The Mariners are getting a little grace in the first wave of 2027 MLB power rankings, even after a season that fell apart far short of expectations.
That might feel surprising on the surface. Heading into 2026, MLB.com had Seattle as high as fifth, ESPN slotted them third, and The Athletic also put them fifth. Then came a 76-86 finish and a missed postseason, a result that made the lofty preseason buzz look badly off.
Now, though, the outlook has softened only a bit. ESPN has the Mariners 11th in its 2027 projections, while The Athletic has them 10th. That’s still respectable territory, and it would place Seattle in the range of teams like the Diamondbacks and Guardians this year, with Cleveland winning the AL Central and reaching the ALCS.
The reasoning behind that optimism appears to be simple: both outlets seem to view 2026 as a bad reading of a roster that is better than it showed. That idea lines up with how Jerry Dipoto and the organization typically operate, too. Seattle is not known for going on a big free-agent shopping spree, and there’s a real chance the front office sticks to its usual path and leans even less on heavy spending as a solution.
A lot of the faith is tied to players bouncing back. Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh, Andrés Muñoz, and most of the rotation all had seasons that were shakier than anyone expected. Josh Naylor posted the worst year of his career, and Colt Emerson looked like he still needed more time before becoming a regular major league piece.
At the same time, it’s hard to look at those names and write them off. None of them suddenly became bad players.
That leaves room for the possibility that Seattle’s problems ran deeper, with broader cultural issues dragging the team down. And while Dan Wilson is a respected figure in Mariners history, there’s also the sense that he may not have been ready to manage in the big leagues just yet.
Even if the Mariners do get a full rebound from their core, the roster still has unfinished business. They need the right-handed bat they’re missing.
They need a workable answer for Randy Arozarena. And they still have to find out whether Colt Emerson and Kade Anderson can live up to the expectations around them.
That’s why these rankings should be handled carefully. They can be way off this early, and baseball has already provided plenty of examples.
The Blue Jays, Tigers, and Mets were all expected to be strong and still missed the playoffs. MLB.com also had the Brewers ninth in November 2025, and Milwaukee turned around and delivered its best season in franchise history, along with one of the best seasons ever.
So yes, power rankings are a shaky business. They’re not scientific, and they’re certainly not destiny. But for Mariners fans, there’s at least one small takeaway: after last year’s mess, some people still see enough here to believe Seattle can get back on track in 2027.
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