Is the Seattle Mariners' roster stronger now than it was last fall? As the not-so-offseason comes to a close, with pitchers and catchers set to report to Peoria next week, it's an exciting time for fans to assess the team's progress. ESPN host Brendan Donovan has been praised for his skills, and with a winter of uncertainty, it's a great opportunity to evaluate the team's lineup and address the questions that have been on everyone's mind.
The Mariners' focus this winter has been on strengthening their lineup, with many fans wondering if they can improve upon the team that fell short in the American League Championship Series last October. While the team's goals extend beyond 2026, the immediate question on everyone's lips is whether they can build upon the previous season's performance. The Mariners' strategy involves looking beyond 2026, with a desire to largely retain the core players and sign key free agents like Josh Naylor. However, they faced a setback when they lost Jorge Polanco to the New York Mets, and passing on Eugenio Suárez left two holes in the lineup.
The Mariners' approach to the offseason has been multifaceted. While they added Brendan Donovan to the roster, their co-priority was to provide significant runway for at least one of their young players. This is a notable shift from the end of the regular season, where Cole Young and Ben Williamson were not utilized in the playoffs. The plan for 2026 is to have one or possibly two roster spots at the beginning of the season dedicated to bringing up or further developing young players, with an eye toward the payoff later in the season and beyond.
The Mariners' roster for spring training is indeed different from what we saw at the end of last year. With the likely loss of home runs due to the absence of Cal Raleigh, Polanco, and Suárez, the lineup will need to step up and make up for the production. However, this could be a positive change. Brendan Donovan, for instance, has a 13.0% strikeout rate and a .353 on-base percentage, which would have been the best and second-best on the club, respectively. The Mariners plan to bat Donovan at the top against both left and right-handed pitching, although this has not been his strongest spot.
The lineup will also be left up to Dan Wilson's day-to-day decisions, but the initial plan is to bat Donovan at the top. The majority of Donovan's early-season plate appearances are likely to come at second or third base, two positions that provided the second and third-worst OPS marks in the lineup last year. The first base position, which had a .618 OPS with eight players getting starts there, should be more stable this season, as it is inked in along with designated hitter as a platoon spot to be shared with Victor Robles and Luke Raley, with Rob Refsnyder and Dominic Canzone splitting DH duties. All can play right field if necessary, and a priority would be given to Refsnyder, who posted a .959 OPS against left-handed pitching last year.
The Mariners are also extremely left-handed in the infield, with Donovan, Naylor, and J.P. Crawford as everyday players. Crawford has hit lefties decently to well the last three years, and if a righty is needed at second base to platoon or face tough righties, the switch-hitting Leo Rivas could come into play. The lineup is also lengthened with the addition of Donovan, and a question that remains to be answered is what happens with Colt Emerson and Young. All eyes will be on the pair, with Dipoto and Hollander making it clear they would be fine with Emerson forcing the issue and making it impossible for them not to bring him north out of spring training.
As for the pitching, the intended starting five started 128 of 162 of the Mariners' regular-season games in 2025, with many of those being games of adjustment either battling through or back from injuries or aggravations. A healthy rotation could give a significant boost over what we saw last year. The bullpen is also an area of interest, with a wary eye kept on the relievers who accumulated innings last year. However, some good news came with the announcement of the World Baseball Classic rosters, as Andrés Muñoz, Eduard Bazardo, and Gabe Speier are on the WBC rosters and will be leaving camp for the tournament.
In conclusion, while the Mariners' roster may not be perfect, it is undoubtedly stronger than it was last season. With a healthier team and a more balanced lineup, they are in a strong position to make a run at the playoffs. The question remains: can they build upon this momentum and make a deep playoff run? Only time will tell, but with a talented roster and a strategic approach, the Mariners are certainly in a good position to succeed.
