This story was excerpted from Daniel Kramer’s Mariners Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SEATTLE -- Free agency began on Thursday at 2 p.m. PT, meaning that the Mariners are open for business, and it’s a perfect time for a state of the roster update before things really get moving.

What kind of help do the Mariners need? Will they be active in free agency? Whom might they target?

President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto made it clear at the General Managers Meetings this week that Seattle is looking to add at least one middle infielder and one or two corner outfielders -- and it’s obvious that those additions will need to provide impact offense. The Mariners took a much-needed step forward last season from having one of MLB’s least productive offenses in 2021, but their .230/.315/.390 slash line (.705 OPS) was still middle of the pack.

It would make sense for the Mariners to be in on the loaded free-agent shortstop class -- featuring Dansby Swanson, Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa and Trea Turner -- but landing any of those players would require a significant financial commitment, possibly exceeding $200 million. It would also involve moving J.P. Crawford to second base, which is not their preference.

Payroll should increase in 2023, especially after Seattle ended its postseason drought and will likely see a significant increase in ticket sales. Dipoto hasn't had this clean of a financial canvas since he first arrived in '15. But he also made it no secret this week that the club will continue to make its impact additions via trades.

As for the outfield, they’d like to bring Mitch Haniger back, but the veteran will now have the chance to be courted by the 29 other teams. Aaron Judge is likely going to be MLB’s biggest blockbuster signing, but a potentially historic contract for the Mariners -- especially going up against big-spending teams like the Yankees and Mets -- probably isn’t in the cards. 

Whom might the Mariners be willing to trade?

With impressive rotation depth, headlined by Luis Castillo and Robbie Ray at the top and Logan Gilbert and George Kirby blossoming into potential stars, Dipoto is most likely to deal from his pitching depth to fill other needs. 

Chris Flexen would be a logical candidate, especially after moving to the bullpen in August despite a productive season, and the Mariners reportedly shopped Marco Gonzales ahead of the Trade Deadline. They also have a ton of relief depth they could move, and bullpen spots are typically the easiest to recoup via free agency and/or the farm system.

Which players from the 2022 team are free agents?

RF Mitch Haniger
2B Adam Frazier
DH Carlos Santana
LHP Matthew Boyd
C Curt Casali

The only candidate for a $19.25 million qualifying offer was Haniger, and the Mariners did not extend him one. Also, no player on the 40-man roster carries a contract option for 2023. Flexen had an $8 million vesting option triggered in August by reaching 300 innings in his first two years with Seattle.

Any non-tender candidates?

First, an explainer: When a club "non-tenders" a player, it declines to give that player a contract for the upcoming season, thereby immediately making him a free agent. Players on the 40-man roster with fewer than six years of service time must be tendered contracts each offseason by a set deadline, which is Tuesday.

The Mariners don’t have any notable players who are candidates to be non-tendered. It’s possible they could non-tender some down-roster players, but no one significant.

Who needs to be added to the 40-man roster to avoid the Rule 5 Draft? And is there a crunch for roster spots?

The Mariners made a few minor transactions on Wednesday that trimmed their 40-man roster to 36, clearing the way for adding free agents and/or protecting some of their prospects from the Rule 5 Draft, an event that allows clubs without a full 40-man roster to select certain non-40-man roster players from other clubs. The Mariners have had some success in the Rule 5 Draft in years past, and it can be a sneaky way to add impact talent.

Among their Top 30 prospects, ranked by MLB Pipeline, the players they’ll want to add are outfielder Jonatan Clase (No. 13), right-hander Prelander Berroa (16), third baseman Milkar Perez (19), first baseman Robert Perez Jr. (21), outfielder Cade Marlowe (22) and righty Travis Kuhn (28). The deadline to add them is Tuesday, and Dipoto told reporters at the GM Meetings that they intend to protect Berroa and a few others.