Too soon or just right? Early 2026 World Series odds give Mariners fans reason to believe .MH

We’re now three weeks since the conclusion of the Mariners’ season, but the images from that Game 7 loss in the AL Championship Series versus the Blue Jays still haunt the team and their fans. In fact, we have no problem in proclaiming that in the long history of painful memories in Seattle sports, the 4-3 loss in Toronto ranks at the very top of the list alongside the Seahawks’ loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.

However, at some point the Mariners and their fans will have to start looking forward, not that we’re trying to incur the wrath of Dave “Softy” Mahler by telling everyone to get over it. (To be fair, Paul Moyer did go on to explain he was being facetious.) No, what we’re alluding to is that there’s plenty for the M’s to be excited about next season, after coming closer than ever — just eight outs — to finally making it to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

Yes the Mariners still have plenty to do, with re-signing Josh Naylor sitting at the top of the agenda. However, this is a team with big ambitions and the mainstream media is sitting up and seemingly paying attention:

Aside from FOX Sports, ESPN also has the M’ as fifth favorites to win it all next season, while The Athletic (subscription required) has them even higher with the fourth-best odds. Although at the risk of sounding too sensible, we will add that you have to take betting odds with a grain of salt, with the aim being to tempt people to bet.

The Mariners are a genuine contender, and ownership is seemingly prepared to put in the work

Still, the indication is that the Mariners are worth a flutter next season and the reality is that having them as a consensus top-five pick among the odds-makers is fair. And as much as none of this is meant to be predictive, they wouldn’t be getting so much love if they weren’t a top-tier team.

Being described as top-tier might be tough for some to comprehend and make others laugh, but the Mariners are the only AL team to win 85-plus games every season since 2021. So at the very least, they have been a consistent contender during this time and there’s no reason why this can’t continue into next year.

The rotation suffered with injury issues to all but one of their preferred starting five this past season, and you’d like to think one of the most talented pitching staffs in the majors will be at least slightly more fortunate and durable in 2026. The bullpen could use at least one more quality arm to compliment a strong core of relievers headlined by Andrés Muñoz, and you know the M’s will be focused on this.

Seemingly offering more encouragement is M’s chairman and managing partner John Stanton’s full page ad in The Seattle Times, with him effectively promising to put in the hard work required to win a World Series. And as per SoDo Mojo‘s Zachary Rymer, the indications are the front office seems to have the money to spend this winter, following on from completing the 2025 season with the highest payroll in franchise history, at $165.2 million.

We do understand the Seattle sports fan base, and in particular the Mariners’ base, is one scarred by more heartbreak, failure and disappointment than most cities in North America. However, as much as M’s fans have every right to be wary of getting their hopes up, if there’s ever a time to embrace some feasible optimism, then this might finally be it.