4 reasons Passan picks Seattle Mariners for World Series

Success breeds expectations, and there are plenty of those for the Seattle Mariners this year.

After winning the American League West title and reaching the ALCS in 2025, the Mariners are among the favorites to reach the World Series this season, a feat the franchise is still chasing as it celebrates its 50th season in 2026.

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Many experts are picking the M’s to go far this year, including ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan. On the eve of opening day, Passan told Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk the Mariners are his pick to make the Fall Classic out of the AL.

“I am picking the Seattle Mariners to go to the World Series this year,” Passan said. “I think they’re the best team in the American League, I think they are the second-best team in baseball, and I would love to have somebody change my mind on it because I don’t want to be the one who cursed Seattle. I have had that tendency in the past and yet I cannot quit these Mariners. So much about them embodies what I love in a baseball team and what I think makes a really successful baseball team.”

Passan laid out four reasons why he predicts Seattle will reach its first World Series.

Stellar starters

“A lot of this is dependent on getting at the very least most of a season from Bryan Woo and Logan Gilbert and George Kirby and Luis Castillo,” Passan said. “I’m hopeful that we’re going to see Bryce Miller (who is starting the season on the injured list) sooner than later because I thought he looked good in spring training. That velocity that we saw from him when he came up (from the minors) was back. Bryce Miller working at 97 to 98 (mph), it’s a whole lot different than Bryce Miller at 95. So they have that group, and Emerson Hancock looks awesome this spring, too. Beyond that, I don’t know that we’re going to see (top pitching prospects) Ryan Sloan or Kade Anderson this year necessarily, but I don’t discount that possibility either.”

Deep bullpen

“Andrés Muñoz is one of the three best closers in baseball. I think it’s Mason Miller, Edwin Díaz and him in some order,” Passan said. “Matt Brash (is) one of the best setup men in baseball. They’ve got lefties in José Ferrer and Gabe Speier, so they can match up if they want to. They’ve got power arms in Eduard Bazardo and Carlos Vargas. I just think it’s a good enough and deep enough bullpen, and the Mariners have shown an ability to create relievers in the past, too, so I don’t discount that there’s going to be someone I didn’t mention who’s going to play a meaningful role.”

Complete infield

“Cal Raleigh is the best catcher in baseball. Josh Naylor was just such a good energy source and people inside the clubhouse were so happy that he re-signed because he fit this team well,” Passan said. “Cole Young (was) a revelatory power source this spring. I thought that Cole Young was going to be a really good litmus test because if the Mariners left camp with Colt Emerson, that meant that something bad happened with Cole Young. Now they have Colt Emerson in their pocket and whether he plays shortstop or second or third base, whether he’s even a part of this team, they know that he’s on the cusp and going to be a central part of this organization going forward.

“For now, Leo Rivas is still in it at shortstop, but when J.P. Crawford comes back (from the injured list), we know what he can do. I adore (third baseman) Brendon Donovan as a player – the versatility, the on-base, the bat to ball.”

A high-floor, high-ceiling roster

“Randy Arozarena in left field (is) solid. Julio Rodríguez in center field, maybe this is the year that we see not just really good Julio, but MVP Julio,” Passan said. “And figuring out at-bats among Dom Canzone and Victor Robles and Rob Refsnyder and Luke Raley in right field and DH.

“I just think that that’s a great roster, guys. It’s a deep roster, it’s a solid roster, it’s a high floor, but also a high-ceiling roster. So for all of those reasons, I think it’s the best in the American League and I think that the Mariners are gonna win the pennant this year.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player in this story. Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

4 reasons Passan picks Seattle Mariners for World Series

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