Seattle Mariners open 2026 with World Series buzz
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Let's go, Mariners! Photo: Aryanna Frank/MLB Photos via Getty Images
After arguably the best season in franchise history, the Mariners enter 2026 with something they've never really had before: a legitimate World Series run expectation.
Why it matters: This isn't just a young team with promise anymore. The M's are building on a 90-win season, an AL West title and a Game 7 ALCS run, with some national analysts calling the Mariners to win it all.
Driving the news: It's Opening Day! The Mariners host Cleveland at T-Mobile Park Thursday for the first in a four-game series.
The Mariners made three major moves this offseason: locking up Josh Naylor on a five-year, $92.5 million deal, and trading for utility player Brendan Donovan and left-handed reliever José Ferrer.
State of play: Our guys are building depth and flexibility on top of a proven roster with one of the top catcher–center fielder combinations in baseball, per Lookout Landing.
- Cal Raleigh is coming off one of the greatest seasons by a catcher in MLB history, hitting 60 home runs during the regular season and five in post-season.
- Julio Rodríguez led the American League in plate appearances and continues to evolve as one of the game's most dynamic hitters.
- Randy Arozarena adds another impact bat, while Victor Robles, Luke Raley and Naylor add power to the roster.
Plus: The pitching rotation — Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Luis Castillo and Bryan Woo — is widely viewed as one of the best in baseball.
Still, the team did lose two major contributors from last year's run — Eugenio Suárez and Jorge Polanco — who delivered big plays at key moments last year before departing in free agency.
What they're saying: Raleigh told the Seattle Times the goal is to become a perennial contender for the World Series.
- Rodriguez added: "Nothing in baseball is easy… but what I know for sure is, as a team, we have a better understanding of who we are and all the things we've got to do and sacrifice to get there."
The bottom line: The challenge now is not just getting to October but finishing the job, or as Raleigh said last year, "might as well go win the whole [effing] thing."
Tell us: Yes, we know the 2025 team got us closer to the World Series than any other, but was it the best in terms of pure Mariners baseball?
- We're torn between last year and 2001, when a team led by Ichiro Suzuki, Bret Boone and Edgar Martínez won a record-tying 116 games.
- What do you think?
- Email [email protected] and we might use your thoughts in an upcoming story.