The Mariners’ latest waiver claim doesn’t exactly scream headline-grabber, but Grant McCray does give Seattle something it badly needs: another live body for an outfield that suddenly looks wide open.
After opening the offseason by claiming Michael Toglia, Seattle dipped back into the waiver wire and grabbed McCray from the Giants. It’s a modest move on the surface, and McCray’s big-league track record doesn’t jump off the page. Over the last three years, he’s spent most of his time in the minors, with only brief major-league cameos, and his 247 career plate appearances in the majors have produced subpar results.
Still, there’s a reason he’s even in the conversation. McCray was a third-round pick out of high school by San Francisco in 2019 and climbed high enough in the organization to rank among the Giants’ top 30 prospects for a long stretch.
He peaked at No. 3 in 2023, trailing only Marco Luciano and Kyle Harrison. The problem is that his bat stalled once he reached Triple-A.
In 2025 and 2026, he posted a wRC+ of just 93 for the Sacramento River Cats.
The most recent numbers point to a hitter who’s too passive. McCray swung at only 64.4% of pitches in the zone, and his zone contact rate sat at 81.0%.
That combination makes life hard for a player whose contact quality is only a little better than average. He has shown an ability to draw walks at better than a 10% clip throughout his career, but higher-level pitchers can exploit the lack of conviction in his swing by simply attacking the strike zone.
Where McCray does stand out is in the rest of the package. His speed and arm give him a real chance to help in the field and on the bases.
During his 2026 major-league stint, his sprint speed checked in at the 95th percentile, right alongside players such as Chandler Simpson and David Hamilton. His arm strength was even more eye-catching, landing in the 98th percentile with an average of 96.0 mph across 70 throws, ahead of players like Wilyer Abreu and Ronald Acuña Jr.
That said, this is not the kind of move that changes Seattle’s plans. McCray is not being brought in to solve the Mariners’ offense, and he’s certainly not a lock to start on Opening Day or see heavy playing time. The club’s biggest need remains offense, especially right-handed offense, while McCray hits left-handed and has posted below-average production in Triple-A.
What he does offer is depth, and that matters in a winter like this. Waiver claims usually aren’t about finding stars. They’re about finding useful extras, and McCray fits that mold as a possible defensive replacement or pinch runner.
Seattle’s outfield picture is still messy beyond Julio Rodríguez, who is the one sure thing in center field. With Randy Arozarena gone and Víctor Robles’ club option declined, the corners are up for grabs. Lázaro Montes could be part of the answer, but the rest of the current group doesn’t inspire much confidence.
Dominic Canzone has been excellent over the last two years, but he’s settled in as more of a designated hitter. Weston Wilson posted an OPS+ of just 61 for the Mariners last season and looks similar to McCray, only without the same upside. Luke Raley hasn’t come close to matching his 2024 production, and the injury issues hanging over him make it hard to count on a rebound.
McCray may not end up being much more than a small piece, but he could still matter in a limited role. The bigger question is whether this is just the first of several outfield additions, or whether Seattle is trying to patch a major hole with minor moves. If it’s the latter, the disappointment could come fast.
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Jerry Dipoto Just Created A Bigger Mariners Concern Than Victor Robles
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Now the bigger concern is what his exit says about the roster-building work still ahead. Seattle has already moved on from the option year it held for 2027, and while the buyout is manageable, the larger issue is that the Mariners are again looking for answers in a spot that was supposed to be settled. For a team trying to tighten up the margins, losing that kind of outfield stability is the kind of problem that lingers well beyond one contract decision. [Read more 🡒]