Top 10 Trade Deadline Deals of 2026

 Well...a lot happened this time around. 

Following the brass today was HARROWING. So much was happening, and so quickly. Almost evenly displaced as well, like there'd be a move, I'd have time to make a custom of them, and the next two moves would be up. And I think it was all a well rounded bunch. Last year the emphasis was on relief pitching, this year it was a little of everything. Some teams needed starting help, some teams needed outfield bats, some teams needed catchers [and some needed catchers and somehow forgot to deal for any]. A lot went down, even to the point where, after the BIG MOVE happened a few days ago, I was worried nothing would top it. And...I mean, we'll get to it, but there certainly was competition. 

I have a lot of other posts planned for deadline week, I have a 'best of the rest' one planned, I have a 'the ones I didn't understand' post in a bit. But we've got to do the top 10. This kept sliding by the whole day and got to the point where it is now. One spot stayed the same. And...yeah.

Anyway, we start with one I really didn't think was gonna happen this deadline:

#10: Heliot Ramos to the Yankees, 2 prospects to the Giants

So, the Yankees went into the deadline looking for bullpen work and a catching upgrade, and got neither. So Heliot Ramos, a very savvy lineup addition, makes it to the end of this list without going forward. Let me just stress that I love this move, Ramos is young, controllable, and powerful. He's been hurt for a bit but he's hitting .264 with 9 homers and 34 RBIs in 74 games. He's a ferocious hitter with a huge upside and a lot to accomplish, and...he gets to hit in Yankee stadium. The tricky part is it crowds the outfield a bit. Right now it's Ramos/Jones/Dominguez/Grisham, and eventually Bellinger and Judge are gonna come back and it's gonna get even more crowded. It's bad enough that Paul Goldschmidt's gonna have even less at-bats now [more on that in another post], now we're crowding the active roster. It's gonna be worth it if Ramos continues his very strong work, which is very likely.

#9: Taylor Ward to the Mariners, 3 prospects to the Orioles

The Mariners have the kind of team that should work more in concept, because you have Randy Arozarena, Brendan Donovan, Julio Rodriguez, Dominic Canzone and Josh Naylor there and the contact game is ailing. So in comes Taylor Ward to make it even more ridiculous. Ward's having another excellent season, but it's a very contact heavy one without much need for power. He only has 7 homers and 30 RBIs, and that is appalling from a guy who's had 100 RBIs and 36 homers JUST A SEASON AGO. Wouldn't a trip to Seattle be a fun time to start power-hitting? Ward's an excellent outfield bat with some versatility and perks, and he could be the lineup piece that the Mariners need to save their season. I just think he really fits with what they're doing in Seattle. I'm also really happy the Mariners didn't deal Kirby or Emerson. Yes, that prevents against the possibility of stretch Kade, but their rotation is excellent and didn't need to be broken up beyond Castillo.

#8: Kevin Gausman to the Cubs, 2 prospects to the Blue Jays

The Jays had a really weird deadline, because they both sold and bought at the same time. And arguably they should have committed more to one than both. Ultimately, they chose to part with one of their longest-tenured stars, the mighty Kevin Gausman, where he will become something the Cubs have desperately needed this year: an actual ace. Justin Steele's been hurt, Cade Horton's out for a while, Shota Imanaga's struggled. They need stability, and Gausman is a veteran arm with postseason experience who can back up the already strong offense. This is a downslope of a year compared to his peak, as he is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA, but he's still a fundamentally strong pitcher with a lot of great starts left in him. I think he will greatly aid the Cubs down the stretch. Perhaps not as much as someone a little further down, but enough to land on this list.

#7: Luis Arraez and Caleb Killian to the Phillies, 2 prospects to the Giants

This is arguably a little low, but it's down here because the Phillies really needed a better option at fourth or fifth starter and didn't get one. They also needed an outfield bat...and didn't get one. So Luis Arraez, as good as he is, is an odd consolation for so many pieces of this lineup that needed help, and if we miss out on a World Series, it could be Dombrowski's fault for not going further. However...the Phillies now have Luis Arraez. And that's a very good thing. One of the best contact hitters in the game, and a terrific defensive 2nd baseman, joins this lineup, and moving Stott, Bohm and Harper around supremely improves the defense in general. Arraez is electric wherever he is, and the Phils could see that fully going forward. We also got Caleb Killian, who's a terrific bullpen arm with a great upside. Very much a win for Philly, even if the team isn't fully improved by this deadline.

#6: Foster Griffin to the Guardians, 4 prospects to the Nationals.

The Guardians had a sneakily good deadline, bringing on a lot of pieces that lift this team up to where they can really chase Chicago. Foster Griffin was their best move, because their fifth man in the rotation was Slade Cecconi, and as good as he can be, they could do better. Their rotation is now Messick, Williams, Bibee, Griffin and Cantillo, and that's among the best in the bigs. Griffin isn't an ace, but he's an excellent mid-rotation arm with 12 wins and a 3.05 ERA under his belt, and that's from playing for a very okay Nationals team. He'll thrive in a playoff environment in Cleveland, and build on this belated rookie season to become an even bigger force going forward. 

#5: Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor to the Cubs, Francisco Rojas to the Mets

This one ways a little more than Gausman to me for the Cubs pitching additions, because Holmes, until the injury, was having the best season of his career, and one of the only good seasons on the Mets. Through 9 games he had a 2.39 ERA, and was proving that the Mets moving him to the rotation was a good idea after all. The idea is that once Holmes is active [as well as Braxton Garrett], he'll be able to aid the Cubs rotation, and I see him as a front-facing integral arm that could lead them through some postseason games. Tyrone Taylor's also an excellent outfield depth option for this team, and could be very helpful on a postseason roster. The Cubs weren't fully ready before, and now they are.

#4: Freddy Peralta to the Rays, 3 prospects to the Mets

This deal will work out if the thesis, that the Mets were just a really poor fit for Peralta, is true. Peralta succeeded in Milwaukee, a small market team built on contact and pitching. That's also the Rays. Low budget, small core, close wins, and an impressive rotation. Peralta levels it up, as good as Rasmussen and Martinez have been. Shane McClanahan's gonna miss some time, and Peralta will be relied upon to deliver Brewers numbers as an ace for a Rays team with a shot at a #1 seed. Peralta's 4.99 ERA will need to come down if the Rays want to take advantage of this deadline, and I have a feeling it will. Meanwhile, Jett Williams is still chilling in the Brewers' farm system, and Brandon Sproat is getting all kinds of starts, so...lolMets.

#3: Liam Hicks to the Rays, Brayden Taylor and 2 prospects to the Marlins.

I like this one a little better for the Rays, simply because it fixes a lot of problems. It ups their catching game, ensuring Nick Fortes doesn't have to start behind the plate as much. It also gives them a proven contact bat with some kick against righthanded pitchers, and a very well-trusted lineup presence. I think he's just one of those guys who can pop into any lineup and just dive right in with excellent production, so I think he'll love Tampa. And also, he drains the Rays' farm system a little more so other teams can have a chance. Just a really cool, sneaky move by the Rays that positions them further towards a late run.

#2: Adley Rutschman and Jake Rogers to the Red Sox, Carlos Narvaez and 4 prospects to the Orioles.

I would say since Varitek left, the Red Sox have had a revolving door at catcher. So many guys that could have been the one, or should have. Victor Martinez, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Sandy Leon, Christian Vasquez, Connor Wong, Carlos Narvaez, and the list goes on and on. So to finally have an answer at catcher, and for it to be Adley Rutschman a terrific hitting catcher whose team already foreshadowed this move by signing Samuel Basallo to a multi-year deal...that is huge. Rutschman's having another great season, but it did feel like this O's team was moving past the need for him. With this Boston team he'll fit right in, and be another huge lineup piece of a team that's quickly becoming a serious wild card threat. Very much a case of giving a team exactly the guy they need going forward.

But of course...nothing was gonna top the #1 piece on the board. Even if you disagree with its existence, this deal needed to be #1.

#1: Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers, River Ryan, Zyhir Hope and 1 other prospect to the Tigers

So. The best team in baseball got the best pitcher in baseball. In 16 starts, Skubal had a 2.79 ERA, 7 wins, 116 Ks and a 2.9 WAR. He's still in his peak, is effortlessly brilliant, and was never gonna stay in Detroit. The Dodgers taking him happened because they had a well-stocked farm system where even their lower tier prospects were more than other teams were offering. It's disappointing that, like a lot of recent Dodger developments, nobody else could stop it from happening. But now Sku gets to help the Dodgers go for a threepeat, and it's gonna make electric October baseball even if they don't get all the way. It's also gonna add fuel to the fire that Skubal will, in all likelihood, choose to stay in LA going forward. Definitely shifts the balance of the game, which is what the trade deadline is for. 

So yeah. A lot happened. A lot of teams won. And now the Dodgers are even scarier. Sets up the last third perfectly.

Sometime tomorrow there'll be a 'best of the rest' post most likely, with a lot of other deals that didn't make this list. 

It's Yours. Go Take It.

 

I think the best word to describe the Mariners this year would be 'reluctant'. So far this year, the AL West has been led by the Athletics, who then punted and fell apart last month, then the Rangers, who are likely going to relinquish it again soon, all while the Mariners flirt with greatness while being the only great team in the division. Like you kinda want to let them in on it, right? Like, these other guys are gonna keep doing this, you have to try and stay ahead of them or this whole thing is gonna be for nothing. 

The Mariners, just like in 2024, have a rotation full of people genuinely good at what they're doing, and not in danger of going anywhere. Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Emerson Hancock and Bryan Woo are all working on terrific seasons, and not in a worrying way. Longevity is the name of the game with all these guys, especially Gilbert, Kirby and Woo. Gilbert's been here since 2021, he's still extremely good and makes all his starts, and this season he's got a 3.38 ERA and 129 Ks in 20 starts. Bryce Miller's only made 10 starts so far and he has a 2.27 ERA, with 71 Ks and a 2.0 WAR. Miller was doing this sort of lights-out work in last year's playoffs, and is gearing up for a similar run if the Mariners have it in them this year.

And...do they?? No one on this team has more than 15 homers. No one on this team has more than 48 RBIs. No one on this team is hitting over .281. Josh Naylor and Cal Raleigh were supposed to carry this team and are doing very okay, and Cole Young and Randy Arozarena are essentially doing all the work. Julio Rodriguez has 15 homers and 43 RBIs, and we've all seen him do better. He just picks the weirdest times to heat up honestly. Same with Luke Raley, who was wonderful in mid-May and has completely evaporated any sense of forward momentum. It's not that this team isn't hitting; many of them are. The issue is that the unified intimidation factor from last year, where any of Rodriguez or Arozarena or Naylor or Raley or Canzone can beat your ass, seems to be gone. Maybe Cole Young will drive in a run and get 3 hits but nobody's an everyday hero this year. They just pick their moments. Also Cole Emerson is still ramping up to the numbers the prospectors assumed he'd be at by now. We can't have another Jarred Kelenic on our hands.

The Mariners have a habit of lining everything up in August, and that'll need to happen this time. Last time they were a little better than they are now, and more of a position to buy. Right now they're a hare under .500 and need to win over the Rangers to retake the division. They had two low-level teams this week and went 3-3. If this series goes similarly they may need the help even more than they initially did. Hopefully whatever happens makes them into a better competitor, because if it's this current incarnation, I don't think the run's lasting as long as last year's.

Coming Tonight: Former World Series catcher having, at last, a strong and healthy year once again. 

The Six-Man Formation

 

In 2024, the Mariners had Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo healthy and thriving, Bryan Woo activated midyear and surging, and Emerson Hancock hanging around not pitching well. In 2025, Gilbert, Kirby and Miller were tired, with Miller showing up late for some terrific postseason starts, Castillo was healthy all year, Woo was healthy all year, and Hancock was once again shaky. So now, this year...everybody's healthy. Gilbert, Kirby, Woo, Castillo, Miller and Hancock, all healthy, all aiding the team. Which means we've got a six man rotation where virtually any of them can be relied upon for a great start...in addition to an offense that isn't afraid to go nuts. It may not show immediately because of their rough June, but...the Mariners have more going on than usual right now.

Right now it's really only Castillo who's having a poor year, and even then it'll still come with an occasional dominant start that's vintage Castillo. He's still 33 and a little worse for wear but at the end of the day he's still Luis Castillo. Everybody else is on point. Logan Gilbert is once again coming off like a true ace, with a 1.010 WHIP, a 3.42 ERA, 107 Ks and a 2.2 WAR. The dominance that has kept him at the forefront of this team has persisted, and Gilbert is still one of the most consistent pitching forces in the league. Getting to see what 'good' Emerson Hancock looks like has also been a highlight of this season, and he's got a 3.47 ERA with 87 Ks. Bryce Miller has been excellent since coming off the IL, he has a 1.97 ERA, a 0.723 WHIP and a 1.9 WAR in 8 games. This is exactly what he was doing in the playoffs last year, and it's all he's after now. Woo and Kirby have been a little more pedestrian but they're still steady, reliable options that just have higher ERAs than expected. But nobody's getting pushed out there to eat innings, it's not a 'draw straws' kind of rotation like Colorado's. That's why there's six guys in that rotation, they're all excellent and even if Castillo has to do long relief every so often, he can still swing back in and dominate from the jump.

The team itself however has been struggling of late, and are currently fighting to stay atop the AL West thanks to both a rough couple weeks and a recent surge from the Rangers. They've lost a lot of series' against people they could have beaten, teams like the Orioles, Nationals, Red Sox, Guardians and Pirates. Not only is Josh Naylor not really hitting that well, but he's beginning to get a poor reputation. This after he brought so much joy to this fanbase last year is a very sharp turn of events. Luke Raley and J.P. Crawford had nice starts but have both gone very cold. And Cal Raleigh...he's still not hitting, and the worry that he hit his ceiling last year is about to emerge. Or maybe the fear that they traded away Harry Ford prematurely.

I still think the Mariners are the best team in this division, and they still have the leverage even if the Rangers threaten from behind. Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, Cole Young and Logan Gilbert are all at the top of their games, and the Rangers don't have near as much going for them at the moment. We'll see what happens after the ASG break.

Coming Tomorrow- A guy with a very good chance of starting the All-Star Game at 1st for the NL for...well, certainly not the first time. 

All Caught Up

 

The Mariners currently have 5 guys with over 30 RBIs and four starting pitchers with 70 strikeouts. I've been wanting a balanced Mariners team for ages and we seem to be getting one now. 2024 was the year of the immaculate rotation with barely any run support, 2025 was the year of insane offensive production with shakier starting pitching than usual. Now everybody seems to be caught up. 

So...Julio Rodriguez is 25 this year. To this point, he's been in 3 all-star games, had two 30+ homer years, crossed 125 homers and has shown no signs of slowing down. This is another great year for Julio already, he's got 13 homers and 34 RBIs, plus 9 steals and 72 hits. I know there have been some years where it's taken him longer to really get going but he's made all this progress by 25. It's not Juan Soto crazy but it's still a lot. And in a year where Cal Raleigh's been out, and was not at 100% in April anyway, someone like Julio, and Randy Arozarena honestly, is way more valuable. You need your marquee guy to be worth his weight in gold. It's not happening with Acuna this year in Atlanta. It's not really happening with Mookie Betts in LA. But Julio is that guy for this team, and the team's way better for it.

I'm in awe that the Mariners have six healthy starters and they're all doing pretty solid work. Like, Luis Castillo's the weakest of the six this year, he's been running nonstop for like 4 years and it's taking its toll, but even he can have a classic start where he holds a team to only one run every now and then. Hancock and Miller are hot now because they've missed time and didn't burn themselves out. Gilbert's on an upswing, Woo and Kirby have had rough outings but are still putting in solid work. There's really not any scary options in the bunch this time around, and having a full, consistent bullpen has helped even more. 

I think the real issue is they still haven't broken away from the rest of the pack in the AL West. They're a very good team but they keep getting caught up in tough matches to teams like the Orioles and Padres and not legging them out. They've been doing much better lately, and have retaken the division lead, but after this Orioles series I do worry about their legitimacy. Especially with the Nationals up next, who, while not a league monolith or anything, certainly can run a pitching staff wild if given the opportunity.

We'll see what happens when Raleigh comes back as well. If that'll be the factor that gets them to take off.

Coming Tomorrow- How about that, a Dodgers pitcher breaking out on a rookie contract? 

Patience Occasionally Pays Off

 

The Mariners promoted Colt Emerson a few weeks ago, and Emerson's been taking the majority of reps at third in the wake of yet another Brendan Donovan injury. You can tell the Mariners have faith in Emerson because they traded their other infield prospect, Ben Williamson, to make room for him, and so far that seems to be a good move on their part. Emerson's currently hitting .222 with 6 hits and 4 RBIs in 9 games. It's not immediately showing Emerson's high ceiling numbers, but if the Mariners' gameplan over the last few years has taught us anything, it's that they can afford to wait a little while.

Look at Cole Young, who was honestly inessential in his midyear callup last year. They brought him in to be a better choice at 2nd, he...sort of was, but didn't hit. Now, with another few months under his belt in the majors, he's figured a ton more out, with a more pronounced contact game, complete with 10 doubles and 23 RBIs, and some excellent defense at 2nd. He's been one of the most confident pieces of the lineup thus far, and in a season without Cal Raleigh's better numbers, that's worth a ton. Young wasn't an immediate smash in Seattle, but the Mariners didn't give up on him. Same with Emerson Hancock, who regularly brought up the rear of the five man rotation; Hancock's now a surer, more consistent starter, with a 2.78 ERA and 63 Ks in 11 games. He might honestly have the best line of any of the five right now, which is kinda insane. 

The waiting approach also applies to some of their acquisitions. J.P. Crawford, Dominic Canzone and Victor Robles hadn't completely hit their potential yet when they were traded, yet they've all found pivotal roles in this lineup. Crawford's still a welcome contact hitter, and though he's a little less accurate than usual he's still got 7 home runs. Canzone is the fun bench/DH bat whose power boosts have been welcome this year. Robles is still a great help defensively in the outfield, and he can hit .300 to boot. I'd even through Luke Raley in this category, because the Rays didn't get a ton of use out of him but in Seattle he's become one of the most reliable sources of power. Dude's got 11 home runs so far. 

The inverse of this is the guys the Mariners lose their patience with typically don't have a ton left afterwards. Kyle Lewis's peak WAS in Seattle, and after that season he barely touched the majors. Jarred Kelenic just got DFA'd by Chicago, proving the Mariners were right to give up on him. Easton McGee also hasn't really recovered from the injury he suffered right after his Mariners debut. They just seem to know when to pull the trigger and when to hold off.

Thanks to a strong series against the A's, the Mariners are momentarily back in first and hoping to build on the narrow lead. They've got Julio hitting, the rotation's looking surer than before and the wins are coming more frequently than they were in April. I think they can hold this for a little while, but the amount of time it took them to get here is slightly concerning. 

Coming Tonight: I was reminded the other day that this guy's been in the majors for nine years now. It's no less wild than it was in 2018. 

One Missed Cal

 

Lot of law firm guys in the bigs these days. Emerson Hancock, Hurston Waldrep, Warming Bernabel. Just put an ampersand in between any of those and you're in business. 

Anyway, the Mariners have overcome a rough start by putting together an extremely even team. In the past it's been either all pitching or all hitting, here both sides are doing their part. There have been well-pitched months from Emerson Hancock, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert and Bryan Woo, in addition to welcome production from Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez and Cole Young, the latter finally cementing himself as a worthy piece of this team. Brendan Donovan just came off the IL and is getting back to his old tricks as a contact bat. And even on a night where Hancock gets rocked a bit, you can't entirely count him out because most of his other starts he can go 6 strong without giving up many runs. After years of faulty appearances, seeing a more composed, confident version of Hancock is a welcome sight, especially alongside a healthier version of George Kirby. 

Now...there's a fundamental flaw in this team, and it's one that could be avoided over time but is worrying people already. This is a 2020s Mariners team, and everyone is performing pretty well...except for Cal Raleigh.

Raleigh is months removed from his coronation, his biggest season yet, and one of the best hitting seasons from a catcher since the 50s. To his credit, he has 7 home runs and 18 RBIs, which isn't terrible. But the multifaceted Raleigh who could also hit for contact and rely on assets other than power hasn't really shown up. He's hitting .175 with twice as many strikeouts as hits. The accuracy and power Raleigh showed frequently in 2025 has been sparse this year, and it's in a year where the team thought they could finally rely on him to lead things. Not that Julio and Randy CAN'T per se, but more is falling on them than previously figured, and it's a bit awkward at times.

Raleigh insists there's a larger issue, and he's sat a bit dealing with that thumb trouble, but hopefully it's as simple as that. Say the thumb heals and the rough patch continues. What then? What needs to be reassessed? 

The M's are good enough now that they can balance the work elsewhere, but they're being kept out of first by the A's. This division was supposed to be theirs, and it's been closer than they'd like. Hopefully they have it in them to pull away again this year, but with Raleigh struggling it's been put into question.

Coming Tonight: The opposite of Superman. He puts on glasses and becomes unstoppable.

Falling Backwards

 

The AL West is kinda weird right now. The Mariners and Astros are in last, and the Angels and Rangers are fighting for first. It may be only April, but it's at least giving the Mariners an opportunity to work their way up.

It's very clear what's plaguing the Mariners right now. Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Josh Naylor and J.P. Crawford just aren't playing well. And that's the majority of the core from last year, not to mention Polanco and Suarez are gone. So already, if a lot of guys are muted, that doesn't match up, immediately. To have three crucial hitters batting under .200, not even including Rob Refsnyder who's yet to even register a hit, makes it much harder for other teams to take you seriously. Cal Raleigh conquered the world last year and now he's a .163 hitter, despite 11 RBIs. Either teams have figured him out or it's just a rough start.

It is therefore helpful that, at least, somebody is providing stable hitting in Seattle. And it's Randy Arozarena, already pretty beloved there after a year and a half. Arozarena's just a good guy to have around, can do all sorts of things and can go on a tear when you need him to. So far he's hitting .284 with 21 hits, 7 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. All sorts of fun contact work, plus the occasional homer. In fact the contact guys, like Cole Young, Brendan Donovan and Dominic Canzone, have been off to the best starts. And Luke Raley's power numbers don't hurt either. There are definitely pieces of this Mariners lineup that do work, but until the larger half do their part it's just gonna keep looking this awkward and scattered.

At the very least the pitching hasn't been much of an issue so far. Emerson Hancock, Bryan Woo and George Kirby all look great. Hancock seems to finally have recovered from a few injury-plagued years, and he's 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA. Logan Gilbert doesn't look TOO terrible, but he's still 1-3 with a 4+ ERA, s hopefully the reps bring that down. Luis Castillo might be cooked after a few excellent, consistent seasons in a row. I'm not sure who the 'break in case of emergency' starter is. Cooper Criswell maybe? Bryce Miller's out for a bit longer, I dunno if it'll sync up perfectly. Bullpen looks pretty good too, barring some struggles from Andres Munoz.

Look...there is a good team in here, it's just that not all of it has hatched yet. I imagine Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh will start hitting soon, and things will flip around. The team's so well-designed that even if it doesn't happen all the way, good things will still happen. There's depth, there's failsafes. Last night they looked really good. I think they'll be alright eventually. 

Coming Tonight: I remember hearing about this guy as a prospect and thinking that, seeing as the Dodgers hadn't traded him yet, they clearly knew something cool was gonna happen. And I was right. 

Dom Voyage

 

Everything I saw about the Italian national team in the WBC just made me happy. Cause it was always tinged with 'LOOK AT THESE FUN DUDES'. You've got Jac Caglianone, Dominic Canzone, Michael Lorenzen, Vinnie Pasquantino, Aaron Nola and Jakob Marsee, they're all hangin out and upsetting games and you can't not love that. It's also illegal to not enjoy a team coached by Sal Fasano and Jorge Posada and managed by Francisco Cervelli. I'm not Italian but I was rooting for those guys after a while. And when I couldn't love them enough, Pasquantino brings out the espresso machine, which all the money from went towards local autism charities. Like, COME ON. 

And it was so welcome compared to the US team, which was devoutly serious. They did that tournament like they were preparing for war. Country music blaring, no joking around, 'this is a job to do'. And the 2017 team was so much fun. Granted, there were a few more non-white people on that team, so uh...draw your own conclusions. Like, there's a reason Cal Raleigh got absolutely clowned on for refusing a handshake from Randy Arozarena. Randy understands that this tournament is for bragging rights, and it's mostly just a fun time with your contemporaries from the same country, it's about national pride. It's not a frigging land operation. 

I just think it's really cool that Dominic Canzone goes from the feel good team of the WBC to a truly exciting Mariners team. You know, ya whetted your appetite, you got your reps in, and then you go and play outfield for the guys looking to win the AL West. Keep in mind, the Arozarena-Raleigh thing is still dying down, and Raleigh's been struggling to find his 2025 swing, but there in the corner is Dominic Canzone just doing his thing, he's got 2 hits so far, both of them homers, and 3 RBIs. Sometimes you need a fun vibes guy like that when everything's fraught. Canzone is sharing right with Luke Raley pretty much but both guys are off to nice starts. The idea, I'm guessing is for Canzone to take the majority of starts at RF, Raley to platoon at DH with Rob Refsnyder, and the younger infield to keep things cool. Even without J.P. Crawford I'm confident this team has the pieces to hold things down, with Rivas and Young and all.

Right now there's the slightest bit of concern with the Mariners, as even if they've stayed toe-to-toe with Cleveland they've dropped 2 very close games, both thanks in part to Chase De Lauter coming alive late. The bullpen is not as strong as last year, and Eduard Bazardo, Gabe Speier and Andres Munoz have struggled putting games away. Josh Naylor has yet to register a hit, and Cal Raleigh only just got started. Julio Rodriguez is also off to a slow start, but...that's kinda normal for him honestly. Midway through May he springs to life and takes off, that's his thing. 

I'm still very confident the Mariners can get something done this year, but they need to clean up some of these early stumbling points, including the usually-strong pitching. I'd love for them to repeat as AL West champs, but this year they have competition, and the Astros probably want revenge or something silly like that. So we'll see how things end up.

Coming Tomorrow- Speaking of Italy, someone recently asked me if Mario is canonically a Dodgers fan. Which confused me. And then he showed me an official Dodgers promotion for a bobblehead of Yoshi, from the Mario games, in a Dodgers uniform, wearing #18. And I had to go 'oh, nonononono. Y'see, there's this guy on the Dodgers...'

The Black Hole on Second Base

 

What the Mariners will be doing with Brendan Donovan this season, after trading him for a bunch of people including Ben Williamson and Dutch switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, both makes absolutely no sense and tons of sense depending on how well you know their situation.

Donovan is a multi-instrumentalist, and has played second base, third base, left field, right field and shortstop at the MLB level, which is one of the reasons the Cardinals valued him, before...y'know...trading him away. His defense has routinely been good-but-not-great, but as an infielder with contact ability he's very valuable, and is definitely a crucial piece for Seattle, who can always afford to up their contact game. But going into this season, the plan seems to be to let Donovan start as the primary third baseman, despite 2nd base being his primary position to date, and continue to let Cole Young [and to a lesser extent Leo Rivas] mature at second base.

And it seems like a very odd move to break in Donovan at a position he's obviously played but isn't as well known at. It's like the Red Sox signing Hanley Ramirez to play the outfield, or the Mets signing Jorge Polanco to play 1st, or...the Mets signing Bo Bichette to play third, or...the Mets signing Clay Holmes to start ga-you may be noticing a theme here. But I see the reasoning on a few levels. Firstly, Donovan is that kind of multi-position guy to not be too fazed by a move to third, and also...second base has been very problematic for this team in recent memory.

Since...I would say 2018, Seattle has been where promising second base signings and trades go to die. You could trace it back to when the Mariners, in 2016, traded their prized 2nd base/SS prospect Ketel Marte to Arizona for Jean Segura, who was primarily a shortstop in Seattle. That move poisoned the well, and every subsequent 2nd baseman in Seattle experienced pain and misery upon their arrival. Starting with Dee Gordon, whose strong Miami years trailed off, as did his OPS and defensive ability. In 2020, the team went with Shed Long as the primary 2nd base option, and while he was a promising farmhand with contact potential, he hit .171, and then .198, given the opportunity, and never recovered. Many times over the course of the next few years, the M's would attempt to give Dylan Moore the starting 2nd base job, but he'd only excel when used as a bench bat. So in 2021, Moore as the main 2B option was so overwhelming that they traded for Abraham Toro, who was nice down the stretch but completely underwhelming in 2022. 

Then, starting in 2022, the Mariners made attempts to actually sign and field talent for 2nd base, which would be even more disastrous. Adam Frazier, after an all-star season in Pittsburgh and San Diego, hit .238 despite appearing in more games than any other Mariner. Kolten Wong, dealt for Toro ironically, was coming off a number of underrated contact seasons in Milwaukee only to hit .165 in 67 games, effectively ending his career. Jorge Polanco was next, and the interesting detail with Polanco is that, similar to Moore, he doesn't start really picking up until after he's moved to a DH option. As a 2nd baseman in 2024 he's decent, hitting .213 with 16 homers and 45 RBIs, but last year, as the primary DH, Polanco hit .265 with 26 homers and 78 RBIs. Prompting the misguided Mets contract. 

Lost in all this was the fact that Cole Young, an organizational gem, was decent enough in a call-up year, despite a .211 average in 77 games. A slow start is understandable, especially for a 21-year-old. So moving Donovan to 3rd to keep Young in the lineup means they have faith in him to break this curse. And honestly, at this rate, I trust them.

Because, I don't know if you recall this, but the Mariners used to have a similar black hole at the backstop, going back to when Dan Wilson left. From 2005 til the early part of this decade, the catching position was a revolving door of both replacement options and fleetingly-kept answers. Names like Welington Castillo, Omar Narvaez, Miguel Olivo, Yorvit Torrealba and John Jason made their way through as hole-plugging options that didn't amount to anything. At the same time, this team tried to find young catchers to build into career guys, but Kenji Johjima was a disappointment, Adam Moore never stuck in the majors, and Mike Zunino, admittedly the best they could come up with during this period, wasn't any good as a catcher. This period even had the saga of Mike Marjama, a decent young catching option who left baseball for charity work, then came back only to get slapped with a PED ban. Snakebitten doesn't even begin. So for a position like that to go from completely hopeless to in amazing shape thanks to some guy named Cal Raleigh...that proves that even something that feels cursed has hope.

So I hope Cole Young figures it out this year, and spends a long career at second in Seattle. It's the relief this team deserves. And if it's not him, hopefully they find the guy soon, even if it needs to be Brendan Donovan. Though I won't blame him for not immediately wanting to test fate.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2025: Mariners

 

It was a pipe dream that became a reality. 'What if the Mariners caught fire, took the West and made a run?' It'd be cool if it happened. Switch-hitting catcher hitting 60, that was already a thing. Maybe it was possible. And sure enough, this Mariners team stopped the Tigers from making it deep, and nearly caught the Jays. With Julio, Randy, Cal, Jorge and Logan all doing what they were brought here to do, the Mariners finally seemed like they were fulfilling the promises of so many lost seasons. With Dan Wilson at the helm, there's firmer footing, and there's a big chance this team can rule the West going forward.

Victor Robles was looking to repeat his surprise 2024 success, then got hurt a week into the season. So his output was ultimately kind of limited, but he did show up in a few spots for the Ms. He hit .245 in 32 games for the Mariners, with six steals and some slightly limited defense.

2026 Prediction: Who even knows with this guy? He's almost never been good when his team has needed him to be. Maybe he has a decent year, I dunno if it'll be starting.

Before the Eugenio Suarez deal, the Mariners used rookie Ben Williamson as a 3rd base option. Williamson was average, hitting .253 without much to show for it and having 21 RBIs in 85 games. 

2026 Prediction: Might get to start once or twice, but unless he really levels up and acclimates to the majors, he's not gonna have much of a role here. It also has to do with...

...foundational rookie prospect Cole Young, who got plugged in at 2nd as Polanco took more reps at DH. Young similarly struggled at the plate, hitting only .201 in 77 games. Even if the Mariners really want this guy to succeed, they used a different young second baseman in October.

2026 Prediction: Of Williamson, Young and Rivas, Young will have the furthest reach, and it'll start with a breakout 2026.

One of the best middle relief pieces in Seattle this year was Eduard Bazardo, a 29-year-old who had failed to click with Boston or Baltimore but somehow found a place here. This year Bazardo was very sharp, going 5-0 with a 2.52 ERA and 82 Ks in 72 games. In the playoffs he struck out 13 in 12 innings, getting his first postseason win.

2026 Prediction: Slightly lesser numbers but same amount of reps.

The guy who saw the most time at 2nd this postseason for Seattle was another young guy, Leo Rivas, a 27-year-old second year who got 48 games and wound up as the victor thanks to a .244 average and a .721 OPS. The playoffs brought a ton more cool moments from Rivas, with a very crucial RBI against Detroit.

2026 Prediction: I'm not sure how much staying power he has, but until they figure out what the proper formula is, they're gonna need pieces like Rivas to test out.

And even in a season where the starting catcher did the unthinkable, there was still room for a rookie backup, organizational favorite Harry Ford, no doubt a lock for UK's WBC team next year. Ford got 8 games in the MLB this September, and got his first MLB hit and RBI, then went 1 for 1 in a postseason at-bat. Unfortunately, Raleigh's incredible season spelt doom for any notion of Ford being the starting catcher in Seattle anytime soon, and the M's dealt him to Washington for Jose Ferrer.

2026 Prediction: This is what Ford needed. In Washington, his biggest rivals will be Keibert Ruiz, who was once a promising prospect but hasn't accomplished much at all, and Riley Adams, a professional backup. I think he will ascend to everyday catcher and be the next piece of the Nats rebuild. 

Coming Tomorrow- The Marlins, as bad as they were, were still entertaining, and I have a bunch from their season.

Championship Series' Day 6: What A Concept

 

Mariners fans had been waiting a while for THE Eugenio Suarez performance they'd been promised. He'd been so good in Arizona and was much less consistent in Seattle, and was constantly in position to succeed in October with this team and just couldn't. Tonight, however, Geno gave the Mariners fans a rare home playoff win with a two-homer night, including a grand slam. This is Eugenio Suarez. I dunno why he took this long to get here. But there he was.

You're seeing the best of this team finally showing up. Getting the Jays in trouble when the 'pen comes in. Pitching Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo and keeping things close. Randy robbin' a homer. Andres Munoz making the case for his own October supremacy. Cal Raleigh tying the game. Geno is the cherry on top. The Mariners always worried me heading into October, as they've always talked a big game but never committed, and now they have the team that can commit. Their best starter right now is the one guy who struggled all year, and the guy who put them in winning position is the guy that was striking out for most of September.

The Mariners are one game from their first ever World Series. They just have to win one game in Toronto. Yes, they've won two already...but you can never count this Blue Jays team out. 

So to recap: one win from their second consecutive World Series berth, the Dodgers put Shohei Ohtani on the mound, and he proceeded to go 6 innings of 2-hit ball, striking out 10, while also hitting THREE HOME RUNS. How can anyone compete with that? The Brewers have a lot of great things, but they don't have a guy who can shut you out AND hit three home runs against you. They don't even have a guy who can shut you out OR hit three home runs against you for this series. 

The Dodgers had all of the pieces. It took them a while to fall into place but there was the hope that they would in October, and they have. The starting pitching was incredible this series. The bats were all awake. The bullpen behaved. In this Brewers series, they barely showed weakness. Game 1 was it, and then they completely plowed ahead, only unlike last year's World Series they left no room for the Brewers' mercy. They exploited the Brewers for what they were: a very lucky collection of young and talented people who all got hot at the right time...but that time wasn't now. 

The Dodgers are now the favorites to win the gold. They are now the alpha. Which means everyone's gonna pray for an upset.

The ultimate flaw of the Brewers' season is that they had enough to get past the Cubs, but not enough to get past the Dodgers in October. Once again, this is the one hurdle they could not pass. 

I have no doubt, though, considering how young this team is, that they will be back. Chourio is only getting stronger, and has already proven himself as a postseason favorite. You can already see Chad Patrick and Jacob Misiorowski keeping October offenses down. Turang, Frelick, Collins and Durbin are gonna be at this for a while. Getting rid of some of the flashes in the pan and continuing to farm this team up using the excellent farm system is gonna lead to a very sustainable, very competitive team. And plus, they've got leverage over Craig Counsell. 

Jays-Mariners resumes in a couple days. The Jays are up against the wall, which is where you really don't want them. 

Championship Series' Day 2: Home Field Advantage My Foot

 

The Mariners really are about to head back to Seattle having taken two from the Jays in Toronto. That was always the best case scenario but I didn't figure the Blue Jays were gonna make it that simple for them. Trey Yesavage worked the last few times, yet here the M's had no problem with him. Wild!

The fact that the Mariners scored TEN RUNS against the team that was batting around the Yankees like it was no problem last week is insane to me. And that it's coming from all over the lineup. Naylor, Julio and Polanco are responsible for some big power moments, but how about J.P. Crawford? Dude knocked in 2 RBIs in the 6th and 7th around all the chaos. The Jays got only 5 hits off of Logan Gilbert, for 3 runs, and couldn't do a damn thing against the Mariners' bullpen. You can see Guerrero quieting down again. It's really down to guys like Nathan Lukes right now, and if the Jays wanna stay in this, they need the full-team effort that was the edge over the Yanks. 

Cause if not, this'll be their third ALCS in less than 15 years that they won't be able to get past. Even if this team is still young, you want to take these opportunities. The Mariners, meanwhile, look good and hopefully will get even better once the rested starters kick in.

So this is gonna be very controversial, but...even if the Dodgers still won that game, I think the moral victory still goes to Milwaukee. For a couple reasons. Firstly, all anyone's gonna be talking about is that Sal Frelick throw to home for a double play. That's one of the coolest things I've seen in a while. Secondly, the only runs the Dodgers scored came on a solo home run and a bases-loaded walk. And thirdly, the game ended on a bases-loaded strikeout from the Brewers' best contact hitter. The Dodgers got lucky. They won a game like this against the Phils where they sort of figured out a lead and the Phils let them. Tonight it happened again.

What's very important is that the troubles for the Dodgers began, once again, when the starting pitcher left the game. Blake Snell had a beautiful night, he only allowed 1 hit in 8 innings, and struck out 10. Perfect stuff. But once they bring in Sasaki, then Chourio sac-flies a run home, two runners are on, then Treinen walks Wild Bill. You saw the Dodgers avoiding their bullpen at all costs before, and this is why. The Brewers can figure out the Dodgers' bullpen, and with a single reversal of fate, or maybe a centimeter or so over, Turang could have ended the game a different way. It was a very relieving end to the game for the Dodgers. If that's an HBP, Andrew Vaughn comes up with the bases loaded, tie game, and then things get interesting. Cause he's just gotta put it in play, and he can do that now that he's out of Chicago.

So this tells me that the series is gonna be very tight, and the Brewers ultimately have the Dodgers' number, and can make it unbearably scary for a team that wants everyone to think it's got it all figured out. I still think they can turn things around and make for some really close games throughout this. It's not settled yet, and the Dodgers are only gonna make it a runaway if they continue to keep this lineup at bay.

Game 2 in Milwaukee tomorrow will be interesting. Assuming Peralta's up, or possibly even Quintana.

Championship Series' Day 1: Ample Setup

 

In 2024, the Mariners' rotation of Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller was the single best in baseball. Unfortunately, the team forgot how to hit, and thus the best pitched year in the team's existence [since, say, 2003] was wasted. 

Then earlier this year, the lineup, led by Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena, jumped back into form and led the AL East for a while, even though the rotation was hampered by a ton of injuries. Woo and Castillo were there all year, and Gilbert joined up eventually, with Kirby and Miller missing swaths of the year. By August, when the team had already added Naylor and Suarez, Kirby and Miller were back, and the rotation finally clicked into place again. Yes, the bats were gonna be the headline, but this rotation was good again, and helpful again. Losing Woo right before the playoffs was disappointing, but the other guys were able to step up and hold the line. 

Flash forward to the other night. The Mariners win over the Tigers in a 15-inning team effort, but in doing so, completely exhaust their entire pitching staff. Kirby, Gilbert and Castillo all pitched multiple innings and ruled themselves out for a potential Game 1 of an ALCS, as did many bullpen guys. The next stage would be there, but winning Game 5 was more important in that moment. So when they actually won, the decision to pitch Bryce Miller on three days' rest was, inevitably, a risky one. The Jays had plenty of time to rest their starters, and in addition they added two more, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt, to the mix. The Mariners would be going into a tough matchup with one of their main assets, their pitching, equalized. 

That they won Game 1 is proof that the rotation is amazing again. Everything that happened last year and this spring was buildup to this moment: the rotation can win games as much as Jorge Polanco can. 

Bryce Miller, when the team needed him to, pitched a beaut, going 6 innings and only giving up 2 hits, including a leadoff homer to George Springer. He locked in, leaving many outs to the defense, and only needed to strike out 3. It also helped that Gabe Speier didn't tie the game, and that Polanco was able to add insurance runs rather than force a stalemate, but Miller stepped up and earned the win, on a night where he could have been exploited by a tough, even Mariners team. 

It may only be Game 1, and the Jays may have yet to bring Trey Yesavage or Shane Bieber out, but the Mariners have already proven that they have enough to outlast the Jays in tough pitching battles like these. It's only gonna get tighter once the good starters have their full rest. Game 2 will be Logan Gilbert on short rest after he pitched a couple innings. We'll see if he has a similar performance to Miller. 

Division Series' Conclusion: Two Different Types of Close Games

 

I watched...fourteen of fifteen innings of last night's Mariners-Tigers playoff game. That was honestly all I could take. Honestly, one of the best pitched games I'd ever seen. Literally every pitcher each team brought in was dominant. Both Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo were unbeatable in relief. Jack Flaherty got out of a ton of scrapes in extras. Both bullpens were tight; Bazardo, Melton, Munoz, Vest, all brilliant. 

But what infuriated me to the point of turning it off before the walk-off was the fact that literally any time there were runners in scoring position, someone capable of batting them in would get up and do absolutely nothing. The Tigers' guys were understandable because they're not known for power. But the Mariners' core could have ended the game at any time, and Raleigh, Arozarena, Rodriguez, Polanco, Suarez and Naylor were inconsolable, and had so many missed opportunities in extras. Yes, the bullpen was difficult, but...say, for instance, that Polanco DOESN'T end the game with a walk-off single. Then every missed chance those power guys had would look even worse. And everything the fans are saying about what should be done about the Yankees and Phillies who didn't hit would be repeated with some of those guys. 

But yes, the M's waited for a reliever they COULD hit off of, and Jorge Polanco cracked one off of Tommy Kahnle to end it...in the fifteenth. Now, the bad news is the M's have next to no pitching left, and have to start Bryce Miller tomorrow which, uh...didn't go too well in Game 4 to be honest. And its short rest. But the good news is that if the heart of the lineup shows up, the Mariners very well could get past this Jays team, and are in sight of their first-ever World Series berth. It may seem difficult, but it can happen. They just need to tap into what made them winners here. The ability to outlast the inevitable.

The Tigers will be back with a team that can hold onto momentum better next year. The fact that they managed to persist long enough to regain momentum in October is admirable. They need to learn from September, though, or else it'll stop them from the big prize.

As for the Brewers...well, they managed to not crater after starting the series 2-0 and seeing the Cubs tie it. Teams have fallen victim to that before. The Brewers, even in a bullpen game, stayed strong and shut down a fairly unpredictable Cubs lineup. You can boil it down to Jacob Misiorowski if you want but it's really not that simple- Megill, Uribe and especially Chad Patrick were just as integral.

And again, one of the heroes of this team was Andrew Vaughn, a guy who was too mediocre even for the White Sox, got pawned off for Aaron Civale, then suddenly found his swing in Milwaukee and usurped Rhys Hoskins for the starting 1B spot. Tonight his homer broke the tie and sealed the game [though Turang's later homer also helped]. That someone like Vaughn can be a success for a team like the Brewers is pretty exceptional, and proof that this system really has something going. 

The Brewers have again triumphed over Craig Counsell, which is pretty wild to think about. In an NLCS against the Dodgers, they may be a sneaky favorite to win regardless of the momentum the Dodgers have built over this playoff season [predictably]. The Dodgers have Ohtani, but the Brewers are even, amazing on defense, practically unhittable and have answers for everything. It may go all 7. 

The Cubs were a long shot to outlast the Brewers, but I admire that they got close. Michael Busch, Seiya Suzuki, Matthew Boyd and Kyle Tucker have proven themselves admirable October pieces, and I know the majority of them could help this team get back to October next year. I also think the bullpen was a big part of why they persisted, though it consisting mainly of 30somethings like Colin Rea, Drew Pomeranz and Brad Keller does put its sustainability into question. I think the Cubs have enough to keep competing, and hopefully PCA figures out how to avoid that 2nd half crash out going forward.

Jays-M's tomorrow. Rooting for Seattle but honestly I could live with Toronto winning. 

Division Series Day 4: Hope???

 

I have already accepted the possibility that both my teams could go down in this round. It's very likely. The Phillies aren't playing well at all, and the Yanks still have the odds against them. If that happens, I'm very surely going to root for the Mariners all the way. Several reasons behind that. My uncle's a lifelong Ms fan, it's a hard luck club that's never been to a World Series, and it was cemented by this game because MAN this team is awesome. 

When J.P. Crawford can break a tie with a homer...that's how you know this team is different. When Logan Gilbert finally clicks into place after struggling most of the year. When the game is sealed with yet another Raleigh homer. There's something infectious about this team, and given the right momentum, which they're clearly gaining, they could do something incredible this year. I'm honestly hear for it. Not that the Tigers winning wouldn't be exciting, but the M's are just the better team, and they clearly deserve it more.

Still not a runaway, and the Tigers could come roaring back in Game 4 like they did in the ninth, but I'm very much behind Seattle at this point.

As for the other guys who won tonight? I have no idea how it happened. I was half-expecting to eulogize them tonight. The way Vladdie got ahead of us again, the way the umps wasted our challenges. It just looked like it wasn't gonna happen. After the 4-run third, my dad gave up. 

...meaning he missed the comeback. Oh man, I don't know what he's gonna think when he hears.

With Bieber not 100%, we were always a threat to come back. With the Jays bullpen as flighty as it's been, we were always gonna chip away. We just needed the right timing. And tonight, Aaron Judge had the right timing. He's been very good at the plate this postseason, but the long ball hadn't shown up yet. Tonight it did. A massive 3-run bomb that tied the game and cemented the comeback. It was everything I'd dreamed of, and it was absolutely huge. Louie Varland may never live that down. And then the runs kept coming, with Chisholm, Wells and Rice adding to the fun. Then somehow the Yanks' pen clicked as well, with Devin Williams and David Bender completely silencing the Jays by the end, including a brutal whiff of Guerrero. 

Even through this, the Jays did a lot right, like catching Judge in a rundown, or some plays Varsho had in the outfield. But tonight, the errors by Barger, Schneider and multiple outfielders were enough to blow the game. For once, the Yankees were capitalizing on opposing errors. And for once, everything came together for this damned, doomed Yankee team.

Winning 1 against this Jays team was a triumph. Now they're scared. Now it's not guaranteed anymore. Tomorrow night might be Schlittler against low rest Yesavage, and that could be interesting. Maybe we can hit his splitter if the pressure's on. Maybe...there's still a chance.

[As for the Phils? I dunno, man. I'm not sure if they have a comeback like this in 'em. Would love to be proven wrong though.]

Division Series' Day 2: I Am Tired

 

So it's not looking terribly likely that the Yankees will be showing up at all this ALDS. The offensive rally that they couldn't muster yesterday was reserved to the point in today's game where it was already out of reach. After getting shut down by Kevin Gausman, the Yankees now were shut down by Trey Yesavage, a guy with even less games under his belt than Schlittler and even more outright dominance. The 22-year-old went 5 innings, struck out 11 and allowed no hits. Yes, the bullpen gave up seven runs, but the Yankees had already given up 13 by that point so it wasn't a big loss.

At the very least, I'd like if if the Yankees offense could do at least something in Game 3 in the Bronx. I knew we had our work cut out for us playing the Jays, but the home crowd at least suits us better against these guys. Besides, we've got Rodon on the mound, at least give him something to get excited about.

Now...Skubal I predicted going a while without letting anybody through. Luis Castillo I did not call. I'm grateful for it, as the pure lights-out ability Castillo has does manage to show up every so often, even if he was a bit more spotty this year. Castillo only allowed 1 hit in 4 and 2/3rds innings, and was dominant on a night where Jorge Polanco figured out how to break through Tarik Skubal. Twice.

Last year I was really thinking Polanco to Seattle was a dumb move, but I think it was just 2nd base that cursed him. Once he moved over to DH he got so much better as a power bat. He's been having to play 2nd more often just because...Ben Williamson can only do so much, but he's found his sweet spot again, which is great. And he was undoubtedly the hero in this game, though Julio and Cal did combine doubles to sink the win late. 

Very happy the M's pulled this one out. Gilbert v. Mize in Detroit is gonna be interesting.

The NL ones are tomorrow. Hoping for both of those to be evened. The Phils need to remind people why they got that 1st round bye.

The Italian Job

 

I'd just like to say that nobody is happier about the Mariners sweeping the Astros in three games to take the division than me. I am overjoyed. The math finally makes sense. The better team is ahead of the AL West and in position to make the playoffs as a much stronger version of themselves. The logic checks out!!

The Mariners, being a team with Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena, Eugenio Suarez, Josh Naylor, Jorge Polanco and J.P. Crawford, always had an opportunity to dominate but never quite took advantage. A year after stymieing the league, the pitching has taken a step back, and Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo and George Kirby have all taken far too much time to get to peak levels, which they seem to be at now. Every time the Mariners were in position to lap the Astros, they simply did it, and they backtracked. Heck, in a normal season the Rangers wouldn't even have factored into this at all, and them bursting into the race only to fall apart in September is a lot more palatable knowing that the Mariners' streak started around the same time.

So yeah, the Mariners win 10 games, then as I write this they're on another 4 game winning streak. Things have turned around, and everybody's hitting. Raleigh is now at 58 homers, and still has time to chase Judge this week. Naylor has been a smashing success since joining the Ms, hitting .287 with 9 homers, 29 RBIs and 17 steals. Julio's 2 bags away from his second 30-30 season, and any thought of him trailing off after his breakout has gone away. Randy Arozarena, if he has time to hit 3 more dingers and steal 2 more bases this week, could also break 30-30. And out of nowhere, Dominic Canzone has become an unsung hero of this team, going on a tear in the second half hitting .296 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs. Three of those homers were hit in one game last week, one Canzone will never forget. The offensive insanity of this team more than makes up for the ineptitude of 2024's, and proves that this will not be an easy AL field in a potential playoff scenario.

I say potential because, despite the Mariners being 3 games ahead of the Astros and getting to play the Rockies this week, nothing's set in stone yet. The M's magic number is three, but the Astros can never be counted out, and there's still a chance they still end up in the playoffs, even as the Guardians close in on that spot. I'd love to see a playoff schematic where the Mariners not only get in but have a bye, but that needs one last powerful week from this team in order to happen. I'd absolutely love to see it, and I'd absolutely love to see this team go wild in October. It's not a foregone conclusion yet, but it's so close to being one.

Coming Tonight: He missed some time, but came back to see his team potentially win the NL West again.

It Never Hurts to Trident

 

This week the Houston Astros, 3 games ahead of the Mariners in first, have been battered around by the New York Yankees, and dropped 2 to the Angels. They have been careening off a cliff since early July, and have lost 16 games since the start of August. Without Isaac Paredes, Jake Meyers and Josh Hader it has become so much clearer that they are just a fine team holding onto momentum spurts. So naturally, you'd think the second place team would take advantage of this and jump into first.

But this is the Seattle Mariners we're talking about. The last several seasons, if the Mariners get an opportunity to go ahead in the last two months of the season, they do not take it. They have been given gimme after gimme, and opportunity after opportunity, and it's always the moment they go cold. Yesterday George Kirby got absolutely rocked by the Rays, who are in full spoiler mode, and thus they've been unable to take any advantage of the Astros' tailspin. Could it be that once again, the Mariners could be stopped from competing by their own incompetence, even with arguably the most volatile version of this team yet?

Unlike in 2024, this team can hit. This is a lineup consisting of Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarez, Randy Arozarena and Jorge Polanco. All of them have over 60 RBIs on the season, all of them have OPSs over .775. Cal Raleigh might be an MVP candidate, but what Julio's done might be even more crucial, as he's been a backbone for this lineup without simply relying on the long ball. Polanco has also been a really crucial lineup piece, curiously becoming a great hitter the second he's moved out of the everyday 2nd base spot. He's got 23 homers and 63 RBIs, and has been an excellent power DH. He's also made it so Cole Young can start everyday, which is also a good thing.

And even if the rotation isn't as strong as it was last year, Bryan Woo and Logan Gilbert are giving it their all. Which is why it's so upsetting to see Luis Castillo or George Kirby get lit up, or to see a reliever blow something. Bryce Miller and Emerson Hancock have struggled at the back of that rotation as well. So even if the Mariners can outhit teams, it's not completely unheard of for other teams to rain down on the starters, as the Rays have found out. Meanwhile, the Astros' starting pitching has held up pretty well, even in August.

The Mariners need to pick a direction. Either they pounce on an opportunity and cement their status as a playoff team or they let the Rangers lap them and sit this one out. Once again it's come into question whether or not they can truly compete despite having the team to do so. If they're gonna waver again they might as well just duck out now and save everyone the trouble.

Coming Tonight: One of the all-time greats. Is this the last curve of his career?

Coups in the Making?

 

This week, the two Western divisions came very close to flipping entirely. The Mariners were chasing the Astros in the AL, while the Padres briefly eclipsed the Dodgers in the NL. One of these has since been resolved, as the Padres were batted back down during their series with the Dodgers, but the Astros spent the weekend getting absolutely flambeed by the Orioles while the Mariners really only needed to just keep on target to not waste it. As I'm writing this, we're still waiting to see how the little league classic goes, and if it brings the Mariners within a half-game.

All I can say is that for a season that is succeeding now that the theme has become 'rejecting inevitability', it's a development I'd prefer. This season has seen big downswings for teams that were considered league superpowers heading into the season, like the Yankees, Astros, Mets, Braves and now the Dodgers. With one or two exceptions, the majority of the teams that competed heavily last year have struggled to deliver comparable follow-ups, citing atrophy, injuries or whatever the Yankees' excuse is this week.  You're seeing exciting stories like the rise of the Blue Jays, the Brewers' incredible run, and wild card cases from the Reds, Red Sox, and possibly even the Marlins. That thrills me more than 'well it's the Dodgers again'.

So this Dodgers-Padres series was a bit of a bummer. At this point the Dodgers do have leverage, and were able to outdo even heroes like Manny Machado and Dylan Cease this weekend. The Padres' main issue right now is their rotation's back half. Beyond Pivetta, Cortes and Cease, there's a lot of unsteady ground. Yu Darvish is worth some Ks but he's a bit shakier than his heyday for the Padres.  Cease, for the record, barely got through 3 innings against the Dodgers, as that lineup had him for breakfast. Despite 171 Ks, Cease is 5-11 with a 4.61 ERA. And the current strategy without King is to throw some pen guys out there and let Randy Vazquez do long relief rather than simply starting him. This is what happens when you give your two top starting prospects away for a catcher.

Fermin, by the way, has been an excellent upgrade behind the plate, and Ramon Laureano has had some nice games himself, already hitting .321 with 3 homers and 11 RBIs. Ryan O'Hearn, meanwhile, has run out of the magic that made him a star in Baltimore. He's only cracked 1 homer and 4 RBIs in 12 games. Not a great look at all. Furthermore, Mason Miller only has 1 start. I did not expect someone like Nestor Cortes or Freddy Fermin to be more pivotal to this team's success than Miller or O'Hearn. You really can never tell.

The Mariners have had slightly better luck with their additions. As has been well-documented, Eugenio Suarez is taking a bit more time than expected to get to Arizona levels of production, hitting .143 with 2 homers and 7 RBIs since joining the team. But Josh Naylor has been miles better, hitting .275 with 4 homers, 10 RBIs and 11 steals in 19 games. He has an .826 OPS already, higher than any Mariner who doesn't famously have a big ass. Naylor, as predicted, was exactly what this team needed, and has fit right into the lineup dynamic. Meanwhile, Raleigh's still rolling, with 46 homers and 100 RBIs, Randy and Julio are both headed towards 25 homer years [and 25 steal years] with aspirations of 30-30 years, and Cole Young seems to be a fixture in this lineup despite all that. 

And even with all the dysfunction they had earlier in the year, the Mariners' lineup is rolling again. Bryan Woo, Luis Castillo and Logan Gilbert have put together great seasons, and George Kirby has been quickly catching up thanks to some excellent late-summer starts. This team also has a lot of really strong bullpen threats, and Caleb Ferguson's just the latest one. I genuinely think the Mariners are better put-together than the Astros, and have more to succeed with. They've struggled slightly against the Mets, but they still have the leverage.

Of these two, I think it's more likely to see a Mariners coup than a Padres one, but nothing's off the table. 

Coming Tomorrow- Another team that pulled an insane coup in the AL East, and became a league superpower. This guy was out of the league last year and now he's their secret weapon.