It has been a quiet offseason in Seattle thus far, with the Mariners among the few remaining clubs yet to make a significant addition to their Major League roster via free agency or trade since season¡¯s end. That, according to general manager Justin Hollander, is no cause for concern.

¡°We usually don¡¯t lack for activity,¡± Hollander acknowledged in a Sunday appearance on MLB Network Radio. ¡°There just hasn¡¯t been the right set of circumstances yet to allow us to add, but I¡¯m confident we¡¯ll get there.¡±

The Mariners are coming off a 2024 season that magnified organizational strengths and weaknesses in equal measure. For one, Seattle¡¯s rotation was as good as any, leading the Majors in ERA (3.38), WHIP (1.03), opponents¡¯ OPS (.642) and innings per start (5.82). The Mariners also used just seven starters through the season, the fewest in the Majors, with Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Bryce Miller all making at least 30 starts.

¡°We think [our starting rotation] is the best in baseball,¡± said Hollander. ¡°They pitch deeper into games than anybody, the quality per inning is very good, we strike guys out, we don¡¯t walk guys, we¡¯re young, we¡¯re durable, we think that is a foundational piece of our team.¡±

But even with the strength of their staff, the Mariners¡¯ lineup once again proved to be a serious liability, ranking 29th or 30th in team batting average, slugging percentage, OPS and K% through August before a September surge helped right the statistical ship.

Unfortunately, the late-season rebound was too little, too late. The Mariners, who had been tied for first place in the American League West entering August, lost five games in the standings over the course of the month. Despite a 16-10 September, Seattle ended the year one game shy of a Wild Card berth.

The impact of slow starts endured by several Mariners, particularly star outfielder Julio Rodr¨ªguez, is not lost on the front office.

¡°There¡¯s nothing Julio doesn¡¯t do to prepare himself for the season. The last couple of years, it¡¯s just been a little slower going coming out of the gates,¡± said Hollander. ¡°I know that [manager] Dan Wilson [and director of hitting strategy coach] Edgar Martinez have talked about the idea of [getting] more ABs for our regulars in Spring Training this year to make sure they¡¯re prepared on day one to go out for the rigors of the Major League season ¡­ so I would anticipate more at-bats for all of our regulars, not just Julio, to see if we can get out to a little bit of a better start offensively.¡±

Regarding potential additions, the club has a clear priority.

¡°We need to add to our infield; we¡¯re working hard to do that,¡± said Hollander. ¡°I think we¡¯d love to add some type of first base impact to go along with Luke Raley, who can also swing into the outfield. Then the rest of the infield is flexible enough that we could add at second, we could add at third, we could [add] in a variety of different ways.¡±

Although rumors have circulated that the Mariners could trade from strength to shore up other parts of the roster by dealing Castillo -- who signed a five-year, $108 million deal with a full no-trade clause before the 2023 season -- Hollander gave no clear indication of the club¡¯s plans regarding the veteran right-hander.

¡°I love Luis Castillo," Hollander said. "Luis Castillo is an awesome pitcher, he¡¯s an awesome teammate, he fits our environment really well.¡±

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