Houston Astros fans are eagerly anticipating updates from Alex Bregman regarding his free agency status, but in the meantime, shortstop Jeremy Peña has made headlines of his own. Peña recently confirmed his relationship with Canadian soccer star Julia Grosso through a joint Instagram post that showcased 12 pictures of the couple enjoying time together in various tropical settings.

The duration of their relationship remains unclear, although it appears that some of their friends were already aware. Notably, Jordyn Huitema, a teammate of Grosso on the Canadian national team and former girlfriend of Seattle Mariners player Julio Rodriguez, commented on the post, hinting at her knowledge of the couple's romance. Additionally, Haley Berg, a former teammate of Grosso at the University of Texas, expressed excitement with her comment, “Been waiting for this one! Turn it up!”

In response to the announcement, Astros catcher Yainer Diaz added a playful touch with an eyeballs emoji, indicating his support or surprise. Jeremy Peña, now entering his fourth season with the Astros, made a significant impact in 2022 as he took over the shortstop position from Carlos Correa and was named World Series MVP. Meanwhile, Julia Grosso, who hails from Vancouver, has had a remarkable career, being a two-time All-American at Texas and playing with Juventus in Italy before joining the Chicago Red Stars last summer. She gained international acclaim for scoring the decisive penalty kick that secured Canada’s gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and is also part of Canada’s 2024 Olympic team.

The Seattle Mariners are eyeing a competitive offseason as they seek to address key positions, notably first, second, and third base. After missing the playoffs for the 22nd time in 23 years, fans are eager for roster improvements. Despite rumors linking them to free agents like Christian Walker and Pete Alonso, no moves have materialized yet.

Analyst Jordan Shusterman believes the Mariners already possess a strong core, highlighted by Julio Rodriguez's promising contract and a formidable starting rotation. With a revamped hitting strategy, the team aims for a brighter future, but must fill existing gaps to maximize their potential.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez received a significant bonus of $509,957 from the MLB pre-arbitration bonus pool, adding to his already impressive contract worth at least $209 million.

Rodriguez wasn't alone in this financial boost, as teammates Cal Raleigh, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo, and Luke Raley also benefited from their performances this season.

Despite facing challenges, including a high-ankle sprain, Rodriguez had a productive season with 20 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases over 143 games. The Mariners narrowly missed the playoffs in both 2023 and 2024, highlighting the need for Rodriguez to continue his upward trajectory in 2025.

The Seattle Mariners are aiming high this offseason, with manager Dan Wilson expressing confidence in the team's potential to reach the World Series. Despite recent playoff misses, Wilson believes the Mariners possess the necessary talent, including strong starting pitching and superstar Julio Rodriguez.

However, to achieve their lofty goals, they must improve their offensive consistency and address roster gaps, particularly at second base, third base, and first base, with former player Carlos Santana being a potential target.

The Seattle Mariners are facing key offseason decisions as they prepare for the 2025 season, particularly regarding their infield needs after declining Jorge Polanco's option and non-tendering Josh Rojas. However, they are secure at catcher with Cal Raleigh, who had a standout 2024 season.

Raleigh caught the most innings in the league and set multiple franchise records, including home runs and RBIs for a catcher. He received prestigious awards and is projected to maintain strong performance in 2025, potentially being a key contributor alongside Julio Rodriguez.