Mariners Are Everyone's Pick to Dethrone the Dodgers. Here's Where National Media Ranks Seattle.
Five months after the Mariners came agonizingly close to the World Series, they're back and hungry. The question isn't whether Seattle can compete. It's whether they can finally finish the job. And based on national power rankings heading into opening day, most of the baseball world thinks they've got a real shot at taking down the Dodgers.
The LA Dodgers are the defending champs, sure. They just added Edwin Diaz (former Mariner, ouch) and Kyle Tucker to an already stacked roster. But Seattle isn't backing down. The AL champion Blue Jays, Yankees, Cubs, Mets, Phillies, Red Sox, and plenty of others are standing in the way too. That's a lot of noise. Here's where the national media actually sees the Mariners as we head into the season.
The Consensus: Seattle's a Top Three Threat
MLB.com has the Mariners at No. 3, and Will Leitch doesn't pull punches: "This is probably the best Mariners team since the 2001 edition that won 116 games." Big Dumper is back, and he might not even be your MVP candidate on this team. Julio Rodriguez could finally be the one.
Bleacher Report slots Seattle at No. 4. Joel Reuter reminds us that the Mariners were literally six outs away from the World Series before George Springer's three-run home run ended those dreams. The starting rotation returns intact, the bullpen should be solid, and adding Josh Naylor plus newcomer Brendan Donovan helps solve the offense puzzle. Top prospect Colt Emerson could arrive before the All-Star break too.
Why Seattle Doesn't Play the AL East Gauntlet
The Ringer ranks them No. 2. Anthony Dabbundo points out that Seattle won 90 games in three of the past five seasons and claimed their first division title since 2001 in 2025. One clutch Springer home run away from the World Series, and they spent the offseason bolstering the roster for another October run. The key advantage? Seattle doesn't grind through the AL East meat grinder. They rank top 10 in offense, starting pitching, and relief pitching entering 2026.
The Athletic also has them at No. 2 (tied). Andy McCullough highlights that the starting rotation is still intact for a team that finished eight outs away from the American League pennant. Plus, Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena squashed their beef after the World Baseball Classic handshake drama, so no clubhouse toxins here.
CBS Sports, ESPN, and Yahoo Sports all rank the Mariners at No. 2. ESPN calls them the "biggest threat to L.A.'s throne." The narrative is consistent: great pitching, improving offense with Naylor back and Donovan added, and if Julio Rodriguez comes out hot, Seattle could be unstoppable. Jake Mintz from Yahoo Sports isn't worried about the handshake drama derailing anything. This team is too talented to let a fistbump slight wreck the season.
Opening Day Is Coming
The Mariners have the pieces. The pitching is there. The offense is better. Now they need to prove it matters when it counts. No more "almost" stories. This is the year.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.