Seattle won’t be picking from the top of the 2026 MLB Draft board, and that changes the whole feel of the night. After landing Kade Anderson at No. 3 in 2025, the Mariners are now parked at No. 24, where the job shifts from grabbing the obvious name to hunting for the player who slips.
That kind of draft slot can still pay off. Seattle has already shown it knows how to profit when the board gets weird, and Ryan Sloan is the perfect reminder.
MLB Pipeline had him as the No. 19 talent in the 2024 class, but the Mariners got him with the 55th overall pick. Now he’s arguably the best pitching prospect in MLB.
So if the draft starts breaking in Seattle’s direction again, these are three names that could turn into real value at No. 24.
Cameron Flukey is the college arm to watch. Coastal Carolina’s right-hander has only a 4.08 ERA for his college career, and a rib injury limited him to just seven starts this year.
Even so, he fits the kind of pitcher Seattle tends to like: tall, hard-throwing, and able to work in the strike zone. Both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America currently have the Mariners taking Tennessee righty Tegan Kuhns, but Flukey could be the more intriguing steal if he’s still available.
The 21-year-old has also entered the transfer portal, though a return to school is considered unlikely. If he gets to Seattle, the Mariners would have the bonus pool and the pull of their pitching lab working in their favor.
Justin Lebron would give Jerry Dipoto a much different decision. Seattle hasn’t used its top first-round pick on a college bat since Evan White went No. 17 in 2017, and that didn’t work out, which helps explain why mocks keep steering the Mariners toward arms and prep players.
But if Lebron is sitting there, he’d force the issue. The Alabama shortstop has serious tools, including plus-plus speed that has helped him go 66-for-68 in stolen bases in NCAA competition.
He’s also hit 46 home runs in 177 career games. The catch is the bat-to-ball profile, which is viewed as below average.
That kind of flaw may not scare off Seattle as much as it would some other clubs, especially with the Mariners’ long-standing preference for slugging over pure contact.
Then there’s Jared Grindlinger, the most fascinating name of the group. The Huntington Beach High School standout is a true two-way player at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, and he’s still only 17, which leaves plenty of room for his frame to grow.
Baseball America ranks him No. 17 in the class, and he brings real pro upside as both a left-handed pitcher and hitter. The more likely future is on the mound, where he already reaches the mid-90s and throws strikes with a slider and changeup.
His bat, his arm, and his commitment to Tennessee all create enough uncertainty that he could slide. If he does, the Mariners could try to make the kind of offer that keeps him in the two-way lane while bringing him to Seattle at No.
In Other News...
Mariners Dream Deadline Bat Comes With One Huge Catch
As the trade deadline draws closer, the Mariners are still looking for a lineup upgrade that can give their offense a better chance to carry them deeper into the season. ESPNs Jeff Passan recently pointed to Orioles outfielder Taylor Ward as the clubs best fit, citing the kind of on-base ability and walk rate Seattle has been chasing as it tries to add more traffic for the middle of the order.
The more intriguing name in the discussion is Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras, who has been swinging a hot bat and would certainly change the look of the Mariners attack. The catch is obvious enough: Seattle would have to sort through an already crowded first-base and DH picture, which would put even more pressure on Dan Wilson to find playing time for everyone if the front office decides to push for a bigger splash. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners May Be Near A Pitching Move Fans Never Saw Coming
The Mariners are sorting through a bullpen puzzle as the All-Star break approaches, and Bryan Woo has unexpectedly entered the conversation. Seattle has a stretch of time between his starts, and manager Dan Wilson said the club is looking at every way to manage the pitching staff while keeping the rotation and relief corps in balance.
What makes this especially interesting is the roster squeeze around the bullpen, where returning relievers and possible additions could force a move sooner rather than later. Luis Castillo has been seen as the likeliest starter to shift into relief, but Seattle is still weighing all of its options as it tries to create room and keep the staff flexible for the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Dipoto May Be Setting Up An Unusual Mariners Deadline Move
Jerry Dipoto is signaling that this deadline may not follow the usual seller-and-buyer script, with the Mariners executive suggesting more contender-to-contender deals could emerge because so many teams in the race have real needs to fill. For Seattle, the list is familiar: a left-handed bat and bullpen help remain priorities, and especially a high-leverage reliever if the market lines up right.
The wrinkle is that the Mariners also have pieces other contenders want, particularly starting pitching depth and left-handed bats, which could make them both shoppers and suppliers in the same week. ESPNs Jeff Passan said those kinds of deals are complicated to build, and he pointed to the possibility of Seattle using its prospect capital in the right kind of swap, a setup that would fit the kind of deadline move Dipoto has been willing to chase before. [Read more 🡒]