The Seattle Mariners are heading toward a strange little uniform milestone in 2027: if nothing changes, they’ll be the only team in Major League Baseball without a road gray set.
That twist got sharper on Monday when the Tampa Bay Rays announced they’re bringing back their road gray uniforms in 2027. The look will nod to their original “Devil Rays” era, and the front of the jersey will say “Tampa Bay” as a tribute to the organization’s commitment to its home area - and its history.
For Seattle, that leaves one odd spot in the wardrobe lineup. The Mariners are currently the lone club without a gray road uniform, though that could still change over the offseason.
The reason traces back to MLB’s “4+1” uniform setup, which has been in place for a few years. Teams are allowed four standard uniforms plus one City Connect option, and that math has pushed Seattle into its current mix: home whites, navy alternates, teal alternates, Steelheads alternates and the City Connect set.
It’s also why the Mariners had to give up their Sunday cream alternates last offseason. The Steelheads look needed room, and the cream uniforms were the ones that got cut.
Tampa Bay’s current setup has included a white uniform, a Devil Rays white alternate, a navy alternate and a power blue alternate, though it’s not yet clear which one will be dropped to make space for the returning gray road look.
There’s also a chance Seattle isn’t done tinkering. The Mariners are scheduled to get new City Connect uniforms in 2027, which naturally opens the door for more change. Some fans are already pushing for a broader refresh, especially since the home whites have stayed basically the same since the early 1990s and are now more than 30 years old.
Separately, closer Andres Munoz exited Sunday’s 2-1 win against the Rockies after allowing a solo home run and a walk in the bottom of the ninth inning. Manager Dan Wilson and the medical staff went out with him.
In Other News...
J.P. Crawford Puts Mariners Infield Future In An Awkward Spot
J.P. Crawford has spent this season in the middle of a Mariners infield that already feels like it is shifting under his feet. He is in the final season of his four-year deal and heading toward free agency, while the organization has not shown any public push to lock him up long term. Meanwhile, younger names are starting to press into the picture, with Colt Emerson among the infield prospects adding another layer to the conversation about what Seattle wants this group to look like going forward.
Crawford has still been asked to handle important work this year, moving between shortstop and third base while dealing with injuries. The problem for Seattle is that the fit is not as clean as it used to be, with his defensive numbers at shortstop sitting below average. For a club trying to balance present value against a possible next wave of infield talent, that leaves Crawford in an awkward spot and the Mariners with a decision they have not yet had to make publicly. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Suddenly Have A New Bullpen Worry At The Worst Time
Andrs Muozs night ended early against the Rockies after the Mariners closer felt discomfort in his left knee, a development that instantly put a tense stretch of late-season baseball under a brighter spotlight. Dan Wilson said Muoz felt something in the knee and that the club would do further imaging to get a clearer read on the injury, leaving Seattle to sort through the next step without much immediate certainty.
Eduard Bazardo handled the save situation in Muozs place and picked up the first save of his career, a useful moment for a bullpen that suddenly has to brace for a bigger question. Muoz has already had an uneven season, so the Mariners were already managing his role carefully, but any issue with the closer now carries extra weight with so little margin left for error. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Fans Just Got A Stronger Reason To Watch One Trade Return
Minor League Baseballs 2026 Double-A end-of-season awards have put a fresh spotlight on a handful of the games fastest-rising prospects, with honorees spread across the Eastern, Southern and Texas Leagues. Among the most notable names were Franklin Arias, who claimed Eastern League MVP and Top MLB Prospect honors, Anthony Eyanson as Eastern League Pitcher of the Year, and Leo De Vries as the Texas Leagues Top MLB Prospect.
For Seattle fans, the list is a reminder of how much talent is moving through the upper minors as the organization keeps stockpiling arms and up-the-middle upside. The broader award board also underscores just how crowded the prospect landscape has become, and how one recent trade return is drawing more attention as observers continue sorting through whos ready to jump from Double-A into the next tier of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]