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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
Mariners Extend Qualifying Offer to Randy Arozarena
As expected, the Seattle Mariners extended a one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer to outfielder Randy Arozarena on Monday, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. The expectation is that Arozarena will decline the offer and sign elsewhere as a free agent after a career year in 2026. The good news for the M's is that if Arozarena goes elsewhere, as expected, they will receive draft-pick compensation. The 31-year-old veteran has been an All-Star in each of his two full seasons in Seattle, and he finished out his eighth year in the big leagues with a strong .281/.381/.484 slash line, an .865 OPS, 26 home runs, 79 RBI, 26 stolen bases, and a league-high 113 runs scored in 154 games across 670 plate appearances. He had one fewer home run than he did a year ago, but it was nice to see him go from a .238 batting average to .281 this year. Arozarena's power/speed profile will be very attractive going into next year for MLB teams and for fantasy managers, especially if he lands in a more hitter-friendly home ballpark on his next contract.
Source: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
Source: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
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
Dominic Canzone Remains a Reliable Source of Power and Run Production
Across 492 plate appearances in 2026, Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone is hitting .257/.327/.481 with 22 home runs, 69 RBI, 55 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The lefty slugger opened the year as a big-side platoon bat, but he's held his own against left-handed pitching this season with an .833 OPS. As a result, Canzone has worked his way into everyday playing time in the heart of the Mariners lineup. The 29-year-old's underlying contact metrics support his production, as he's posted a 12.1% barrel rate and a 44.8% hard-hit rate. He's also limited his swing-and-miss, logging a manageable 21.5% strikeout rate. In leagues where he's not already rostered, Canzone profiles as a steady source of power and run production for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Lazaro Montes Returns to Mariners Lineup on Tuesday
Seattle Mariners outfielder Lazaro Montes (hip) returned to his team's lineup on Tuesday, batting eighth and playing designated hitter against the Texas Rangers. Montes was sidelined by a hip injury throughout most of the weekend after crashing into the right-field wall in Seattle on Friday night. The 21-year-old made his MLB debut with the Mariners on September 1 and has logged three hits and a home run across his first 15 big-league plate appearances. Montes was having a monster year in the minors before getting the call, hitting .249 with 38 home runs, 96 RBI, 99 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across 542 plate appearances split between Double-A and Triple-A. Swing-and-miss is a major issue in his profile at the plate, but Montes holds tremendous power upside and could be a game-changer for fantasy managers down the stretch.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Mariners Top Infield Prospect Michael Arroyo to Join Major Leagues
The Seattle Mariners are promoting top infield prospect Michael Arroyo to the major leagues prior to Sunday's game against the Athletics, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Arroyo ranked as the Mariners' No. 3 prospect in the latest MLB Pipeline farm system rankings. He was originally signed as an international free agent out of Colombia in 2022. He was promoted from Double-A to Triple-A in the middle of the 2026 season, slashing .283/.359/.471 with 18 home runs, 81 RBI, 17 steals, and 117 wRC+ between the two affiliates. He also racked up an 8.1% walk rate and a 16.4% strikeout rate in the minors. Arroyo played the left side of the infield early in his minor league career, but he has only played second base and left field in 2026. He'll make his MLB debut on Sunday afternoon, batting eighth and playing second base.
Source: Daniel Kramer
Source: Daniel Kramer
Lazaro Montes Starting on Bench on Saturday Against A's
Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Lazaro Montes (hip) is absent from the starting lineup on Saturday against the division-rival Athletics at T-Mobile Park after crashing into the outfield wall and injuring his hip on Friday night, according to MLB.com. Dominic Canzone is starting in right field and is batting in the two-hole against A's left-hander Jeffrey Springs. Montes is considered day-to-day with soreness in his left hip and appears to have avoided a significant injury, so the young outfielder could be back in action as early as Sunday's series finale against the A's. The Mariners' No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, put up big numbers in 123 minor-league games between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma this year before his call-up recently, slashing .249/.369/.558 with a .928 OPS, 38 home runs, 96 RBI, 99 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 542 plate appearances. For Montes' raw power alone, he is a worthy fantasy baseball stash in deep-mixed leagues. In his first three MLB games, the 21-year-old Cuban outfielder has gone 3-for-11 with a homer, three RBI, two runs, a walk, and four strikeouts. Montes is rostered in only 6% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Michael Arroyo Making Push For Promotion to Mariners
Seattle Mariners second base/outfield prospect Michael Arroyo already has six RBI in his first four September games at Triple-A Tacoma and is continuing to show why he is one of the top prospects in the Mariners system. The Mariners No. 3 overall prospect, Arroyo is a well-rounded player with a 55-grade hit tool and 55-grade power with 50-grade speed. Between two minor league levels this season, Arroyo has a combined 18 homers and 17 stolen bases with a .286 batting average and looks like a consistent, five-category performer. As someone who can play second base or be shifted to the outfield, Arroyo has some versatility to his game. He is looking like he will be a plus fantasy contributor when he is called up to the majors, and he looks like someone the Mariners could use with his all-around game and his positive versatility.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Lazaro Montes Dealing With Hip Soreness
Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Lazaro Montes (hip) exited Friday night's game early against the division-rival Athletics with soreness in his left hip, according to the team. In just his third MLB game, Montes left hobbled after crashing into the outfield wall while attempting a catch. Until we know the severity of the 21-year-old's injury, we will consider him day-to-day. Before being replaced in right field by Taylor Ward, Montes went 0-for-2 at the plate. In his first two games for the M's, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline went 3-for-9 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. Seattle recently called up the 21-year-old Cuban outfielder in hopes that he would give the team a shot in the arm as they try to stay in the playoff race in the American League down the stretch. In 123 games (542 plate appearances) in the minors this year with Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma, Montes hit .249/.369/.558 with a .928 OPS, 38 home runs, 96 RBI, 99 runs scored, and eight stolen bases, so he can certainly do serious damage at the dish when he is on. Because he sells out for lift and power most of the time, fantasy managers will have to put up with plenty of strikeouts. But his 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame can produce high-end power. UPDATE: MLB.com's Luke Olson reports that Montes is day-to-day.
Source: Mariners PR
Source: Mariners PR
Michael Arroyo Could be Next Mariners Prospect to Debut
Seattle Mariners infield/outfield prospect Michael Arroyo cooled after a hot start to his Triple-A campaign, but is heating up again for Tacoma, going 8-for-26 (.308) with a double, a triple, a home run, one stolen base, and a 3:4 BB:K over his last seven games for the Rainiers. It brings the slash line to .271/.349/.481 for the Mariners' top offensive prospect, with eight home runs and three steals in 44 games since being promoted to Triple-A in early July (18 home runs, 16 steals in 109 games including Double-A). The jump to the higher level has not fazed him, with virtually identical strikeout (16.7 percent) and walk rates (8.1 percent), along with a 10-point improvement in OPS (.830). The Mariners have aggressively promoted other top prospects this season, with Colt Emerson, Kade Anderson, and Lazaro Montes all making their debuts in 2026, and Arroyo could be next in line. With solid hit, power, and speed tools, the 21-year-old possesses a solid all-around skill set that could make him a sneaky fantasy option down the stretch if he were to get regular at-bats, making him a stash-worthy option in deeper 12+ team leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Mariners to Promote Top Prospect Lazaro Montes
Seattle Mariners top outfield prospect Lazaro Montes is being called up to the majors, according to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR. The talented outfielder signed with the Mariners as an international free agent out of Cuba in 2022 and has quickly developed within the organization's farm system. Up until this point, Montes had split his 2026 season between Double-A and Triple-A. Through 43 games at the Triple-A level, he was slashing .267/.359/.564 with 13 home runs, an 11.6% walk rate, a 31.3% strikeout rate, and 125 wRC+. Strikeouts are evidently a concern with the 21-year-old, but he makes up for it with incredible power, slugging 38 total homers in the minors this year. There's a strong chance that he could be in the lineup for his MLB debut tomorrow against the Boston Red Sox. Regardless of whether he plays on Monday, he should earn consistent playing time in the thick of the playoff race, as the Mariners are five games back in the AL West.
Source: Francys Romero
Source: Francys Romero
Lazaro Montes Continues to Hit With Power In Minor Leagues
Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Lazaro Montes is still hitting with power in the minor leagues, with nine homers and 19 RBI in August with Triple-A Tacoma. This season, between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma, Montes has combined to hit .248 with 37 homers and 93 RBI with 96 runs scored. The power-hitting skills are elite for Montes, the No. 5 overall prospect for the Mariners. He is blessed with 65-grade power but just a 45-grade hit tool. So he will need to improve his overall batting skills before he is able to earn a promotion to the big leagues. But the Mariners could use the power that he provides, making him a tempting call-up at the end of this season. Fantasy managers will want to monitor closely how the Mariners use Montes as this season winds down.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Julio Rodriguez Continues Sluggish Play
Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez has not been able to put it together at the plate this season. Fantasy managers have stayed hopeful that Rodriguez would figure it out, but it hasn't happened yet. Over the last two weeks, Rodriguez is 10-for-57 with one home run, four RBI, and two stolen bases. The three-time All-Star still has 20 homers and 17 steals, which is good, but fantasy managers expect more out of Rodriguez. The 25-year-old still has a month left in the regular season to turn it around and help his team make the postseason. At this point, fantasy managers can't really do anything but stick with Rodriguez and hope things turn around.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
