Lou Piniella could be one step away from joining the Mariners’ three Hall of Fame representatives in Cooperstown.
Seattle currently has Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez and Ichiro Suzuki as its only sole inductees in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In one month, the club will learn whether Piniella becomes the fourth, with the former Mariners manager on the ballot for induction through the Contemporary Eras Committee.
The vote is set for Sunday, Dec. 6, when the 16-member committee chooses from eight finalists. Any finalist who reaches 75% of the ballots - at least 12 of 16 votes - will be part of the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2027. This round of voting includes managers, umpires, executives and others who contributed to the game.
Piniella’s case is built on a long managerial run that stretched across 23 seasons with the Yankees, Reds, Mariners, Devil Rays and Cubs. He won the World Series with Cincinnati in 1990, then arrived in Seattle in 1993 and helped guide the franchise through one of its most important stretches. Over 10 seasons with the Mariners, he went 840-711 and led the club to the playoffs in 1995, 1997, 2000 and 2001.
Those Seattle teams gave Piniella a central place in franchise history. The 1995 club is widely remembered for helping save baseball in Seattle after reaching the American League Championship Series, while the 2001 team set an American League record with 116 wins before also advancing to the ALCS. During that run, he managed some of the biggest names the Mariners have ever had, including Griffey, Martinez, Randy Johnson, Jay Buhner, Ichiro Suzuki and Jamie Moyer.
After the 2002 season, Seattle traded Piniella to the Devil Rays in a rare managerial trade. He spent three seasons there and then four more with the Cubs. Across his career, he reached the playoffs seven times.
Seattle still has another managerial decision hanging over the organization. The search for Dan Wilson’s replacement appears to have narrowed to Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler, though there remains a chance that another candidate could enter the picture late. Wilson was dismissed after a difficult 76-86 season that left the Mariners third in the American League West.
In Other News...
Cole Young Just Added Another Reason For Mariners Fans To Believe
Cole Youngs first full season in the majors keeps adding up to something bigger for the Mariners. MLB and Rawlings announced that the Seattle second baseman won the 2026 American League Gold Glove at second base, a recognition that fits the way he handled the position all year. Young stood out among AL second basemen in several defensive categories, and for a club that has long valued run prevention, that kind of stability in the middle infield matters.
The defensive hardware only adds to the sense that Young is becoming a cornerstone rather than just a promising young player. He also took clear steps forward at the plate, appearing in 160 games and showing real offensive growth along the way, which gives Seattle even more reason to believe his ceiling is still rising. The award is a milestone for Young and another sign that the Mariners may have found a long-term answer at second base. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Face A Risky Randy Arozarena Replacement Decision
As the Mariners weigh how to replace the offense they could lose if Randy Arozarena walks, Luis Robert Jr. has emerged as the kind of upside play that always comes with a warning label. Baltimore declined Roberts option for 2027, pushing him into free agency and putting his name on a market where Seattle is looking for impact, not just depth, in the outfield.
The appeal is obvious: Robert has the kind of talent that can change a lineup when he is right. The concern is just as clear. His recent season was uneven, and hamstring issues have been part of the story, leaving Seattle to decide whether the ceiling is worth the risk in a winter where every move around the outfield matters. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Suddenly Have A Defensive Anchor In Their Infield
The Mariners have spent plenty of time searching for steadier defense in the middle of the diamond, and this season they found it in a hurry. Their second baseman was named the Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner for the American League, a recognition that lands especially well in his first full Major League season and reflects the way he handled the position from day one.
The award was revealed during a special ESPN telecast, adding a little extra spotlight to a season that already stood out for his work in the field. He led AL second basemen in multiple defensive categories, and the honor puts him in some select company in Mariners history at a spot where dependable glove work can change the shape of an infield. [Read more 🡒]