021 with Washington and six in 2024 with San Francisco), he did homer in his Giants debut in 2024.

Michael Rucker - RHP

Veteran right-hander Michael Rucker signed a minor league deal with Seattle on January 8, bringing plenty of MLB experience to the table. The 31-year-old did not appear in a game in 2025, following a 2024 season that saw injuries limit him to 26 appearances. Prior to that, Rucker was a regular in the Chicago Cubs' bullpen. Rucker made 41 relief appearances in 2022 and 35 in 2023 for the Cubs. His 2024 season started on the Injured List with a right hand arterial vasospasm. He began rehab assignments in early June 2024 and wasn't activated until July 26. He spent a bulk of the 2024 campaign with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, making 19 of his 26 total appearances with the IronPigs. Rucker brings a four-pitch mix to the table, fitting the mold of strike-throwers that the Rainiers saw plenty of last season. In 2024, Rucker worked a 11BB/39K ratio in 30.2 innings across Low-A Clearwater, Double-A Reading, Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Triple-A Rochester as he was claimed by Washington near the end of the season.

Carson Taylor - 1B/DH

Selected in the Triple-A Phase of the 2025 Rule 5 Draft from Philadelphia, Carson Taylor will be looking for a bounce-back season after missing nearly all of 2025 with injury. Taylor broke camp with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, playing in just three games before being sidelined. However, he made the most of his three games, going 5-for-7 with two doubles and a home run. Taylor spent most of the 2024 campaign with Double-A Reading, hitting .277 with 16 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs and 75 RBI over 109 games. He got his first taste of Triple-A at the end of the season, going 6-for-19 over six games. Taylor has split time primarily between first base and DH, making appearances at third base and did some catching from 2021-23. Taylor was previously selected by Philadelphia in the Rule 5 Draft in 2023, selecting him from the Dodgers minor league system.

Cole Wilcox - RHP

Another trade acquisition, Cole Wilcox was dealt from Tampa Bay to Seattle on November 5 in exchange for cash considerations. Wilcox spent the 2025 season primarily with Triple-A Durham, making 35 appearances for the Bulls. He went 2-5 with a 3.71 ERA, striking out 57 while walking 24 in 51.0 innings. Wilcox's contract was selected by Tampa Bay on September 17, making his Major League debut on September 19 against Boston, allowing three runs on four hits in 1.0 inning. In 2024, Wilcox was tabbed as Tampa Bay's No. 13 prospect by MLB Pipeline. In that 2024 campaign, his last as a starter, he made 28 starts with a 10-7 record with a 3.57 ERA between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham. Wilcox does have ties for a former Rainier as well, as he was traded from San Diego to Tampa Bay in December of 2020 along with C Blake Hunt (and two other players), as Blake Snell went to San Diego.

Will Wilson - INF

Another former first-round pick, Will Wilson signed a minor league contract with Seattle on January 26. Wilson has spent most of his career in San Francisco's system, after the Angels dealt him away in 2019 with Zack Cozart. Wilson played a majority of the 2025 season with Triple-A Columbus in the Guardians organization, hitting .246 with 12 doubles, two triples and 11 homers in 70 games. He also made his Major League debut with Cleveland, hitting .192 with four doubles in 34 games. Defensively, Wilson has bounced around the infield, providing versatility, but has generally played on the left side of the diamond. He was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year at NC State in 2019, as well as a consensus All-American.

Patrick Wisdom - INF

Briefly a Mariner in 2020, Patrick Wisdom was signed by Seattle to a minor league contract on January 20. Wisdom is a big power bat that could result in some big numbers in the PCL. The 34-year-old infielder has multiple 30-homer seasons in the PCL, cranking 31 with Memphis in 2017 and with Nashville in 2019. Wisdom enjoyed his best seasons in the Big Leagues with Chicago (NL) coming out of COVID, hitting 28 homers in 2021, 25 in 2022 and 23 in 2023. However, with the big power do come strikeouts, as Wisdom's strikeout rates have held between the 30-40% range in his last couple seasons. The interesting thing to note, though, is that strikeout rate dropped down to 29.2% last season over in the KBO, where Wisdom played for the Kia Tigers. The Murrieta, California native cranked 35 home runs last season in the KBO, the third-most in the league and drove in 85 over 119 games. In addition to Wisdom's power, you also have to acknowledge his ability to go on a heater. Wisdom put the National League on notice in June of 2021, winning NL Player of the Week after hitting .435 with six home runs, resulting in a 1.719 OPS, eventually leading to NL Rookie of the Month that June. Should Wisdom suit up with Tacoma, it'll be worth leaning in to get a better look when he steps to the plate.

Yosver Zulueta - RHP

A former high-end prospect in the Blue Jays organization (#2 by Baseball America in 2023), Zulueta was designated for assignment by Cincinnati on January 15 and traded to Seattle. Zulueta has appearing in the Big Leagues with the Reds each of the last two seasons, but has spent the Majority of the last three years in Triple-A with Buffalo and Louisville. Last season with the Louisville Bats, the 28-year-old made 44 appearances, going 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA, walking 32 and striking out 78 over 60.1 innings. Zulueta is another right-hander that will look to keep the ball on the ground with (mainly) a sinker/slider combination. His 57.8% ground ball rate last season is amongst the best of Triple-A arms in 2025, aided by his fastball velocity that will tick into the upper-90's. In limited action with the Reds over the last two seasons, Zulueta has made 19 relief appearances, going 1-0 with a 5.32 ERA, allowing 14 earned runs over 23.2 innings, walking 11 and striking out 25.

Read More: