The Seattle Mariners are having one of their best seasons in recent memory. With a 51-45 record at the halfway point, they’re holding onto a Wild Card spot in the American League and showing real potential to make a deep playoff run.
One of the biggest reasons for their success is catcher Cal Raleigh, who’s putting together a season for the ages. At 28 years old, Raleigh has already smashed 38 home runs and driven in 82 runs, all while maintaining a solid .259 batting average and getting on base at a strong rate. He’s doing all of this while playing a demanding position almost every day, and doing it at an elite level. If it weren’t for Aaron Judge, Raleigh would likely be a top MVP candidate.
The Mariners, known in recent years for great pitching and average offense, have flipped the script this season. Their offense has been explosive, and now the pitching staff is starting to find its form, making the team more well-rounded.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer sees real potential in this Mariners team and thinks they could win their first-ever World Series. He points out that Seattle is expected to be aggressive at the trade deadline, especially since they have the best farm system in all of baseball. That gives them plenty of assets to make upgrades.
The Mariners could use help at the corner infield spots, and they’ve been linked to Arizona’s Josh Naylor and former Mariner Eugenio Suárez. Even landing one of those players could give their lineup the extra boost it needs for a strong October run.
With a powerful offense, improving pitching, and top trade chips in their back pocket, the Mariners might finally be ready to break through and bring a World Series title to Seattle.