The Seattle Mariners are staring at a rough finish, and the fallout could reach all the way to the dugout. After coming within one game of the World Series last season, Seattle enters Monday at 73-83 and nearly out of the postseason picture. Over the weekend, The Seattle Times’ Adam Jude reported that it’s “unlikely" Dan Wilson returns as the Mariners manager next season.
That kind of change would mark Seattle’s second managerial switch in a little more than two years, and it only sharpens the contrast with what the Guardians have had in Stephen Vogt. Cleveland has kept Vogt in place on the first step of the dugout throughout that stretch, and he’s now on track to guide the club to its third straight postseason berth.
The Guardians haven’t hit the same ceiling Seattle reached a year ago under Vogt, but they’ve been far steadier. That stability looks even better when set against what has gone wrong in Seattle.
A lot of the Mariners’ problems this season trace back to regression from key players, but the responsibility ultimately lands on Wilson. Cal Raleigh has fallen from last year’s historic 60-homer pace to a .670 OPS and 23 home runs.
Julio Rodríguez has also slipped, and Josh Naylor - now with Seattle after signing a five-year, $92.5 million deal - is having the worst season of his career. The Guardians never appeared eager to hand Naylor a long-term extension, and this year’s production backed up that call.
Raleigh and Naylor are both in their age-30 season, so this isn’t a case of players being washed up. But they’re also not the young, rising pieces Seattle was hoping to build around.
The Mariners also didn’t get much from trade deadline addition Brendan Donovan, who looked like a natural Guardians target. That’s another move that may have spared Cleveland from a misstep.
Seattle still has a strong pitching staff - strong enough that it dealt Luis Castillo to the White Sox at the deadline - but that only goes so far when the pricey bats don’t carry their weight.
At one point this season, it looked like the Guardians and Mariners might be chasing the same spot in the American League Wild Card race. Instead, Cleveland pulled away in the AL Central while Seattle stumbled through a 20-31 stretch in July and August.
Vogt isn’t perfect, but the way the Guardians have stayed on track under him says plenty. In a season where Seattle is looking at another reset, Cleveland’s steadiness makes its manager look pretty good.
In Other News...
Guardians Could Have A Few Surprise Arms Waiting For October
The Guardians have opened a stay hot camp at Triple-A Columbus for players on the 40-man roster who are not on the major league club, giving them a place to keep sharp as October approaches. The group also includes a few other minor leaguers, with the idea being straightforward enough: stay ready, stay available, and be prepared in case Cleveland needs to make a postseason move.
Several of the names in camp are pitchers, along with some hitters, and a few are still working back from injuries. With the postseason roster still a moving target, the biggest area of flexibility may end up coming on the mound, where the Guardians are weighing different ways to cover any late needs without disrupting what has already carried them this far. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Fans Now Know What This Clase Trial Really Hinges On
Federal prosecutors have now put a sharper frame on the case against Emmanuel Clase, identifying 18 specific pitches they say the Guardians closer allegedly threw intentionally to help bettors who had paid him bribes. The new court filing lands ahead of Clases November trial and gives Cleveland fans a clearer sense of how the government plans to present its case, with former teammate Luis Ortiz also charged in the same alleged scheme.
Both players have pleaded not guilty and remain suspended by Major League Baseball as the legal process moves forward. The case centers on accusations of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering tied to a betting operation that reportedly netted more than $460,000, and the latest filing suggests the trial may turn on those pitch-by-pitch allegations rather than the broader outlines of the scheme alone. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Be Sending Tanner Bibee A Tough October Message
Tanner Bibee looked like a foundational piece for Cleveland when he signed a five-year extension in March 2025, coming off two strong seasons that had established him as one of the organizations most important young arms. Since then, his year has been far more uneven, with his ERA climbing and an American League-leading loss total underscoring how difficult things have been at times.
Now the Guardians are reshuffling their postseason rotation, and Bibee may be staring at a very different October assignment than the one he expected when the year began. A move into the bullpen would not erase the promise that made Cleveland commit to him, but it would be a clear sign that the club is prioritizing roles and matchups over status as the games get bigger. [Read more 🡒]