The Mariners got the win last night, but the bigger scene comes today in game 162, when Logan Gilbert toes the rubber at 12:10 PST and Rick gets behind the mic one last time. It’s the kind of ending that makes a season feel bigger than the standings. The results may not have gone the way Seattle wanted this year, but the people on the field still showed up and kept grinding, and Rick’s final call gives the afternoon a different weight.
There was also real concern in last night’s game when Kade Anderson left early after taking 104 mph off his pitching arm. The good news is that x-rays came back negative, and the injury appears to be limited to bruising.
Elsewhere in the Mariners orbit, Cal is bringing out another custom chest protector this weekend, continuing what has become a pretty remarkable season for those designs. Julio also spoke about his season, his concussion, and what he wishes he’d done differently. And on Friday, the Seattle Chapter of the BBWAA handed out its awards: Randy Arozarena was named team MVP, Logan Gilbert was voted Most Valuable Pitcher, and Cal Raleigh received the Larry Stone Good Guy Award.
Around the league, Justin Verlander’s final start drew plenty of attention, and for good reason. His career has caused Mariners fans plenty of frustration over the years, but the moment still deserves its due.
Kirby Yates was on the same mound for his own last outing, starting opposite Verlander for the first time in his 12-year career and working 1.2 innings in what became his final act before retiring. That made yesterday only the third time in MLB history that both starting pitchers were making their last regular-season appearance.
The Phillies are also shuffling for a push, activating Jesús Luzardo before today’s game so he can be available out of the bullpen against the Rays. And in Milwaukee, Christian Yelich was voted the Brewers’ first official team captain, with Yelich saying he would only accept the honor if Robin Yount gave his blessing - and Yount did, emphatically.
In Other News...
J.P. Crawfords Final Mariners Moment Felt Bigger Than One Ovation
J.P. Crawfords final day of the season turned into something more than a routine late-game substitution. The longest-tenured player on the Mariners was lifted in the season finale at T-Mobile Park and greeted with a standing ovation from the home crowd, a fitting nod for a player whose time in Seattle has been defined as much by steadiness and leadership as by production.
Crawford is headed toward free agency, though he has made it clear he wants another run with the club. He finished the year with a .221/.335/.352 line in 116 games, but the numbers only tell part of why teammates and the organization made sure to honor him the way they did. For a team that leans heavily on continuity when it finds it, his departure would leave a familiar space to fill. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Just Signaled A Dugout Overhaul Fans Cant Ignore
The Mariners have started reshaping the entire dugout structure just one day after Dan Wilsons tenure as manager ended, making it clear this is more than a single personnel move. Seattle announced that bench coach Manny Acta, infield coach Perry Hill, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, and first-base coach Eric Young Jr. will not return for the 2027 season, a sweeping shift that touches nearly every part of the staff fans see from the field.
President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto and General Manager Justin Hollander framed the changes as part of a bigger reset, saying significant changes are needed as the club looks toward 2027 and beyond. For a team that has spent plenty of time trying to close the gap, the message is plain enough: this is the start of a broader overhaul, and the next set of moves will show just how deep Seattle plans to go. [Read more 🡒]
As Front Office Search Just Took An Unsettling Turn
The Athletics search for a new general manager has taken another twist, and it matters around the rest of the AL West as much as it does in Oakland. Jon Daniels has withdrawn from consideration for the job, choosing instead to stay on as a senior advisor with the Tampa Bay Rays, leaving the As to keep sorting through a broad list of possibilities as they try to find the right fit for a demanding rebuild.
For Seattle, the timing is worth watching because the division picture keeps shifting in the background while other familiar names face uncertainty of their own. Angels manager Kurt Suzukis future remains unsettled, J.P. Crawford is still dealing with injury issues as free agency approaches, and the Astros are weighing Lucas Spences recent form as they sort out their postseason plans. In a division where front-office moves can ripple quickly, Oaklands next hire could end up mattering beyond one clubs search. [Read more 🡒]