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Mariners Hiring Jason Kanzler as New Manager
The Seattle Mariners are hiring former Chicago Cubs' director of player development Jason Kanzler as their new manager, a source told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Houston Astros manager Joe Espada had been among the finalists to land the job in Seattle, but it will instead go to Kanzler in an unconventional move by the Mariners. Kanzler, 36, will be replacing Dan Wilson after he was fired following the team's disappointing 2026 season. Kanzler has never managed at any level, but he will be inheriting one of the league's deepest, most talented rosters. Seattle has stars in outfielder Julio Rodriguez and catcher Cal Raleigh, not to mention some of the best starting-pitching depth in baseball. Kanzler is a former outfielder who was drafted in the 20th round in 2013. He previously spent five years with the Houston Astros, serving as a major-league coach in 2022 and 2023. He was hired by the Cubs as their director of player development at the start of the 2024 campaign. Kanzler will be the third skipper to serve under general manager Jerry Dipoto, who was brought in near the end of the 2015 season.
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Rocco Baldelli Withdraws From Mariners' Managerial Search
Los Angeles Dodgers special assistant Rocco Baldelli has withdrawn from the search for a new Seattle Mariners manager, according to a report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. Rosenthal reports that Baldelli has cited "family considerations" in withdrawing his name from consideration for the Mariners' open position. Baldelli currently serves as a special assistant to the president of baseball operations with the Dodgers. He was previously the manager of the Minnesota Twins from 2019 to 2025 and was the American League Manager of the Year in 2019 and won three AL Central division titles.
Source: The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal
Managerial Candidates Emerging For Mariners Job
According to The Athletic's Chandler Rome, two former members of the Houston Astros staff -- Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler -- have emerged as serious candidates in the search for a new Seattle Mariners manager. Kanzler was on the Astros' 2022 staff and is now the Cubs farm director. And The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal added that Rocco Baldelli, the Dodgers' special assistant, is also in the mix for the Mariners job. The Mariners finished 76-86 overall and in third place in the AL West behind the Houston Astros, who finished with an 81-81 record to win the division. The Astros parted ways with Espada this offseason after the team lost to the Chicago White Sox in the postseason.
Source: Chandler Rome, The Athletic
Source: Chandler Rome, The Athletic
Joe Espada Set to Interview for Mariners Manager Job
The Seattle Mariners are set to interview current Houston Astros manager Joe Espada for their managerial vacancy, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. While Espada is currently employed by Houston, Rome reports that his future with the organization is "in doubt" as his contract expires at the end of October. Espada has been the manager of the Astros since the start of the 2024 season. Houston has reached the playoffs twice under his watch, but they've failed to win a postseason game and have also seen their regular-season record get worse every year. The Mariners parted ways with former manager Dan Wilson shortly after the conclusion of the 2026 season. Seattle won just 76 games this year, but the team has plenty of returning talent. If Espada gets the Mariners job, he will be under pressure to win immediately in Seattle.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Cal Raleigh Undergoes Left-Shoulder Surgery
The Seattle Mariners announced that catcher Cal Raleigh (shoulder) underwent left-shoulder surgery on Saturday. Raleigh is expected to be fully recovered in time for the start of 2027 Spring Training. After finishing second in the American League MVP vote in 2025, Raleigh's numbers crashed back down to earth in 2026. Across 530 plate appearances, the 29-year-old hit .182/.296/.368 with 23 home runs, 69 RBI, 49 runs scored, and two stolen bases. Raleigh spent time on the injured list during the year due to an oblique strain, and it appears he may have been battling a shoulder ailment for some or most of the season as well. As long as Raleigh can recover on schedule, he could be in line for a bounce-back season with improved health in 2027.
Source: Seattle Mariners
Source: Seattle Mariners
Cal Raleigh has First Career Three-Homer Game on Monday
It has been a rough 2026 season for Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, but he had a bright spot in Monday night's 9-2 win over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, going 3-for-3 at the plate with three home runs, four RBI and a walk. It was the 29-year-old left-handed slugger's first three-homer performance of his career and his first multi-homer showing of the season. Despite the monster game at T-Mobile Park, the Big Dumper is still slashing only .167/.282/.336 with a .618 OPS, 17 home runs, 51 RBI, 31 runs scored, two stolen bases, and a 30.9% strikeout rate in his 408 plate appearances in 2026. The poor season comes after Raleigh was a first-time All-Star and finished second in the American League MVP voting just last year after he finished with a league-high 60 home runs and 125 RBI in 159 regular-season games played. Raleigh can still make a power impact for fantasy managers down the stretch this year, but he almost certainly will finish shy of the 30-homer mark for the first time since his first full year in the league in 2022.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Mariners Acquire Catching Prospect Boston Smith From the White Sox
The Seattle Mariners acquired catching prospect Boston Smith, right-handed reliever Seranthony Dominguez, and outfielder Nolan Jones from the Chicago White Sox on Saturday in exchange for veteran right-hander Luis Castillo, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 23-year-old Smith will immediately become Seattle's No. 14 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. He heads to the American League West after slashing .291/.450/.589 with a 1.038 OPS, 22 home runs, 58 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 68 runs scored in 79 games across 347 plate appearances with Single-A Kannapolis, High-A Winston-Salem, and Double-A Birmingham this year. Smith was originally drafted in the sixth round by the Washington Nationals out of Wright State University before they sent him to Chicago in the Curtis Mead trade in March. The 5-foot-10, 195-pounder can also play the outfield, and he has an uppercut left-handed swing that takes full advantage of his power to the pull side. Smith is an above-average athlete, but he still needs work on defense, and strikeouts could be an issue as he works his way closer to the big leagues.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Cal Raleigh Breaks Cold Streak With Grand Slam, Five RBI
Fantasy managers are hoping that Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh's cold streak will come to an end after his big performance in Monday night's 8-0 shutout win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds at T-Mobile Park. Raleigh went 1-for-5 at the plate with a grand slam, five RBI, and two strikeouts to break out of an 0-for-10 start to the second half of the season over the weekend in three games against the San Francisco Giants. The 29-year-old is still hitting just .163/.266/.307 with a .573 OPS, 10 home runs, 34 RBI, 24 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 69 games across 297 plate appearances. A strained oblique muscle put a damper on his first half, and he hasn't been able to recover after leading the league with 60 long balls and 125 RBI in 159 regular-season games in 2025 as a first-time All-Star. In 14 games (58 plate appearances) so far in July, Raleigh has gone just 8-for-50 (.160) with a .579 OPS, two home runs, two doubles, 11 RBI, three runs, six walks, and 20 strikeouts. At this point, fantasy managers should not be betting on a return to his 2025 form
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cal Raleigh's Power Collapse is More Than Bad Luck
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hit the break at .169/.271/.310 with nine home runs in 65 games, a brutal drop after last year's 60-homer season. The oblique strain explains some of it. Raleigh missed 33 days, returned June 16, and has not looked right for long stretches. Still, the underlying damage goes beyond a low average. His hard-hit rate has fallen from 49.6% to 32.5%, his barrel rate from 19.5% to 11%, and the strikeout rate is up to 32.5%. Statcast gives him only a .179 expected average and .356 expected slugging percentage. Seattle has kept him in the heart of the order, so the opportunity is not going anywhere. The old ceiling makes him tempting as a buy-low. Just don't pay for 2025. This version of Raleigh has real second-half risk.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cal Raleigh Back From Injured List and Starting on Tuesday
The Seattle Mariners announced on Tuesday that they reinstated catcher Cal Raleigh (oblique) from the 10-day injured list, and he's in the starting lineup behind the dish and batting second for the M's as they take on the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Brandon Young at T-Mobile Park. In a corresponding move, Jhonny Pereda was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma. Raleigh will return to the M's starting nine for the first time in a month due to an oblique strain that landed him on the IL on May 14. In five minor-league rehab games with High-A Everett and Triple-A Tacoma, the Big Dumper went 7-for-17 with five home runs, 12 RBI, and seven runs scored, giving fantasy managers hope that he can turn things around at the plate in the majors now that he's back. Raleigh pummeled baseballs as a first-time All-Star in 2025, when he led the league with 60 round-trippers and 125 RBI in 159 regular-season games. He has hit just .161 (26-for-161) with seven homers, 18 RBI, and a career-worst 31.5% strikeout rate so far in 2026.
Source: Mariners PR
Source: Mariners PR
Cal Raleigh Expected to Return on Tuesday
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (oblique) is expected to be reinstated from the 10-day injured list before Tuesday's series opener in Seattle against the Baltimore Orioles, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. In addition to Raleigh, the M's are expected to activate shortstop J.P. Crawford (hand) from the IL before Tuesday's tilt. The 29-year-old Raleigh, who finished second in the American League MVP voting in 2025 after hitting a league-high 60 home runs and driving in 125 in 159 regular-season games, has been one of the biggest busts in fantasy baseball so far in 2026. Through 41 games (181 plate appearances) before straining his oblique, the left-handed slugger hit .161/.243/.317 with a .560 OPS, seven home runs, 18 RBI, and a 31.5% strikeout rate. The good news is that he's healthy again and went 7-for-17 at the plate with five home runs during a five-game minor-league rehab assignment with High-A Everett and Triple-A Tacoma. Fantasy managers can only hope that he's ready to turn things around now that he's past his oblique issue. With Raleigh sidelined, the Mariners had been mixing and matching behind the dish with Mitch Garver and Jhonny Pereda.
Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
Cal Raleigh to Start Rehab Assignment on Sunday
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (oblique) will start a minor-league rehab assignment this Sunday at High-A Everett, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. From there, the plan is for Raleigh to transition to Triple-A Tacoma and play the rest of the week there. After that, the Mariners will reassess Raleigh's status. Barring a setback once the left-handed slugger resumes playing in games, he could rejoin the active MLB roster for the start of a homestand on June 16. The 29-year-old former third-round pick in 2018 out of Florida State University was a first-time All-Star in 2025 after he led the league in home runs (60) and RBI (125) in 159 regular-season games. Things have not gone swimmingly for Raleigh so far in 2026, though, as he currently owns a .161/.243/.317 slash line with an ugly .560 OPS and 31.5% strikeout rate in 181 plate appearances. Fantasy managers must hold him through his slump and injury, though, and hope he can turn things around when he returns. Raleigh has elite raw power at the catching position and has slugged at least 30 homers in each of his last three seasons.
Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Cal Raleigh Plays "Light Catch" on Monday
Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson said that catcher Cal Raleigh (oblique) was slated to play "light catch" on Monday, per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Kramer notes that this marks Raleigh's first baseball activity since being placed on the 10-day injured list on May 14 with an oblique strain. While Raleigh's progression to playing catch on Monday is obviously a positive sign, it appears as though Seattle's slugger is still a way away from returning to the big leagues. Raleigh got off to a miserable start to 2026 before the injury, hitting .161/.243/.317 with seven home runs, 18 RBI, 16 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 181 plate appearances. The 29-year-old attempted to play through oblique issues before ultimately being shut down, so the Mariners could be taking every precaution to ensure that Raleigh is pain-free before returning to the lineup. Despite his poor start to 2026, Raleigh remains an elite power threat and a must-start fantasy catcher once healthy.
Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Cal Raleigh Being Shut Down for a Week
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (oblique) is being shut down for a week, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. Raleigh's MRI exam came back better than the previous one, which is obviously good news, but he will be re-evaluated in another week. The 29-year-old left-handed slugger was placed on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with an oblique strain, but it sounds like he could miss minimal time. It's the best-case scenario for Raleigh and his fantasy managers. Until he's able to return, the M's will mix and match behind the plate with veteran Mitch Garver and Jhonny Pereda. On top of his injury, Raleigh's start to the 2026 has been a rough one, as he is currently slashing a dreadful .161/.243/.317 with a .560 OPS, seven home runs, 18 RBI, 16 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his first 41 games played. It's not what his fantasy managers were expecting at all after Raleigh destroyed baseballs last year and led the league with 60 home runs and 125 RBI in 159 games played in the regular season. Despite the terrible start in his sixth year in the majors, Raleigh must be stashed in all fantasy leagues.
Source: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
Source: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
Cal Raleigh Heading to Injured List With Oblique Strain
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (oblique) will be placed on the 10-day injured list for the first time in his career on Thursday with a right-oblique strain, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. In a corresponding move, the M's are recalling catcher Jhonny Pereda from the minors. Veteran Mitch Garver will do the majority of the catching in Seattle with Raleigh sidelined. The 29-year-old Raleigh missed three games earlier this month after injuring his side, and he aggravated it on a swing in the eighth inning in Wednesday's contest against the Houston Astros. For a power hitter of his stature, an oblique injury can be quite debilitating, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect Raleigh to return right away. Despite his rough start to the 2026 campaign, though, Raleigh should be held in all fantasy formats. The former third-rounder in 2018 out of Florida State hit a league-best 60 homers and had 125 RBI last year, but he's currently slashing a putrid .161/.243/.317 with a .560 OPS, seven long balls, 18 RBI, 16 runs, and two steals in 41 games (181 plate appearances).
Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
