The Seattle Mariners entered this spring with the most expectations in the last generation of the franchise.

The Mariners, despite being the only team in the major leagues to not win a pennant, came as close as they ever have last season. They made it to Game 7 of the American League Championship Series before ultimately losing by one run to the Toronto Blue Jays.

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Seattle’s front office recognized the window and opportunity the team had in front of it in 2026 and proceeded accordingly, bringing back Josh Naylor on a five year deal and acquiring 2025 All-Star Brendan Donovan in a three-team trade with the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.

These moves, plus the returning crop of All-Stars and key contributors from a season ago, has led to many to view the Mariners as contenders.

MLB Network analyst Greg Amsinger joined the ranks of people with high expectations for Seattle. He made several positive predictions for the team in an appearance on the Brock & Salk show on Seattle Sports 710 on Tuesday.

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“My bold prediction is 98 wins (for the Mariners),” Amsinger said on the Brock & Salk show. “Mariners go to the World Series, Bryan Woo wins Cy Young. … You’re going in Opening Day with an intense competitor in Josh Naylor, who you brought back immediately. You needed to bring him back. … Then you go get the ‘x-factor’ guy that every single team that’s in win-now mode wanted. Just follow the clues. Why would every club that wants to win a world championship right now want Brendan Donovan? Because he does everything you need to win. … The tiny little things that you don’t see in a box score, (Donovan) is bringing that edge to the Seattle Mariners. I love it, I think they check every single box for me. Those additions are huge.”

Naylor was one of Seattle’s best players during the second half of 2025 and the playoffs. He slashed .299/.341/.490 with an .831 OPS in 54 games with the M’s and hit 10 doubles and nine home runs with 33 RBIs. He was a perfect 19-for-19 in stolen base attempts.

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In 12 playoff games, Naylor slashed .340/.392/.574 with a .966 OPS and hit two doubles and three homers with five RBIs.

Donovan slashed .287/.353/.422 with a .775 OPS in 118 games with the Cardinals last season. He hit 32 doubles and 10 home runs with 50 RBIs.

As for Woo, he’s coming off his first career All-Star selection and was one of the most consistent starting pitchers in the majors last season. He posted a 2.94 ERA and struck out 198 batters in 186.2 innings pitched across 30 starts. Twenty-one of his outings were quality starts.

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Expectations are high for the Mariners and the roster is more than capable of meeting them.

Seattle will begin its potentially historic season against the Cleveland Guardians at 7:10 p.m. PT on March 26 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

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