The Seattle Mariners were among the biggest disappointments of the 2026 MLB season. After winning the American League West in 2025, the Mariners crashed and burned this year, finishing 10 games under .500.
Turns out, there were a few reasons for the team’s struggles. Both Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor were playing through injuries during the season that required offseason surgeries, the team announced Monday.
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Raleigh underwent a procedure on his left shoulder. Naylor had surgery on his right wrist. Both players are expected to be fully healthy during training.
Injuries clearly affected both players in 2026. Almost a year after winning the American MVP, Raleigh took a huge step back, hitting an abysmal .182. After leading baseball with 60 home runs in 2025, Raleigh dropped all the way to 23 home runs, 14 of which came in the second half. While it is unclear when Raleigh sustained the injury, the catcher also lost time in his first year with an oblique accident.
It’s similarly unclear when Naylor began battling his wrist injury. But the first baseman clearly suffered because of that plate. After hitting .450 in each of the previous four seasons, Naylor batted .350 in 2026. That figure was tied for eighth-worst among MLB regulars. Players like Caleb Durbin, Jose Altuve and Jung Hoo Lee have had more power than Naylor over the year.
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Both Naylor and Raleigh played significant roles in planning activities, although they were far from the sole problem of the sailors. The team’s bullpen collapsed after emerging as one of the team’s strengths in 2025. Julio Rodriguez put up his worst slash line since the majors and few other players on the team’s offense rose to the occasion with their shining star players.
If it’s a silver jacket, the team’s starting pitching is still strong in 2026 and remains under contract in 2027. If Naylor and Raleigh can bounce back after offseason surgeries — and Rodriguez can find his impact — there’s potential for the Mariners to contend again next season.
Tightening the bullpen should be a priority, but the offense should — perhaps — be much better next season, especially if Naylor and Raleigh can live up to their usual standards again.