Mariners Pay Closer $9 Million Despite Rough Year

Seattle Mariners owner John Stanton committed $9 million to keep closer Andres Munoz for the 2027 season. The team exercised the club option on Thursday, a move that locks in the right-hander despite his inconsistent performance over the past year.

Munoz recorded 28 saves in 61 relief appearances for Seattle this season. However, he also blew 10 saves, a figure that tied for the most in Major League Baseball. His earned run average of 4.24 marked a career low. Before this season, his full-season ERAs with the Mariners were 2.49 in 2022, 2.94 in 2023, 2.12 in 2024, and 1.73 in 2025.

The 27-year-old pitcher has accumulated 105 saves in 302 appearances for the club since joining the team. He holds a lifetime record of 17-28 and a 2.67 ERA. Seattle acquired Munoz from the San Diego Padres during the 2020 season.

The organization declined options on right-hander Bryce Miller and outfielder Victor Robles. Miller, 28, turned down a $6.075 million option but remains under club control through 2029. He is eligible for salary arbitration. This season, Miller went 4-10 with a 4.17 ERA in 22 appearances, including 21 starts.

Miller has posted an 8-16 record over the last two seasons, a sharp decline from the 20-15 mark he achieved in his first two big-league campaigns. He has a 4.04 ERA and a 28-31 record in 95 starts and one relief appearance for Seattle.

Victor Robles, 29, will receive a $500,000 buyout after the Mariners passed on his $9 million option. He batted .256 with no home runs and nine RBIs in 65 games this year. Robles joins Randy Arozarena, Taylor Ward, J.P. Crawford, and Hoby Milner as free agents. The Mariners also claimed outfielder Grant McCray off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.

McCray, 25, batted .143 with two home runs and four RBIs in 43 games for San Francisco this season. He has a .170 career average with seven home runs and 16 RBIs in 102 games over parts of three seasons.