The Seattle Mariners may have finished 76-86 at the big-league level, but MLB Pipeline’s latest Top 100 Prospects list offered a much brighter snapshot of the organization’s future.
Six Mariners landed on the final rankings Friday, tying the Dodgers, Rays and Orioles for the most in baseball. For a fan base hunting for something to cling to during an offseason that could include a potentially lengthy lockout, that kind of farm-system haul matters.
At the top of the group sits left-hander Kade Anderson at No. 5.
Anderson opened the year by going 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA in Double-A, then reached the majors in August against the Chicago Cubs. The transition came with some bumps, but he still showed the same stuff that carried him in the minors, finishing 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA over 35.2 innings.
He looks positioned to begin next season in the rotation, especially if Seattle deals a starter or loses one to injury. Longer term, the Mariners enter 2027 with Anderson, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo and Logan Evans all in need of innings.
Right behind him is right-hander Ryan Sloan at No. 11, and the upside is obvious. The 20-year-old spent the full season at Double-A, posting a 4-4 record with a 3.73 ERA in 22 starts and 101.1 innings.
He piled up 128 strikeouts and worked with upper-90s velocity. He may not be ready to shoulder a full starter’s workload in 2027, but he should still make a real impact at the major league level.
Michael Arroyo checked in at No. 41 after a strong offensive season that included a .283 average between Double-A and Triple-A. He then got a September look with the Mariners and made it count, hitting .371 with a .953 OPS in 15 games and 35 at-bats. Arroyo’s defense is the question, but his bat gives Seattle little choice but to find a way to keep him involved.
Lazaro Montes came in at No. 53 after continuing to show his power. He blasted 38 home runs in the minors before getting promoted on Sept. 1, then carried that same pop to the majors with four homers.
The average stayed low at .212, and he struck out 24 times in 52 at-bats, but the power is unmistakable. His contact will have to improve, but he should get chances next season to help out.
At No. 60 is Felnin Celesten, who was named MVP of the High-A Northwest League after hitting .314 for Everett in 80 games. He finished the year in Double-A, where he hit .171 in 30 games. The 21-year-old switch-hitter still put together his best professional season, finishing with 16 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
Rounding out the group is Jonny Farmelo at No. 83.
The 22-year-old speedster bounced back from an injury-shortened 2025 to hit .251 across Everett and Arkansas while appearing in 129 games. He added 17 home runs and 41 stolen bases, and he should be in the mix by 2028.
In Other News...
Mariners Just Caught A Break In Their Manager Search
The Mariners managerial hunt has already been shaping up as one of the more expansive searches in the sport, with the club working through a long list of candidates as it looks to replace Dan Wilson. Seattle has reportedly cast a wide net, and the process has included familiar names such as Joe Espada, Rocco Baldelli, Brandon Hyde and David Ross, along with coaches whose seasons are still alive in the postseason.
One little bit of clarity arrived on the other side of the league as the Phillies opted to keep Don Mattingly in place rather than open up a broader search of their own. For Seattle, it does not solve anything directly, but it does remove one more possible wrinkle from a market already full of moving parts, leaving the Mariners to continue sorting through a crowded field while other clubs settle their decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Search Just Got Bigger Than Joe Espada Alone
The Mariners managerial search may now need to stretch beyond Joe Espada himself. Houston announced it will not renew Espadas contract after three seasons as manager, a move that also swept up six coaching roles around him and underscored how much turnover is already tied to his exit. For Seattle, that means any serious look at Espada is not just about the name on the dugout door, but about the kind of staff structure he would want behind him.
That makes the next step in the Mariners process a little more complicated and a lot more telling. If Espada is a candidate, Seattle will likely want to know who he would bring into the room and how he would want to shape the day-to-day operation, especially with Houston making so many changes around him. The fit is still there to be explored, but the staff conversation may wind up being just as important as the manager conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Prospect Jarvis Gomez Suddenly Looks Like A Name To Watch
Jarvis Gomez has moved onto the radar in a hurry after a strong summer in the Dominican Summer League gave the 17-year-old outfielder from San Isidro a real foothold in the Mariners system. His combination of plate discipline, power and speed has made him easy to notice, and the organization recently brought him to Seattle to accept its MiLB Hitter of the Year honor, a sign of how much progress he made in a short time.
For Seattle, the next step is less about the award and more about what comes next for a player still early in his development. Gomez is focused on getting stronger and improving his conditioning, and the Mariners are keeping him close to that process with another key stop on his calendar later this month. It is the sort of developmental path that can turn a promising summer into something more lasting, which is why he suddenly feels like a name worth filing away. [Read more 🡒]