Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:`
1. World Series heads to Toronto:
While Game 1 of the World Series won’t begin until tomorrow, both teams are now in Toronto for a pre-series workout day. Both Blue Jays manager John Schneider and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will meet with the media, as will the Game 1 starters for both clubs. For the Dodgers, that’s expected to be southpaw Blake Snell, but it’s not yet clear who will be taking the bump for Toronto. There will be a period where both clubhouses are also fully available to the media today, offering opportunities for reporters to interview the rest of the club’s roster. Today’s workouts could also serve as an important step for any players dealing with injuries who are hoping to make the World Series roster.
2. Mariners end-of-season presser:
The Mariners are set to make president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto, GM Justin Hollander, and manger Dan Wilson available to the media later today, with a press conference scheduled for 10am local time this morning. Coming off one of the best seasons in Mariners history, where the club won the AL West and finished just one game short of reaching the World Series for the first time ever, Seattle now faces the impending exits of Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarez, and Jorge Polanco. Replacing that offensive talent will surely be the biggest task the front office is faced with this winter, and today’s press conferences figures to shine some light on how they intend to accomplish that goal.
3. Managerial vacancies down to six:
The Giants officially hired Tony Vitello to take over as their next manager yesterday, leaving just six teams with uncertainty about who will manage them next year: the Padres, Rockies, Braves, Orioles, Twins, and Nationals. Most of those clubs have been progressing through the interview process, though the Rockies will not even decide on the status of interim manager Warren Schaeffer until a new head of baseball operations is in place. That search may even be the next one to reach its conclusion, seeing as Colorado has narrowed its list of contenders for the position to a handful of finalists. Guardians assistant GM Matt Forman and Diamondbacks assistant GM Amiel Sawdaye are two candidates known to be remaining and may even be the only two candidates remaining.
I’m preparing for Seattle to lose all of the free agents, do nothing again like 2024, finish with 80-85 wins for 2026 and then the lockout happens after that
Maybe 2030 we can get to the alcs again? We will lose some of our starting pitchers to free agency but at least we have prospects
Tough way to lose, sad tormented, but not a bad season at all and you have talent. As to the lock-out, I’m pretty sure you are correct, and I think it will be a long one
I understand your pessimism, but this was the farthest the franchise has ever gotten.
I don’t expect them to suddenly become big spenders, but with that extra playoff revenue, they might, at the very least, bring back Naylor.
Even if the free agents all walk, this team is still pretty deep.
You guys just had one of the best seasons of any team and have been trending up for a few years. Jerry has stacked the farm, built a top class rotation and you’re here crying about it? Take some pride in what Seattle accomplished this year.
I’m preparing for this too, though I feel that if we get Naylor locked up that could be a huge win for the next few years. The loss of Polo will be felt; Geno? I love the guy, but let’s not pretend that he set the world on fire after he was traded back. I felt that it was interesting, watching the team struggle to make contact throughout the playoffs, when that along with the high k rate is what led us to dealing Geno away in the first place.
I think the team is going to bet on Ben Williamson and hopefully Mr. Emerson (if he’s ready) as the infield replacements this year. I also don’t think JP has much time left as our SS; his arm has become cringeworthy. Naylor bailed him out many times over the past couple months.
Cole Young will probably get first shot to win the 2b job. Really bummed that Bliss tore up his knee. Would of been nice for them to compete for the spot. Team is likely to keep Colt at SS.
I like Williamson but they need to add someone else, not expecting them to be players for Munetaka Murakami, but maybe they take a flyer on Okamoto.
Naylor needs to be their #1 priority.
Resign Polanco and Naylor… dump Canzone, Arozarena, Garver, and Raley. Trade Gilbert plus for Bohm plus.
I hate lazy offers like “Gilbert plus’ for “Bohm plus” and why trade anything of value for Bohm who will likely be nontendered or traded for a lottery ticket?
Why not just say Gilbert for Harper and $. That is just about as realistic.
After a slow start Arozarena turned in a solid season and finished 3 Home Runs shy of a 30/30 season. Garver and Raley are probably gone. Canzone was decent and could be a solid platoon in RF with Robles. Gilbert for Bohm even with pluses involved isn’t happening
Lookout for a hard landing
Colorado has to be the most challenging–and maybe the lack of urgency comes from the self-knowledge that next year’s Manager isn’t going to have much to work with anyway, so no need to spend on that (or players)
Ms need to fire Wilson. He made so many terrible decisions in this playoff run. They won several games despite his incompetence. Know they won’t fire him, but they should.
Seriously. Bringing in Bazardo should be a fireable offense. SHOULD be….
youre joking right? no way youre a mariners fan who just watched the team reach their first LCS in 2 decades
I watched him throw it away several times in that series culminating in the awful, awful decision to pitch to Springer late game 7 when springer has killed them all season long and been dominant in the playoffs.
The guy took the team to one game of the World Series in his first full season during a stretch where they were regularly collapsing in September. He’s prolly getting a longer leash….
Yeah, they’ll wait til a season where he doesn’t make it to game 7 of the LCS….
They got that far in spite of him. His management of the bullpen was atrocious and it wasn’t hindsight. You could do a highlight real of post season announcers expressing total confusion of his moves.
It’s all collaborative. Fire the coaches and front office too then….
After a decade plus here I’m still waiting for the first, “I love my manager’s decisions and the team should retain them long term,” post.
Defeat the new Evil Empire Blue Jays!
I feel like the Mariners need to do a few things and they may be right back at the top of the AL west. First and foremost is signing Josh Naylor, Besides being a great player, competitor, and clubhouse leader the Mariners have no other decent 1st base option on the current roster or in the Minors. Second is to get at least one more bat that consistently puts the ball in play. It could be a DH, 2b, 3b or RF. Steven Kwan would be a dream but someone Brendan Donovan would be a huge help. Polanco would be nice to have back but I cannot see then giving him more than two years. As much as I love Suarez as a person, I don’t believe that he is a good match for the Mariners fiscally at age 35. I would like to see them go with Ben Williamson who has an amazing glove and did hit for more power in the minors after the Eugenio trade, although it is the minors. One more LH relief pitcher in the bullpen and I am curious what a healthy Gregory Santos may do for the M’s bullpen but his availability has been non existent. If the rotation can return to consistent health and their ability you could see perhaps one of the best rotations in MLB next year, So much that Luis Castillo could be your 5th starter. Colt Emerson ss-3b, Laz Montes out/DH, and Kade Anderson LH SP and a few other top prospects are all a year away but coming and could be difference making. The. Future could be pretty good.
Mariners should trade for Skubal. We definitely have the prospects people would want. Although not sure for only one year.
Interesting that as the M’s had a successful season, all the decision makers are happy to make a big show of the end of season media avail to take credit.
Normally, those affairs are perfunctory chats in the Seattle dugout, where do not preannounce and do the bare minimum with the press….
They haven’t been lately. Maybe back in the 2010’s.
I would like everybody to know that I was the first on record to make the Ohtani on a plane to Toronto joke, as I made that joke during game 6 of the ALCS. Just thought I’d say something as I see it’s become quite a thing online. I’m doing okay with the plagiarism, though, I appreciate your concern.
I really hope the Mariners return to the ALCS next year. Their loss this year was insanely painful.