Though the Seattle Mariners are not among MLB’s biggest spenders, Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh and Andrés Muñoz can vouch that they’re willing to cut big checks to guys they’d rather not see play anywhere else any time soon.
You could even throw Josh Naylor into this conversation, as the Mariners didn’t let him last long on the free-agent market before retaining him with a five-year, $92.5 million contract. Yet what we’re really talking about here is contract extensions, and specifically about players who could be next to join Rodríguez, Raleigh and Muñoz among Seattle’s collection of extendees.
This hypothetically includes anyone on the roster right now, but some players who are worth mentioning give off “let it ride” energy. The Mariners need to be cautious about throwing money at Randy Arozarena after his up-and-down year, and neither Bryce Miller nor George Kirby had a fully healthy, fully effective season on the mound in 2025.
Which, in turn, brings us to three players who should be under extension consideration as 2026 draws near.
3 Mariners who could be in line for contract extensions in 2026
SS Colt Emerson
Our disclaimer is that we are not sold on the idea of signing Emerson to an extension. He has yet to make his major league debut, and the Mariners unfortunately feature in the less-than-inspiring history of extensions for players with zero MLB service time.
However, Emerson’s time in Seattle is nigh. He currently ranks as MLB Pipeline’s No. 9 prospect after a 2025 season that saw him conquer three levels of the minor leagues. And even if it’s at third base instead of his natural shortstop, he’s in line for a chance to earn a spot on the Mariners’ Opening Day roster for 2026.
If the Mariners truly believe Emerson is going to be a star in the majors as soon as March 26, 2026, maybe they’ll put their money where their belief is.
RHP Logan Gilbert
An extension for Gilbert seemed like a no-brainer as recently as March. He all but asked to be the next guy to get paid after Raleigh inked his $105 million deal, and Mariners owner John Stanton seemed to be a receptive audience.
The 2025 season proceeded to throw a wrench in the gears. Gilbert missed close to two months with a flexor strain, and he wasn’t quite the No. 1-type pitcher he normally is after returning. He had a 3.75 ERA in his last 19 starts of the regular season, followed by a 4.20 ERA in the playoffs.
Even so, Gilbert led all American League pitchers (min. 130 innings) with a 32.3 strikeout percentage, all while maintaining a low walk rate of 5.8 percent. And with his free agency looming after 2027, now might be the Mariners’ last best chance to lock him down at a favorable rate.
RHP Bryan Woo
Woo is worth including in this discussion for a simple reason: He’s the Mariners’ best player who hasn’t already signed an extension.
He was arguably their best pitcher in 2024, and he removed all doubt this year. He ripped off a 2.94 ERA over 186.2 innings, before a fluky pectoral injury sidelined him until he made two relief appearances in Games 5 and 7 of the ALCS. Per his 2.92 expected ERA, only five pitchers have been more effective across the last two seasons.
Woo isn’t set for free agency until after 2029, yet he will be arbitration-eligible in 2027. Even if they don’t buy out any of his free-agent years, an extension would be a good way for the Mariners to get some cost control on one of MLB’s ascendant aces.
