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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Los Angeles Dodgers special assistant Rocco Baldelli has withdrawn from the search for a new Seattle Mariners manager, according to a report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.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
Michael Arroyo Could Be Next Mariners Hitter to be Called Up
Seattle Mariners new top middle-infield prospect Michael Arroyo is an accomplished infielder who could make a difference as a late-season call-up to the Mariners. The 21-year-old has hit well since his promotion to Triple-A Tacoma. In 41 games with Tacoma, Arroyo has eight homers and 35 RBI while hitting .271 with 31 runs scored. At Double-A Arkansas this season, Arroyo hit 10 homers and drove in 40 runs while hitting .287. The right-handed hitter is the No. 3 prospect in the Mariners system behind pitchers Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan. Arroyo was signed out of Colombia and has a 55-grade hit tool and 55-grade power with 50-grade speed. Arroyo could be a nice addition to fantasy teams down the stretch and could provide five-category contributions to fantasy rosters.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
J.P. Crawford Reinstated from 10-Day Injured List on Tuesday
The Seattle Mariners reinstated infielder J.P. Crawford (wrist) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, optioning infielder Leo Rivas to Triple-A Tacoma as the corresponding move. Crawford had been sidelined since late July due to left wrist inflammation. Across 364 plate appearances on the year, the 31-year-old is hitting .212/.330/.345 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, 38 runs scored, and one stolen base. Crawford's 6.4% barrel rate and 35.3% hard-hit rate are both subpar, but his stellar 13.7% walk rate provides him with a relatively stable floor at the plate. With Mariners infielders Brendan Donovan (concussion) and Colt Emerson (wrist) both on the injured list, Crawford should also be in line for everyday playing time on the left side of the infield. He's starting at third base and batting eighth on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Colt Emerson to Have Season-Ending Wrist Surgery on Wednesday
Seattle Mariners rookie infielder Colt Emerson (wrist) is scheduled to have season-ending wrist surgery on Wednesday, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. There was a lot of excitement around Emerson, one of the team's top overall prospects, making his major-league debut in 2026, but it did not last long. The 21-year-old left-handed-hitting infielder struggled with big-league pitching in his first 69 games and 241 plate appearances, slashing .190/.246/.335 with a .581 OPS, eight home runs, six doubles, a triple, 23 RBI, 24 runs scored, three stolen bases, 15 walks, and 83 strikeouts. It was not what Emerson, his fantasy managers, or the Mariners expected, but the good news is that the young infielder is expected to be ready for the start of spring training early in 2027. Barring a setback with his wrist injury, Emerson is still in line as the club's starting shortstop over the long term, so fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues should be looking to buy low on the shortstop prospect this winter. Brock Rodden is starting at the 6 on Monday for the M's, but veteran J.P. Crawford (wrist) could come off the injured list as early as Tuesday to regain starting shortstop duties.
Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
Michael Arroyo Emerging as Sneaky Stash Target with Clear Path to At-Bats
Seattle Mariners infield prospect Michael Arroyo is emerging as a potential late-season call-up. Arroyo began the 2026 season at the Double-A level but has since moved up to the top club. Through his first 65 games of the Double-A season, Arroyo held a .287/.364/.456 slash line with 12 doubles, 10 home runs and 13 stolen bases. This production earned him a call-up to Triple-A Tacoma. Through his first 38 games with the top club, Arroyo has held a sharp .270/.341/.472 line with nine doubles, seven home runs, and two stolen bases. With Brendan Donovan shifting back to the injured list and Colt Emerson being demoted to Triple-A, Arroyo does have a path to emerge as a potential option for the Mariners as they look to claim a spot in the postseason.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Michael Arroyo Adjusting Well To Triple-A
Seattle Mariners middle-infield prospect Michael Arroyo has adjusted nicely since his call-up to Triple-A Tacoma. In 36 games with the Rainiers, Arroyo has hit .275 with seven homers and 30 RBI with 29 runs scored. The infield prospect comes in at No. 3 on the Mariners' updated prospect list and has a 55-grade hit tool with 55-grade power and 50-grade speed. Signed out of Colombia, Arroyo has fared well in his minor-league career and has one more step to go in his progression to complete the journey to the MLB. At age 21, Arroyo is worth taking a chance on in fantasy leagues, as the right-handed hitter could see a call-up to Seattle before the end of this season. He likely needs a bit more time in Triple-A to adjust, but the Mariners could reward the youngster with a promotion soon.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Michael Arroyo Looking Like Strong Stash Candidate
Seattle Mariners infield/outfield prospect Michael Arroyo has adjusted well since being promoted to Triple-A Tacoma on July 7. In 32 games with Tacoma, Arroyo has hit .286 with six homers and 27 RBI to go with 26 runs scored. The 21-year-old, with the ability to play infield or outfield, is quickly rising up the prospect rankings for Seattle and is now the No. 3 prospect in the Mariners' system. He boasts a 55-grade hit tool and 50-grade power and speed. He's totaled 15 stolen bases between Double-A Arkansas and Tacoma and has proven he can be a threat on the base paths. With his position versatility, look for Arroyo to get an opportunity at some point this year with the big league club. When he does, he should be a good addition to fantasy squads because of his all-around game and his power-speed combination.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Michael Arroyo Could Be Next Prospect to Earn the Call in Seattle
Seattle Mariners middle-infield prospect Michael Arroyo has fared well at Triple-A Tacoma since his promotion and could be next in line for a call-up to Seattle, following in the footsteps of Tacoma teammate Brock Rodden. Arroyo has played in 31 games for Tacoma this season and has six homers and 27 RBI while hitting .295. Arroyo, the right-handed hitter out of Colombia, is the No. 3 prospect on the Mariners list. The infielder has a balanced profile with a 55-grade hit tool and power with 50-grade speed. At age 21, he could be ready for his next step to the majors but might need a little more time at Triple-A. Nonetheless, he is looking like a good stash candidate and one that could reward fantasy managers with five-category production given an opportunity to make his MLB debut.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Colt Emerson Heads to the Injured List With Wrist Inflammation
Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson (wrist) was placed on the 10-day Injured List, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. It was originally reported that Emerson was on his way back to Triple-A Tacoma. Instead, Emerson will head to the Major League Injured List due to left wrist inflammation. When healthy, Emerson was struggling with a .190/.246/.335 slash line since being called up to the MLB in May. In a corresponding move, infielder Brock Rodden will head to the Mariners and serve as infield depth. It's unclear when Emerson will return, but he can likely be dropped in redraft formats anyway.
Source: Adam Jude
Source: Adam Jude
Mariners Send Rookie Colt Emerson to Triple-A
The Seattle Mariners sent struggling rookie infielder Colt Emerson to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. The top prospect and former first-rounder in 2023 made his MLB debut on May 17, but he did not live up to his high expectations this year, slashing .190/.246/.335 with a .581 OPS, eight home runs, 23 RBI, 24 runs scored, three stolen bases, a 34.4% strikeout rate, and a 6.2% walk rate in his first 68 games across 241 plate appearances. There's still time for Emerson to return to the big-league level before the end of the season at the end of September, but for now, he'll head back to the farm to work on his swing and make more contact at the plate. With J.P. Crawford (wrist) still on the injured list, Leo Rivas is the most likely candidate to see a boost in playing time at the 6 in Seattle with Emerson being sent down. Emerson is rostered in under 10% of Yahoo leagues and is not a must-hold in deep single-year fantasy leagues.
Source: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
Source: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
Colt Emerson is Droppable Amidst Second-Half Slump
Since making his MLB debut on May 17, Seattle Mariners infielder Colt Emerson is hitting .190/.246/.335 with eight home runs, 23 RBI, 24 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 241 plate appearances. The 21-year-old got off to a respectable start, hitting .218 with seven home runs and 19 RBI across his first 132 plate appearances. However, Emerson has struggled since the start of July, hitting just .157 with one home run over his last 109 trips to the plate. Emerson is widely viewed as one of the top young prospects in baseball, but his underlying metrics suggest he may not quite be ready for the big leagues. He's struck out in 34.4% of his plate appearances while also logging well below-average barrel (5.0%) and hard-hit (31.2%) rates. Emerson's future outlook remains bright, but redraft managers should feel comfortable dropping him amidst his current struggles.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brendan Donovan Moving his Rehab Assignment to Triple-A
Seattle Mariners infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan (groin) is moving his minor-league rehab assignment to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday night, according to Shannon Drayer. Donovan is moving to the highest minor-league level after starting a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Wednesday. The 29-year-old German native could require a rather lengthy rehab assignment due to the fact that he's been on the shelf for almost two months with a nagging groin injury. When he's ready to return to Seattle, though, he should play regularly for the M's, most likely as the starting third baseman. Before landing on the 10-day injured list, Donovan was hitting .274/.386/.452 with a career-high .839 OPS, three home runs, eight RBI, nine runs, and a stolen base in just 25 games and 101 plate appearances in a small sample size. With limited power/speed upside, Donovan isn't terribly attractive in fantasy baseball leagues except for his contact abilities, high average, and multi-position eligibility at second base, third base, shortstop, and the outfield. He's currently rostered in just under half of Yahoo leagues. Barring a setback, there's no reason why Donovan shouldn't be back with the big-league squad before August.
Source: Shannon Drayer
Source: Shannon Drayer
