The 2025 season promises yet another heartbreak for the Mariners. Thankfully, they are well prepared for the future.
guarantee contract
- Julio RodriguezCF: 162MM by 2034 (the transaction includes complex option structures starting after 2028)
- Carl RowleyC: $94MM by 2030 (deal includes 2031 vesting option)
- Luis CastilloRHP: $45.5MM through 2027 (deal includes 2028 conditional club option/vesting option)
- Justice CrawfordSS: $11MM by 2026
- Victor RoblesOF: 5MM through 2026 (includes $500K buyout of 9MM club option in 2027)
option decision
- if Jorge Polanco Has $6MM player option and $750K buyout
- Club has $7MM RHP option Andres Munozas well as two other club options for 2027-28
- Mickey GarverC/DH: $12MM reciprocal option, $1MM buyout
2026 guaranteed money (assuming Polanco and Garver become free agents): $76.5MM
Total future commitments: $326.25MM
Arbitration-eligible players (service time in parentheses; projected salary provided by MLBTR writer Matt Swartz)
Non-tender candidates: Thornton, Saucedo, Raley, Santos
free agent
This has been a great season for the Mariners in many ways. They get historic performance from catcher Carl Rowley. They won the American League West title for the first time since 2001 and advanced to the ALCS for the first time since that same season.
But the dream ends there. They appeared to be on the cusp of their first World Series appearance when they defeated the Blue Jays 2-0 in the ALCS. The Blue Jays tied the series at 2-2, but the Mariners won Game 5 to fall within one victory. Seattle lost Game 6 but led 3-1 in Game 7 until George Springer‘s home run gave the Jays the lead.
In recent history, the Mariners have often been a strong team, but not strong enough. In 2021, they are two games out of a playoff spot. They made the playoffs in 2022 and survived the wild-card round before being eliminated from the ALDS in painful fashion. The Mariners failed to score in 18 innings of Game 3, losing 1-0 to the division rival Astros. In 2023 and 2024, they missed the playoffs by one game. In a sense, 2025 is a step forward, but again, it’s so close that the final blow is even more devastating.
While this pain will be new to many fans, there’s plenty to feel in the future. The differences are wide open. The Angels haven’t been great over the years. The A’s are rising, but there are still a lot of question marks. The Astros and Rangers have some veteran talent but are starting to feel a little old and shaky, with both clubs facing budget crunches. Seattle, meanwhile, has a stack of talent on its roster. Some players will leave via free agency, but the M’s have cap space and one of the best farm systems in baseball.
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