The Seattle Mariners have some decisions to make this offseason.

The Mariners missed the playoffs for the 22nd time in 23 years. The team was eliminated in the final week of the season for the third time in four years.

Seattle President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto has been in the front office for nearly a decade and will be making a playoff appearance for it. He helped organize a top-to-bottom team rebuild that netted the current face of the club in Julio Rodriguez, arguably the best catcher in the majors Cal Raleigh and the best starting rotation in baseball.

But the Mariners need to take the next step and become legitimate contenders. If they don’t, it’s a question of how much longer Dipoto will be in his current role. Especially amid growing fan discontent.

Although owner/president John Stanton has emphasized that the team will not spend big in free agency, there are several affordable players the M’s could target in free agency and potential trade acquisitions they could try and reach a deal on.

They also have one of the best farm systems in baseball.

Seattle has eight prospects in Baseball America’s top 100; That’s more than any other team in the major leagues and has five players in MLB Pipeline’s top 100.

Many of the Mariners’ top 100 prospects play positions of need and could receive invitations to spring training.

However, most of these players are young. And only a few are at the point of development where they could seriously factor into Seattle’s 2025 plans.

With that said, here I will give an overview of some of the Mariners’ top prospects and their chances of making it to the big leagues in 2025. For the sake of simplicity, we will refrain from reviewing players who are at Triple-A Tacoma. Rainiers in 2024.

1. Colt Emerson, infielder

The first player we’ll look at is MLB Pipeline’s best player in Seattle and one of the top 30 minor league players in all of baseball.

Emerson has had a meteoric rise in the past 15 months since being drafted in the first round of the 2023 draft out of high school. He finished the year with the Everett AquaSox, the organization’s High-A affiliate, and was second in the Arizona Fall League in hits (18) and first in doubles (eight) in just 10 games played entering Friday.

The problem is his age. Emerson is only 19 years old. He has become more consistent in making solid contact with the ball and his defense is exemplary. But he’s still developing physically and hasn’t yet lived up to the powerhouse potential many analysts predicted for him coming out of high school.

Emerson is expected to be called up in 2026, according to MLB Pipeline.

If he looks at majors in 2025, something is wrong. Emerson getting called up in 2025 likely means Seattle is well out of the playoff race and has called up some minor leaguers. Or third base and shortstop have been ravaged by injuries or are underperforming (or a combination of the two).

Even if Emerson continues on his current trajectory, he is unlikely to be called into office in 2025.

2025 call-up rates: 20%

2. Lazaro Montes, outfielder

Montes might be the biggest fan favorite among Mariners minor leaguers.

Their physical tools are obvious. He is listed at 6 feet tall and 210 pounds. MiLB.com player profile Actually closer to 6’0-4’225.

Montes has drawn comparisons to Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros, Seattle’s league West rival.

Like Emerson, Montes finished the season in Everett. He had a down month in July after being promoted from the Low-A Modesto Nuts, but responded by hitting .411 in August.

Montes will likely be invited to spring training. The biggest hurdle for him is to develop consistent communication with his power tool.

But similar to Emerson, if he is called out, something may have gone wrong. Dipoto put his stamp of approval on the current major league outfield core of Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez and Victor Robles. Luke Raley is able to go off the field if needed.

A situation where Montes was called would be bad news. However, many media personalities and fans predicted that the team would trade or part with outfielders such as Mitch Haniger and Dominic Canzone. There are more outfield positions, which could open the door for Montes to get called up and get some tips and coaching in the majors. But it would almost never be used in this scenario.

For this reason alone, his chances of coming first are slightly higher than Emerson.

2025 call-up rates: 30%

3. Harry Ford, catcher

Ford arguably faces the biggest no-win situation of any other player in the organization’s farming system.

Ford’s potential has been clear since he was drafted in the first round of the 2021 draft. He is a two-time MLB All-Star Futures Game participant and was on the GB team during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

But his position poses problems for his future aspirations with the Mariners.

Ford plays catcher. The same position is occupied by Raleigh.

Unless Seattle signs Raleigh to a long-term contract, which would be a huge mistake, there are very few scenarios where Ford could move into the starting lineup in the near future.

Barring a trade, backup catcher Mitch Garver will remain with the team until 2025. Last year, the Mariners opted to use Seby Zavala as the third-string catcher instead of calling up Ford.

Ford tried out as the designated hitter and left fielder with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers in 2024, batting .249 with only seven home runs and 45 RBIs.

This is an unfortunate scenario. However, unless the team uses Ford in a different position, he will spend the season in Triple-A or Double-A.

Or used in a commercial package.

2025 call rate: 10%

4. Brandyn Garcia, Left HP

This is where things get interesting.

Garcia won the team’s Jamie Moyer Pitcher of the Year award and became the pro-ready (or nearly ready) left-handed starter in Seattle’s farm system.

Garcia’s best chance of pitching in the major leagues in 2025 is as the team’s No. 6 pitcher. It was the same role as Emerson Hancock from last season.

Hancock performed well enough in 2024 that Garcia will need a great spring training to shake him off. But he has the capacity to do it.

When Luis Castillo suffered a hamstring strain near the end of the season last year, the organization was debating whether to bring up Hancock or head to the farm to find the backup starter. The Mariners eventually agreed with Hancock, but it’s hard to imagine Garcia not being involved in those discussions.

Garcia went from a projected bullpen arm to a surefire starter of the future. In addition to being left-handed, he has a two-seam fastball that touches the upper 90 MPH range, a cutter and a sweeper that are all rated above average.

If Seattle trades a starter in the offseason, which Dipoto said was the team’s “plan z” regarding his development preference, then the M’s will need a new starter anyway.

Pitching injuries occur every year, and the Mariners’ rotation was extremely healthy, with four pitchers starting at least 30 games.

The team can’t afford for this to happen again. That could open the door for Garcia to get a look at the big leagues.

2025 call-up rates: 55%

5. Logan Evans, RHP

Evans is Seattle’s top-ranked prospect (other than 2024 draft picks Ryan Sloan and Jurrangelo Cijntje) and has been included in those discussions for a likely starter to replace Castillo at the end of the year.

Evans, like Garcia, has three plus-grade pitches (two-seam, slider, cutter). His cutter is most effective against left-handed bats and his slider is dangerous against lefties.

Garcia is the more physically imposing of the two. Both are listed at 6-foot-2, but Garcia has 20 pounds on Evans.

However, Garcia still has a lot of untapped potential, while Evans is the more polished product.

Evans is capable of filling the same role as Hancock, but as his “elite extension” (see Hancock). Baseball Master) could possibly lead to higher scratch counts.

Evans has improved significantly since being drafted by the Mariners, and it’s hard to see another year go by without Seattle seeing what the former Pittsburgh Panther does.

2025 call-up rates: 60%

6. Cole Young, infielder

He’ll likely be the last player discussed on this list, due in 2025.

Young is ranked as the Mariners’ No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and is the most pro-ready minor leaguer playing a position of need for the team.

Young played with the Travelers through 2024 and was one of the most consistent hitters the team has ever had. At Arkansas, he hit .271 with nine home runs, 57 RBIs and 23 stolen bases.

Young played shortstop and second base at Arkansas, posting a .978 fielding percentage in 445 total chances.

Young doesn’t have the strong tool that Emerson, Montes or midfielder Michael Arroyo have. However, he is an excellent defender who is capable of making consistent contact quickly on the basepaths.

Second base is wide open, and Seattle is expected to decline the option of 2024 starter Jorge Polanco.

Young will likely have to compete with Ryan Bliss and Leo Rivas for the spot in spring training. And that doesn’t even take into account the outfield second baseman the team could get.

But Young is undoubtedly the candidate most likely to make a significant impact in 2025. And while there’s no guarantee he’ll be successful, perhaps it’s time for Dipoto and the front office to hand the keys to the customer rather than move on. with spacer options.

2025 call-up rates: 85%

Other names to consider:

Ben Williamson, infielder

Michael Morales, Right HP

Michael Arroyo, infielder

Travis Kuhn, assistant

Hunter Cranton, assistant

SAILORS SHARE VIDEOS FROM THE HIGH PERFORMANCE CAMP: The Seattle Mariners shared videos showing candidates working out at the High Performance Camp regarding “X.” CLICK HERE

MARINERS SIGN OLD FIFTH ROUND SELECTION AGREEMENT FOR SECOND LEAGUE: The Seattle Mariners signed a former First-Team All-Big Ten outfielder to a minor league deal in mid-October and immediately transferred him to the club’s Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. CLICK HERE

MARINERS TOP PROSPECT TALK ABOUT ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE STINT: Seattle Mariners prospect Colt Emerson talked about the offseason and his struggles in the Arizona Fall League on the Foul Territory Podcast on Thursday. CLICK HERE

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