SEATTLE — By this time a year ago, the Seattle Mariners had already made four trades in the search for “payroll flexibility” – a phrase that would be written and uttered often in the weeks ahead.

With the franchise’s ownership uncertain about revenue projections due to issues with Root Sports Northwest and a continued hesitancy to grow player payroll, the Mariners were forced to work with an adjusted payroll that was only slightly higher than the 2023 season. So, if they wanted to improve a flawed roster by adding players, they needed to engineer trades to remove players with large MLB salaries off their roster and free up money within a payroll budget already close to its threshold for the season.

“We’ve had two avenues that we could’ve tried,” Jerry Dipoto, the Mariners president of baseball operations, said at those meetings. “One was if we didn’t do some of the things that we’ve done recently, and the other was if we did some of the things we’ve done recently.”

The Mariners made more than a dozen transactions from last November to opening day to reshape a roster and a projected daily lineup that ultimately failed to to return to the postseason, despite a record-setting performance from the starting rotation.

This offseason, the Mariners have been far less active. They’ve made one minor trade that affects their 40-man roster and opted to non-tender veteran utility infielder Josh Rojas and reliever Austin Voth to free up some additional money.

Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander are in a somewhat different situation. They don’t have to make a series of trades to free up money to make roster moves. They also are working with another limited payroll budget. Per multiple sources, the Mariners’ payroll budget will be somewhere slightly more than $150 million, roughly $5 million ahead of their final projected payroll for last season.

Unfortunately for Seattle, some of the areas of needs are positions that they thought they addressed last season – first base, second base, third base and set-up reliever.

As fans look ahead to the upcoming MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas, here’s a look at last offseason’s major moves, why they were made and what ultimately provided for the team. Are there lessons to be learned?

The major offseason transactions:

Nov. 17, 2023: Acquired 3B Luis Urias from the Red Sox for RHP Isaiah Campbell

The reasons and returns: At the time, the move seemed rather curious from a roster standpoint and how Urias would fit with his skillset. He was coming off a miserable 2023 season where he battled a hamstring issue and poor enough production that he spent a large portion of his games at Triple-A.

Instead of waiting for Urias to become non-tendered by the Red Sox and become a free agent, the Mariners traded for him and his $4 million owed salary.

Why spend that much money on Urias, who did have a strong 2021 season followed by decent production in 2022, to be a bounceback utility infielder? The real reason would be revealed five days later when the Mariners traded their starting third Baseman Eugenio Suarez.

After arriving to spring training out of shape and nursing a bad throwing shoulder, Urias was the opening day third baseman as part of a platoon with Josh Rojas.

Urias was abysmal at the plate and shaky in the field early in the season. He was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on May 22 after posting a .152/.264/.317 slash line with four doubles, three homers, 12 RBI, seven walks and 31 strikeouts in 34 games finishing with a 0.2 fWAR. The Mariners non-tendered him and he’s now a free agent.

Nov. 22, 2023: Acquired RHP Carlos Vargas and C Seby Zavala from the DiamondBacks for 3B Eugenio Suarez

The reasons and returns: This trade that sent the popular Suarez to Arizona was the first real sign that the Mariners’ offseason plans were different than expected. Even with Suarez having a down season in 2023, this was a straight salary dump. His contract called for an $11 million in 2024 — and a $15 million club option for 2025 with a $2 million buyout. The Mariners owed him at least $13 million.

So instead of hoping for a bounceback, they sent a competent MLB player to Arizona for a hard-throwing reliever, who couldn’t throw strikes and a back-up catcher, who couldn’t hit and wasn’t very good at defense – both making minimal money.

Suarez’s regression didn’t happen. After a slow start to the 2024 season, he posted a .256/.319/.469 slash line with 28 doubles, two triples, 30 homers, 101 RBI, 49 walks and 176 strikeouts in 158 games. He was good enough for the Diamondbacks to pick up that club option for this coming season at age 33.

Zavala made the opening day roster as a back-up, who didn’t really play. He was designated for assignment on June 22 and outrighted to Tacoma, Wash.

Dec. 3, 2023: Acquired RHP Cole Phillips and RHP Jackson Kowar from the Braves for LHP Marco Gonzales, OF Jarred Kelenic, 1B Evan White and cash

The reasons and returns: The move was finalized on the eve of last year’s winter meetings and first introduced the phrase “payroll flexibility” to the Mariners fanbase. In an effort to get the Braves to take on the contracts of Gonzales ($11 million) and White ($17 million), the Mariners had to give up Kelenic, who was still considered a promising young player despite an inconsistent start to his MLB career. The Braves later traded Gonzales to the Pirates and White to the Angels

After a torrid start to 2024, posting a .306/.369/.373 slash line over the first 22 games, Kelenic regressed to familiar struggles. He finished the season with a .231/.286/.393 slash line with 18 doubles, two triples, 15 homers, 49 RBI, 32 walks and 133 strikeouts in 131 games. His 0.5 fWAR was actually lower than the 1.5 he posted with Seattle in 2023.

Neither Kowar nor Phillips threw a meaningful pitch in 2023.

Dec. 28, 2023: Signed free agent C/DH Mitch Garver

The reasons and returns: In search of a consistent hitter in the middle of the order, the Mariners signed Garver to a two-year, $24 million contract to be their full-time designated hitter. It was the largest free agent contract that Dipoto had ever given a position player during his tenure with Seattle. But Garver never produced at expected levels. He struggled through what he labeled “the worst season of his career,” eventually seeing his role reduced to the back-up catcher and part-time DH.

In 430 plate appearances, he posted a .172/.286/.341 slash line with 17 doubles, 15 homers, 51 RBI, 53 walks and 133 strikeouts. Of players with 400 plate appearances last season, no hitter produced a lower batting average. Garver is still owed $11.5 million for the 2025 season.

Jan. 5, 2024: Acquired RF Mitch Haniger, RHP Anthony DeSclafani and $6 million from the Giants for LHP Robbie Ray to Giants

The reasons and returns: It was largely a money swap. The Giants were looking to move on from Haniger and DeSclafani and their large contracts, while the Mariners were looking to move on from Ray’s massive contract ($73 million remaining), knowing he was coming off Tommy John surgery and their rotation was already settled.

After a strong start in the opening weeks and playing almost daily, it became clear that Haniger was no longer an everyday player. With the addition of Victor Robles and later Randy Arozarena, his playing time dwindled. He started 32 games after the All-Star break. He finished the season with a .208/.286/.334 slash line with 12 doubles, 12 homers, 44 RBI, 40 walks and 126 strikeouts in 423 plate appearances.

Ray returned from the Tommy John surgery on July 24, making seven starts (3-2 record with a 4.70 ERA) before a hamstring injury forced him back to the injured list. Instead of exercising the opt-out in his contract and testing free agency, Ray declined it and will make $25 million in 2025 and $25 million in 2026.

Jan. 5, 2024: Acquired OF Luke Raley from the Rays for IF Jose Caballero

The reasons and returns: With the Rays in need of a middle infielder and the Mariners looking for a left-handed hitter to platoon with Haniger in the outfield, Seattle capitalized on Caballero’s unexpected rookie season to get Raley, who could also play first.

Raley was the Mariners’ best offseason acquisition. He posted a .243/.320/.463 slash line with 19 doubles, two triples, 22 homers, 58 RBI, 11 stolen bases, 27 walks, 135 strikeouts and 2.3 fWAR. He brought a blue-collar intensity that was embraced by teammates.

Jan. 17, 2024: signed free agent RHP Austin Voth

The reasons and returns: In need of middle relief depth, the Mariners signed Voth, who pitched at the University of Washington, to a one-year, $1.25 million. A former starter, Voth was solid for Seattle despite having to pitch in more high leverage situations than expected. He posted a 2-5 record with a 3.89 ERA in 68 appearances. In 61 innings pitched, he struck out 61 batters with 18 walks. With Voth arbitration eligible and expected to earn a raise from last season’s salary, the Mariners opted to non-tender him. He’s now a free agent.

Jan. 29, 2024: Acquired IF Jorge Polanco from the Twins for RHP Anthony DeSclafani, RHP Justin Topa, OF Gabriel Gonzalez, RHP Darren Bowen and $6 million

The reasons and returns: After years of coveting him and in need of a second baseman yet again, the Mariners gave up sizable package of players to acquire Polanco, who had lost his every-day role with the Twins.

Polanco was never the middle-of-the-order run producer that the Mariners expected. Hampered by nagging knee and hamstring issues, he posted a .213/.296/.355 slash line with 11 doubles, 16 homers, 43 RBI, 46 walks, 139 strikeouts and a 0.3 fWAR.

The Mariners didn’t exercise Polanco’s $10.5 million club option for 2025. He is now a free agent.

DeSclafani never threw a pitch for the Twins, undergoing flexor tendon surgery.

Topa suffered a tear of his patella tendon early in the season and didn’t pitch in a game until late September.

Feb. 3. 2024: Acquired RHP Gregory Santos to Mariners for RHP Prelander Berroa, OF Zach DeLoach and future considerations

The reasons and returns: Always looking for late-inning relievers with power stuff, the Mariners thought they got a steal with the hard-throwing Santos, who was making the MLB minimum and had five years of club control. The concept of having Santos, Brash and Andres Munoz in the final three innings of games was inspiring.

However, Santos suffered a lat strain in spring training and dealt with health issues in a season where he made just eight appearances.

March 10, 2024: Signed RHP Ryne Stanek

The reasons and returns: With right-handers Matt Brash and Kowar dealing with elbow issues, the Mariners signed the veteran reliever to a one-year, $4 million contract. Stanek made 46 appearances, posting a 6-3 record with a 4.38 ERA and seven saves. In 39 innings, he struck out 44 batters with 17 walks. The Mariners traded him to the Mets on July 27 for outfield prospect Rhylan Thomas.

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