Joey Cora’s exit in Detroit has opened the door, at least in theory, for a Mariners reunion down the line.
The former Seattle infielder was let go Tuesday as the Tigers’ third base coach, with manager AJ Hinch saying the move was made strictly for baseball reasons. Cora spent four seasons with the Mariners from 1995-98, and he remains one of the most recognizable names from that era.
He was part of the 1995 club that helped transform baseball in Seattle, the team that reached the American League Championship Series in the first playoff run in franchise history. Cora also made the All-Star team in 1997 before finishing his playing career with Cleveland in 1998.
Could he end up back in Seattle? It’s possible, but not in the immediate future. Dan Wilson’s coaching staff is already filled, so there isn’t a spot for Cora this season.
That said, Wilson has made a point of bringing former Mariners around spring training over the past two years. Randy Johnson, Alvin Davis and Franklin Gutierrez have all been part of that mix, even if they didn’t all serve as coaches. Ichiro, Edgar Martinez and Michael Saunders have also been on staff, or are still there.
If Cora is still looking for a full-time baseball job in 2027, Seattle could be a fit then. There’s also another wrinkle: his brother, Alex Cora, was dismissed as manager of the Boston Red Sox earlier this season. If Alex Cora is back in a managerial role in 2027, Joey could potentially go with him.
In other Mariners notes, Seattle has been rolling lately. The club went 5-1 over a recent six-game homestand and has now posted back-to-back shutouts. Over that stretch, Mariners starters gave up just six runs in six games, and the pitching staff recorded three shutouts against the Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays.
The Mariners also made a major move earlier this year, acquiring All-Star utility man Brendan Donovan on Feb. 2 in a three-team trade with the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays. Seattle gave up pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje and another prospect, Tai Peete, while also parting with a compensatory draft pick and third baseman Ben Williamson.
Williamson, a second-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of William & Mary, debuted in 2025 and appeared in 85 games as Seattle went on to win the American League West. He spoke this week about his time with the Mariners, the trade and more.
The latest edition of the Refuse to Lose Territory podcast is also out and includes former Mariners third baseman Ben Williamson.
In Other News...
Former Mariners Infielder Opens Up About The Trade That Stunned Him
Ben Williamsons exit from the Mariners still sounds fresh, even after the three-team deal that brought All-Star utility man Brendan Donovan to Seattle and sent Williamson to Tampa Bay. The trade also moved pitching prospects Jurrangelo Cijntje and Tai Peete to St. Louis, but for Williamson, the bigger shift was personal. He was a second-round pick, reached the majors in 2025 and spent part of Seattles AL West title season in the lineup before the club later sent him to Triple-A when Eugenio Suarez took over at third.
Williamson recently talked about the move on a podcast and said the day unfolded with a growing sense that something was coming, even before the news became official. He described the trade as bittersweet because of the relationships he built in the Mariners system, which is the part of these deals that often gets lost when the focus stays on the big-league return. For Seattle, the roster upgrade is the headline, but Williamsons reaction is a reminder of how abruptly a young players place in the organization can change. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Suddenly Revisit A Familiar Outfield Option At The Right Time
Stuart Fairchild is back in the Mariners system, a familiar name resurfacing at the right time for a club that can always use another layer of outfield depth. Seattle signed the local product and sent him to Triple-A Tacoma, a move that gives the organization a speedy, right-handed option who can move around the outfield and has already spent time in the big leagues with several teams since debuting in 2021.
For Fairchild, it is another chance to position himself for a return to the majors after a brief previous stop with Seattle in 2022. The Mariners know what they are getting in a player whose value comes from versatility and speed, and his path back to the roster now runs through Tacoma, where the next decision on his future will start to take shape. [Read more 🡒]