The Seattle Mariners have finally shaken off the dust of their past struggles, capturing the AL West title in 2025 for the first time in nearly a quarter-century. With a successful offseason bolstering their lineup, they're setting their sights on making waves in the 2026 playoffs.
It's not just the fans who are buzzing with excitement; experts are also placing high bets on the Mariners' potential.
As spring training wraps up, power rankings are giving Seattle some serious love. Chris Landers from FanSided ranks them sixth, highlighting the anticipated breakouts of young talents like Cole Young and Colt Emerson.
Meanwhile, Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report slots them in at fourth, pointing to the offensive boost expected from new corner infielders Brendan Donovan and Josh Naylor. Most notably, The Athletic, ESPN, and The Ringer all place the Mariners second, right behind the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers.
For those who haven't been following Seattle closely, this might seem unexpected. But for dedicated fans, it's the payoff of a strategic rebuild.
After a lackluster decade, the Mariners doubled down on developing homegrown talent, recognizing their limitations in the free-agent market. This focus on drafting and nurturing players has turned them into one of the league's top organizations in player development.
According to FanGraphs' ZiPS projections, four of their top five pitchers by projected fWAR are homegrown, with Luis Castillo as the notable exception. On the offensive side, stalwarts like Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez are expected to lead, alongside key players acquired through savvy trades. In fact, Josh Naylor is the only significant free-agent acquisition projected to make a major impact.
Despite a spring training record of 11-19, the second-worst in the Cactus League, there's little cause for alarm. Many of Seattle's top players were busy with the World Baseball Classic, and spring training results often don't reflect regular season performance. The focus is on what these games mean for the upcoming season, not the scores themselves.
While it might be premature to declare a new golden era for Seattle baseball, there's a consensus among industry experts: the Mariners are entering 2026 as true contenders, ready to make their mark in the postseason.