The Gamble That Changed Everything: How the Mariners Found Their Next Griffey
Back in August 2018, sitting in a T-Mobile Park conference room, Mariners owner John Stanton posed a question his executives didn't want to answer: should we blow this up and rebuild, even if we could still make the playoffs? The roster was aging fast. Felix Hernandez, Kyle Seager, Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano,all of them were past their prime. The front office knew something had to change.
That conversation kicked off one of the boldest rebuilds in franchise history. And here's the wild part: nobody expected what came next.
The Idea That Seemed Impossible
When GM Jerry Dipoto and his team pitched the rebuild to owner John Stanton and ownership group leader Chris Larson, they had to answer the tough question everyone was thinking. Could a rebuild actually land them the kind of players Seattle worshipped? The next Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner, or Dan Wilson?
Justin Hollander, the executive who helped shape this rebuild, was honest about it. "I don't think it's going to happen," he said at the time. "I think we'll have good teams if we do this, but I don't know if we're going to be able to have guys that are lifelong Mariners, who could be the next Griffey, Buhner and Edgar. That just doesn't happen now."
But then he paused. He thought about Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh, two of the best players at their positions in baseball, and the contract extensions he'd helped negotiate. Hollander laughed and said: "That it has happened, shows that, one, I'm an idiot. And two, just how lucky we are."
From Draft Gamble to Foundation Cornerstone
Raleigh's journey is the perfect example of this luck. The Mariners drafted him in the third round in 2018 straight out of Florida State as a junior. He wasn't supposed to be theirs. Agent Scott Boras had a handshake deal with the Braves to draft him in the fourth round for $1 million. Boras made it clear to other teams: don't touch him or he goes back for his senior year.
The Mariners gambled anyway. Vice president of scouting Tom Allison convinced the front office that Raleigh was the best overall catcher in that draft. They believed the math was simple: why stay in school when your value is already peaked? Sign now, or lose millions.
It worked. And now, paired with Rodríguez in the lineup, these two stars form the foundation of what should be the most successful run in franchise history. Dipoto put it perfectly: "These guys are two of the best 10 players in baseball. To be able to have those guys come through the system, fall in love with the city, believe in the organization, and want to stay here for what could be the rest of their careers, is pretty awesome."
This is what a real rebuild looks like. This is what the Emerald City has been waiting for.
🐦 What fans are saying on X
See the latest reactions and highlights from Seattle fans about Can Cal.
View X conversation →🔮 Trade Seattle Sports on Kalshi
Did you know you can trade on Seattle sports outcomes on Kalshi, the only federally regulated prediction market in the US? Kalshi is available in Washington state. Bet on Seahawks games, Mariners season outcomes, Kraken playoff runs, and more. No sportsbook account needed.
💰 Limited offer: Get a FREE $10 when you sign up!
👉 Sign up at Kalshi.com and use promo code SEATTLEONTAP to claim your free $10.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.