Though Tacoma isn’t usually where the Mariners’ biggest names make their mark, the Rainiers still ended up with a roster full of useful pieces and a season that mattered in its own way. The club finished 72-78, with a first-half record of 33-42 and a second-half mark of 39-36, and the numbers tell a pretty clear story: this team could score, could hit for power, and could also give runs back in bunches.
Tacoma posted a 4.87 ERA, which ranked fourth in the Pacific Coast League, and a .795 OPS, good for fifth in the league. The Rainiers also led the PCL with 197 home runs and 567 walks allowed, a combination that says a lot about how their season played out. There was plenty of thump in the lineup, but the pitching staff had to live with too many free passes.
The loudest bat in the group belonged to Patrick Wisdom. In his first season back stateside since 2024, he put together a monster year for Tacoma, even if his big league stint was far less productive.
Wisdom launched 35 homers in 348 plate appearances and finished with a 1.039 OPS, giving the Rainiers one of the most dangerous power bats in the league. With his age and defensive limitations, his future role with the Mariners is still murky, but his 2026 season was impossible to ignore.
Brock Rodden also turned in a strong year before injury cut things short. A longtime favorite in the system, Rodden made his major league debut late last season and continued to show why the organization values him.
The switch-hitter can move around defensively, brings some sneaky pop, and hit 19 home runs with 22 doubles in Tacoma while posting an .841 OPS across roughly 400 plate appearances. He’ll try to chip in on the bases, but he’s more of a runner than a true stolen-base threat.
Even if he doesn’t fully lock down the utility job for Seattle heading into 2027, he looks like valuable roster depth and a player who could get his chance next season.
Colt Emerson’s year was more complicated. He opened the season with an 8 year, $95 million dollar contract extension before reaching the majors, then spent much of the year dealing with injuries and multiple trips to the IL.
Even while playing through that, he still managed an .816 OPS and flashed immaculate defense at shortstop. The Mariners saw enough to commit long term and name him the incumbent shortstop for the next decade, with the hope that a healthier 2027 brings a more consistent version of his game.
If there was a player who could be easy to overlook, it was Brennen Davis. When he was available, the outfielder was excellent, putting up an .887 OPS for Tacoma.
But after landing on the injured list on June 2nd, he was out for most of the season. Even with that frustrating availability, Davis may still be the best right handed corner outfield option the Mariners have right now.
They can’t count on him for a full season, but as a possible low-end roster flyer, he could still matter next year and remains one of the more intriguing names to watch heading into 2027.
In Other News...
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One name to watch is Teruaki Sato, a Japanese power bat who would bring real upside but also a steep price tag that could test how aggressive ownership wants to be. Seattle has generally preferred to make its biggest long-term commitments earlier in a players career, which leaves this pursuit in a gray area: appealing enough to consider, expensive enough to make the final call hinge on how far John Stanton is willing to go. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Bullpen Search Could Test Jerry Dipoto In A Rare Way
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What complicates the fit is the market around him. Morejon has drawn attention from teams that view him as a possible starter, but Seattle would be looking at him through a bullpen lens, and that kind of role preference can matter as much as the contract itself. The Mariners have not made any official move involving him yet, but if they decide to stay aggressive, this is the sort of pursuit that could test how far Dipoto is willing to go to land impact relief help. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Outfield Pursuit Could Define Their Entire Offseason
The Mariners are heading into an offseason where the outfield could shape everything else they do, and Seiya Suzuki has quickly emerged as one of the names to watch. Seattle is believed to have interest in the former Cubs outfielder, with the club also planning to lean on Ichiro Suzuki as part of the recruitment effort, a reminder of how seriously it views the search for impact offense on the corners.
There is also a clear sense that Seattle may be moving on from Randy Arozarena rather than trying to bring him back, which only adds to the pressure to get this right. With roughly $30 million to $35 million in payroll room and both Suzuki and Arozarena expected to draw plenty of attention after declining qualifying offers, the Mariners could spend the winter trying to solve one of the most important roster questions on the market. [Read more 🡒]