SEATTLE — Randy Arozarena’s best game as a Mariner made me think about his second-best.

His best came Saturday, not a moment too soon — when the three-time All-Star ambushed David Peterson’s first pitch of the game for a solo home run, scaled the left-field wall to rob Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya of another homer, then banged a walk-off, two-run blast off the batter’s eye for a 5-4 win. As T-Mobile Park devolved into pandemonium, Arozarena uncorked a flurry of hellacious fist pumps, then played rock-paper-scissors with first-base coach Eric Young Jr. He went 3 for 4 with a walk, two runs, two homers, three RBI and an acrobatic robbery, almost single-handedly saving Seattle.

His second-best came on April 9, 2025, when Arozarena golfed a sky-scraping grand slam and added a walk-off walk in a stunning 7-6 win over the rival Astros. Despite trailing 5-0 in the eighth inning and 6-4 in the ninth, Arozarena rescued the Mariners, who won nine consecutive series starting that day.

When Arozarena is bad, he’s a liability.

When Arozarena is good, he’s a difference-maker the Mariners would be wise to keep around.

Or, as Julio Rodríguez said after Arozarena roasted the Astros: “He definitely is a baseball genius. He definitely has a lot of different skills on the baseball field. He loves the game. He loves to compete. He loves to win. Every time he steps on the field, you definitely know he’s going to be giving his best for the team’s best interest.”

I definitely do not know that.

Which is why Arozarena remains among the Mariners’ biggest riddles. Because on one hand, the 31-year-old left fielder is a defensive liability with an unimpressive arm and erratic range. His effort has also invited scrutiny — particularly during a July loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, when Arozarena jogged toward a pop-up that fell in foul territory. On Luis Castillo’s next pitch, Cedric Mullins added insult to injury, leaning into a solo homer.

You could attribute that effort — or lack thereof — to Arozarena protecting the hamstring that had previously landed him on the injured list. But the results can be hard to win with. Arozarena’s 2026 defensive rating, minus-10, is tied for fifth-worst in baseball regardless of position. While Saturday’s robbery was sensational, the larger defensive sample size is irredeemable.

So there are reasons the Mariners will hesitate to bring back Arozarena, who hits free agency this offseason. And beyond his on-field flaws, Arozarena’s avoidable World Baseball Classic spat with catcher Cal Raleigh may have torpedoed clubhouse chemistry before this unsatisfying season ever began.

On the other hand? Arozarena hits.

Consistently, reliably, Arozarena hits.

Who else in Seattle can really say that? Not Raleigh, who — until Monday's three home run eruption — was hurtling through a season nightmares are made of. Not Rodríguez, whose scheduled summer breakout has been mostly muted. Not Josh Naylor (who has managed just 10 homers at first base) or Brendan Donovan (who has been unable to stay healthy). Not just about anyone on an offense that ranks 29th in MLB in OPS and dead last in runs.

In 123 games entering Monday, Arozarena was slashing .275/.369/.467 with 20 homers, 26 doubles, 20 stolen bases and 58 RBI. His on-base percentage sat 17th in baseball.

“I think we’ve seen that consistent approach all season long, using the whole field,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said of Arozarena on Saturday. “We saw for a long time him using right field and getting his hits over there, driving the ball to right field. Then when he gets a pitch he’s able to get out in front of, he’s pulling it out of the ballpark, too. That’s just an approach I think he has taken all season long. He’s put up some big numbers with it.”

Even despite the disappointing defense and inconsistent effort, Arozarena’s WAR easily leads the Mariners. Which means, to put it more plainly, he’s been their most valuable player.

So beyond this season, why let your most valuable player — “a baseball genius” — walk? Maybe because of that lacking defense and uneven effort. Maybe because a cliff could be coming as Arozarena ages. Or maybe because, more believably, the Mariners simply don’t do well with bidding wars.

On Saturday, through third-base coach and temporary interpreter Carlos Cardoza, Arozarena said: “When I got here in 2024 I felt right away the desire this team has to win.”

But that doesn’t apply evenly to ownership. No, Arozarena will likely land somewhere else next season, while prospect Michael Arroyo or someone else earning a fraction of Arozarena’s salary slides into his spot. Because that’s what the Mariners have always done. They’d rather roll the dice on risks than pay for proven hits.

There are arguments for and against bringing Arozarena back. But what’s demoralizing? The more he hits, the more he costs, the more this debate doesn’t even matter. The Mariners’ decision has probably already been made.

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