Four Seattle Times Writers Made Their 2026 Mariners Predictions and the Consensus is Wild
Opening day is here, and the Seattle Times staff just dropped their season predictions for the Mariners and the rest of baseball. Fair warning: most of these writers think Seattle is headed somewhere special. Let's see what each of them is predicting for our boys in green and blue.
The Optimistic Takes
Ryan Divish is betting big on the M's, predicting a 93-79 record and an AL West title. His reasoning is solid: the Mariners lineup is deeper than it has been in years. Josh Naylor is back, and the additions of Brendan Donovan and Rob Refsnyder give this team the kind of well-rounded offense that can carry you through October. If the starting rotation stays healthy, Divish thinks Seattle will be one of the best teams in the American League. He's got the Dodgers winning the World Series over the Mariners, but still.
Adam Jude is even more bullish, projecting 95-67 and calling this potentially the most complete roster the Mariners have ever assembled. He's not shy about it either: this is a team built to win in both the regular season and the postseason. Coming off last year's deep October run, the M's should view 95 wins as their absolute floor. The key, Jude says, is pitching health. Bryan Woo is the X factor. When he's on the field, he's one of the game's elite arms. If all five starters stay healthy, Jude believes this team has the potential to win serious hardware this fall.
The Grounded Believers
Tim Booth's take is interesting: 88-74, but still winning the AL West. His outlook? The regular season is a bit of a disappointment compared to the hype (welcome to Mariners fandom), but they do enough to claim the division. Cal Raleigh doesn't hit 60 homers, but he dominates the postseason. Julio Rodríguez becomes an MVP candidate. Brendan Donovan and Josh Naylor are hit machines. Bryan Woo becomes a star. And Andrés Muñoz closes out a Game 5 win over Toronto in the ALCS to send the M's to their first World Series. Dodgers still win it all, but that's a heck of a run.
Mike Vorel projects 91-71 and back-to-back AL West titles. He's banking on the Mariners' more complete roster paying dividends in October. Brendan Donovan adds both bat-to-ball skills and positional versatility. Jose A. Ferrer figures to be significant in the back end of the bullpen. The starting rotation should bounce back from last year's injury woes. Vorel's got the M's beating Detroit in the ALDS, Toronto in the ALCS, but losing to the Dodgers in the World Series.
No matter which prediction you believe, the consensus is clear: this team is built different. Let's see if they can deliver.
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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.