If you're trying to chart a path to the World Series in 2026, the conversation has to start - and probably end - with the Los Angeles Dodgers. You can talk about the Yankees, the Blue Jays, or whatever team is catching fire on social media in mid-February, but the reality is this: until someone knocks the Dodgers off the mountain, the road to the Commissioner’s Trophy still runs through Chavez Ravine.
That’s the challenge staring the Seattle Mariners right in the face. And make no mistake - this isn’t the same old “maybe next year” Mariners team.
The 2025 squad won 90 games, captured the AL West, and came within a single win of the World Series. That wasn’t a fluke.
That was a team that arrived. But when the dust settled, who was waiting on the other side of the bracket?
The Dodgers. Of course.
For Seattle, L.A. isn’t some theoretical superpower. They’re the final boss.
And this offseason? The Dodgers didn’t just reload - they upgraded.
Let’s start with the headline moves. Kyle Tucker, one of the best all-around hitters in the game, is now wearing Dodger blue thanks to a reported four-year, $240 million deal.
That’s a middle-of-the-order bat with power, plate discipline, and postseason experience. Then they added Edwin Díaz, arguably the most electric closer in baseball, on a three-year, $69 million contract.
That’s not just bolstering the bullpen - that’s turning late innings into a highlight reel.
So where does that leave the Mariners?
Seattle’s offseason, so far, has been more about maintaining flexibility than making a big push. Moves like acquiring Yosver Zulueta and tweaking the minor league depth chart aren’t insignificant - smart teams build depth for a reason.
And no one in Seattle needs a reminder of how quickly a rotation can unravel. One minute you’re feeling great about your arms, the next you’re handing the ball to a 27-year-old Triple-A call-up in a crucial July series.
But here’s the thing: the Dodgers are swinging for the ceiling. The Mariners are shoring up the floor.
That gap shows up in the projections, too. FanGraphs currently has the Dodgers at 54.4 WAR, with the Mariners at 45.0 - a 9.4 WAR difference.
That’s not a small gap. That’s the difference between a team that’s great and a team that’s great and has cheat codes.
Sure, projections aren’t gospel. Players break out.
Some regress. Teams surprise.
But projections are useful because they show you where the margin for error lives. The Dodgers can afford a star having a “good not great” season and still look like the best team in baseball.
The Mariners? They need a lot of things to go right - health, development, bounce-back years, and at least one bat stepping up as a true October threat - just to stay in the conversation.
This isn’t about spending like the Dodgers. That’s not Seattle’s model, and it’s not realistic to expect it to be. It’s also not about hoping the Dodgers get complacent - because clearly, they’re not.
What the 2025 Mariners proved is that they’re no longer on the outside looking in. They can get close.
But what the Dodgers are doing now makes the next step painfully clear: close isn’t enough. Close is where the real challenge begins.