2026 Seattle Mariners

[Porter]

Last Season: Lost in a rematch vs the Blue Jays in the LDS.

Additions (as of right now): CL Eric Brooks, SP Joel Ibanez, CF William Resch, MR William McDowell (Trade w/COL), 1B Jason Cruys (Trade w/COL)

Subtractions: 2B MacArthur Ito (to BAL), CA Matthew Gibbs (to ANA), SS Jerrod Moors (FA)


Projected Starting Lineup
CA: Clinton Chesire -- He should be able to hit for a high average and play solid D
1B: Donald Valentino -- Career .388 OBP, will struggle defensively.
2B: Harris Ohman -- GG 3B will move over to 2B. Patient hitter that needs to build on 2025.
SS: Gary Sachi -- He has to find ways to be serviceable on offense. One of the best defensive SS in the game.
3B: Yoshihiro Asai -- Recovering from injury, Can he maintain his .794 career OPS?
LF: William Resch -- Resch and Valentino have eight 200+ hit seasons between. Potent 1-2 if they perform.
CF: Joshua Legge -- Can he get anywhere near his .911 OPS at age 37?
RF: John Sanders (L)/Auerlio Gonzalez (R) -- Sanders can handle lefties. Gonzalez can wreak havoc if he can get on base at the 9 spot vs R.
DH: Lamont Morris -- Benching last season lit a fire into Lamont. 30 HR, 110 RBI season is possible.

Projected Bench (other than platoons)
1B: Jason Cruys -- Incredible Power off the bench, Next in line to start at 1B or DH.
2B/3B: John Patrick -- Above Average D and pounds Lefties. Career .303 hitter.
OF: Thad Vital -- Plays all 3 OF positions, but hes 38. Booth III is waiting to get back on the team.
2B/SS/LF: Donald Montalto -- Drafted in 7th round, 199th overall pick, by Seattle in 2015... Hasn't been on the ML roster for more than 1 game since 2022. He now plays SS and LF.

Projected Rotation
1. LH Thomas Bonney -- He's only won 3 Cy Youngs in the last 4 years
2. RH Joel Ibanez -- Welcome home Joel, This time you are not the ace.
3. RH Jeff Campbell -- He's pitching for a contract.
4. LH Freddie Blassie -- He's pitching to not get shipped off the ferry

Projected Bullpen
Mopup: Nareshi Shogo -- one of 3 MRs that can throw 100 MPH. He has five pitches and gets hit equally as bad.
Mopup: William McDowell -- Only lefty in the pen, has solid numbers. Great HR/IP Rate in Coors.
Middle: Sylvester McIntyre -- Gets a chance to showcase his talents for a full season
Middle: Carmelo Solorio -- Midseason pickup from last season gets a chance to build on last season.
Middle: Jasper Huck -- The 2nd of the 100 MPH club. 4.87 Career ERA but is very inconsistent
Middle: Alfred Neicase -- His endurance is now better suited for the pen. He will eat some innings.
Setup: Eric Brooks -- With Fruto gone, Brooks is now the active leader in Saves. He is the 3rd member of the 100 MPH club and is the primary setup man.
Closer: Kevin McLellan -- Was very good when he finally took over for Fruto. Only 713 more to catch his predecesor. 1st closer to start the season other than Fruto since 2007.


Thoughts on this team would be helpful.

[Providence A's]

Not sure what to make of this team to be honest. The AL West was so tight last year for the entire season. Starting rotation is the strength of your pitching. Offense doesn't really strike fear in me, but should be serviceable.

[Porter]

it doesn't have that player that can carry an offense.

[Kingdom]

Carmelo!

When you hand him the ball in warm up sessions, no one else gets it.

[Porter]

I have a guy that takes all the shots.

Jasper HUCK.

[Kingdom]

....

[Providence A's]

it doesn't have that player that can carry an offense.

Yea, that's basically what I meant. There's no one that really worries me or makes me think "I don't want that guy to beat me."

[Porter]

I think that most of the lineup can carry each other. I didn't have that guy on the 2024 team either. The division is much stronger now.