Much went right for the Mariners on the way to their first AL West title since 2001. But they remain in search of the team\u2019s first World Series berth.<\/p>\n
Catcher Cal Raleigh became the seventh player in major league history to hit 60 homers in a season, making a strong case for AL MVP in his first season after signing a $105 million, six-year contract.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe number of records that he started to break, it was a phenomenal season,\u201d Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said. \u201cIf it wasn\u2019t the best season a catcher\u2019s ever had, it certainly was one of the best two. I don\u2019t know what else he could have done.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Raleigh and fellow franchise cornerstone Julio Rodr\u00edguez are signed through the remainder of the decade, the Mariners are going to have to make some decisions on pending free agents who were key contributors in 2025.<\/p>\n
Both third baseman Eugenio Su\u00e1rez and first baseman Josh Naylor, each of whom Dipoto acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to the trade deadline, are free agents. Dipoto said the Mariners will need to address first base, and that bringing back Naylor is a priority. Wilson spoke highly of the impact Naylor had on the Mariners over his three months with the franchise.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need that intensity. You need that drive,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cI think his drive to win is incredible also. And that\u2019s what you\u2019re going to need from all your guys, and that\u2019s a big part of what he brought to this club.\u201d<\/p>\n
Related: M\u2019s say Josh Naylor \u2018definitely a priority\u2019 as 1B set to hit free agency<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Seattle also will have to make a decision on Su\u00e1rez. The Mariners could turn the keys over to rookie third baseman Ben Williamson, who made his major league debut in 2025 and was the club\u2019s everyday option before trading for Su\u00e1rez.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to be a little choosier with how we implement our young players,\u201d Dipoto said, \u201cbut they\u2019re going to play a big part in what we do now and moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Second baseman Jorge Polanco, meanwhile, has a player option<\/a> worth $6 million for next year. But he could be in line for a bigger contract after a rebound season.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to answer for him,\u201d Dipoto said. \u201cI imagine we will have to take a different route than is already on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n Whatever direction the Mariners choose to take with the likes of Su\u00e1rez, Naylor and Polanco, it is abundantly clear the franchise does not want arguably its most successful of 49 seasons to be an aberration.<\/p>\n Wilson, who was the Mariners\u2019 everyday catcher in 1995 when they went to the ALCS and in 2001 when Seattle won 116 games, is confident this club has the makeup to avoid being a one-hit wonder.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t worry about that with our guys,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cOur guys are fighters. I think they\u2019ve shown that time and time again. And the way they played, particularly September and towards the end of the season into the playoffs, these guys fight. That\u2019s something that you have to have, and you have to have to get to the World Series.\u201d<\/p>\n Seattle Mariners news and analysis<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a03 Seattle Mariners named American League Silver Slugger finalists<\/a>
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