PEORIA, Ariz. -- It won’t quite be show-and-go for the Mariners’ eight players at the World Baseball Classic who are expected to be on the club’s Opening Day roster.
But it will still be a tight turnaround by the time they all return for the final days of Spring Training -- because Opening Day on March 26 is right around the corner.
Seattle entered camp with clarity across its 26-man roster, though a recent left oblique issue for Bryce Miller could complicate pitching plans.
With all that in mind, here’s a tentative look at how the group could look:
Catcher (2): Cal Raleigh, Andrew Knizner
The battle to be Raleigh’s backup might be the one true spot up for grabs, between Knizner (who’s on a guaranteed contract for $1 million) and Mitch Garver (who isn’t, having returned on a Minors deal on Feb. 18).
First base (1): Josh Naylor
Seattle’s front office was just as eager that it will get a full season of production from its prized Trade Deadline acquisition from 2025 as it was being able to bring him back at the offseason’s outset on a five-year, $92.5 million free-agent contract.
Second base (1): Cole Young
Young has seized the opportunity to reclaim the everyday gig with a solid spring, and it’s possible that no other hitter could raise the floor of the lineup more in 2026.
Third base (1): Brendan Donovan
The offseason trade acquisition has looked as advertised -- largely for how hard he plays, even in the Cactus League’s low-stakes environment. When the Mariners finally reeled him in from the Cardinals, the thought was that he’d play multiple spots. But he’s exclusively manned the hot corner all spring, with each of his eight Cactus starts there.
Shortstop (1): J.P. Crawford
This will be a season of intrigue for Seattle’s longest-tenured player, who’s entering a contract year. His longer-term future could be a leading topic of conversation this season, but for now, he’s a stabilizer at this premium position.
Left field (1): Randy Arozarena
The soon-to-be free agent is coming off arguably his best season in The Show that included his second All-Star selection. But the more pressing intrigue will be his relationship with Raleigh after drama surfaced between the two at the Classic.
Center field (1): Julio Rodríguez
Whether he can finally put together his elite production over a full six months rather than more exclusively in the second half will be the prevailing narrative on one of the sport’s most talented players.
Right field (2): Luke Raley, Victor Robles
This spot will tentatively feature a platoon, and it will be made up of the roster’s biggest bounce-back candidates, given that they were each sidelined with significant injuries in 2025. But how much of a timeshare each will have could be based on matchups. Robles has been limited to DH for his past three Cactus games due to soreness in the right shoulder he fractured last season, but he is expected to play right field again soon.
Designated hitter (2): Dominic Canzone, Rob Refsnyder
Another platoon, and another that could be in flux longer term. Canzone warranted an enhanced role after a breakout in 2025, when he had an .839 OPS in 82 games. But his glove isn’t nearly as strong as the Raley/Robles tandem. Same for Refsnyder, who mashes left-handed pitching (.959 OPS last year) and was signed to a one-year, $6.25 million contract in December to do just that.
Utility/bench (1): INF Leo Rivas
Colt Emerson will be in the Majors this season. But with only 13 roster spots among position players, and given the fact that any time on the bench would impede his player development, Seattle’s No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline is on the outside looking in. Rivas, meanwhile, switch-hits and plays every infield position, making him Seattle’s ideal bench bat.
Starting pitchers (5): RHP Logan Gilbert, RHP Bryan Woo, RHP George Kirby, RHP Luis Castillo, RHP Emerson Hancock
Keeping this group as healthy as possible could be what determines whether or not the Mariners run away with the division. And they're already expected to be without Miller when they break camp. That opens the door, most likely, for Hancock, who's been their de-facto No. 6 and injury fill-in going on three years now.
Relief pitchers (8): RHP Andrés Muñoz, RHP Matt Brash, LHP Gabe Speier, RHP Eduard Bazardo, LHP Jose A. Ferrer, RHP Carlos Vargas, RHP Casey Legumina, RHP Cooper Criswell
Theoretically, there were one to two spots up for grabs, but a closer look at each candidate’s roster flexibility suggests arms like Criswell and Legumina -- who are out of Minor League options -- will solidify those.