ALDS roster projection

[Donn Beach]

I guess looking, other teams have done similar things, i don't know if one has actually brought fans in. I don't think teams sit around and wait, they occupy themselves with things they believe will keep them sharp. Though since they have gone to this format there's been an issue with higher seeded team getting knocked off

[D-train]

I guess looking, other teams have done similar things, i don't know if one has actually brought fans in. I don't think teams sit around and wait, they occupy themselves with things they believe will keep them sharp. Though since they have gone to this format there's been an issue with higher seeded team getting knocked off

Maybe that's why the M's are doing it.

[Vogelbomb]

Dodgers went with 11 pitchers, 15 position players

[AZOldDawg]

I’d go with the extra position player and I’d make it the best contact guy for scoring that needed small ball run.

[desbcoach]

Dodgers went with 11 pitchers, 15 position players

Also only a 3 games series and they can reset their roster after 1st round. Context is important

[Vogelbomb]

Dodgers went with 11 pitchers, 15 position players

Also only a 3 games series and they can reset their roster after 1st round. Context is important

Right! my bad, forgot about that aspect, though I think it's not much different given the DS has the off days

[HawkandMariner88]

I think I'd rather have an extra positional player. Don't know if I'd go with Young or Ford but who else do you go with. Is it possible Samad Taylor makes the LDS roster as a late inning pinch runner/defensive replacement.

[Bil522]

Will Master Bunny be joining Bad Bunny on the SB Halftime show stage?

Yes, along with a Playboy Bunny and the Easter Bunny.

[Donn Beach]

looking at this, seems like there hasn't been much love for ferguson this season

The left-hander was acquired by the M’s before the trade deadline. With Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez also joining the club via trade, the deal for Ferguson was overshadowed. But the postseason may be the time he brings his greatest value to the ballclub – and that could come to fruition rather quickly.

Ferguson has been lights out against left-handed batters this season. They’re hitting just .184 with a .465 OPS and have just two-extra base hits and no home runs in 115 plate appearances.

With a matchup against either the Detroit Tigers or the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Division Series, Ferguson’s presence as a second southpaw out of the bullpen behind Gabe Speier is of great value to the AL West-champion Mariners.

[D-train]

14 position players and 12 pitchers...

By Ryan Divish
Seattle Times staff reporter
The initial discussions, more likely conversations over dinner or during games, began even before the Mariners made the postseason.

They already were being “debated” on Mariners social media by fans as well.

But over the next few days, the Mariners front office — including president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander, along with several analysts and advance scouts in the baseball operations department and, of course, manager Dan Wilson and his staff — will finalize the roster for their American League Division Series that starts Saturday at T-Mobile Park.

The Mariners will have to submit their postseason roster Saturday morning.

Like the regular season, a team can have a maximum of 26 players on the roster and can reset it after each round of the playoffs. There is also a limit on pitchers. A team cannot carry more than 14 pitchers on its postseason roster. For most teams, that usually isn’t a concern. Because of the travel days built into the series, pitchers have guaranteed rest. Also, teams will move at least one starter to the bullpen, giving them additional depth.

With only a five-game series, the Mariners are leaning toward carrying 12 pitchers and 14 position players.

“While we haven’t made the final decisions on those last spots, the great likelihood is we will go position-player heavy, because of the nature of a short series and the fact that at some point one of our starters will be repositioned in the bullpen,” Dipoto said.

Of course, there are some remaining undecided aspects that will factor into their roster position.

First is the health of Bryan Woo. The Mariners’ top starting pitcher this season is slowly working his way back from tightness in his right pectoral muscle. He exited his start in Houston on Sept. 19 after feeling the tightness. He has yet to throw off a mound since that game.

Dodgers vs. Mariners Highlights


“A good deal of optimism that he is part of that rotation to start the ALDS,” Dipoto said. “He’s a huge part of what we do. So it’s pretty important that he’s there.”

But when will he be there?

The hope is that Woo can throw a bullpen session Wednesday or Thursday, which under normal circumstances would allow him to start Saturday or Sunday. But the Mariners could easily push him back to Game 3 of the series.

“We can’t really make the other decisions until we have a better idea where Bryan will slot,” Dipoto said.


All five starters would still be on the playoff roster. George Kirby made a relief appearance and a start in the 2022 postseason, and Bryce Miller is understanding of a move to the bullpen. He was reliever in college at Texas A&M.

“Just be ready to go early in the series,” Miller said. “If it’s out of the bullpen, I’ll be ready to go. I’ve pitched out of the bullpen most of my college career, so I don’t think I’ll have any issue getting ready and being able to do that. I’ll be ready however they want to use me, I just want an opportunity to pitch in the postseason.”

That would leave seven relievers. Obviously, the leverage arms of Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash, Gabe Speier and Eduard Bazardo would be on the list.

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But the other three could be determined by who the Mariners are facing. The Detroit Tigers have a balanced lineup that relies heavily on platoons. Having Caleb Ferguson, a second left reliever to go with Speier, has its uses. Ferguson will almost certainly be on the roster if Seattle faces Cleveland. The Guardians roster is heavy on lefty bats and switch-hitters. The Mariners invited only one lefty pitcher — reliever Austin Kitchen — to be on the taxi squad.

Right-hander Luke Jackson has postseason experience and can pitch multiple innings, and rookie Carlos Vargas has shown versatility. Emerson Hancock has looked strong in the bullpen and can pitch multiple innings.

Neither Logan Evans nor Casey Legumina is eligible after being optioned to Tacoma in the final regular-season series. An interesting name on the Mariners taxi squad is Michael Fulmer. The veteran right-hander signed as a minor-league free agent in August. He was the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year as a starter for Detroit, but he converted to a reliever in 2021. Fulmer made 12 appearances for Tacoma, allowing one run in 12 innings with five walks and 18 strikeouts.

With 14 position players, the Mariners have options.

“Versatility is really valuable,” Dipoto said. “The biggest question or debate internally is whether or not, we carry the three catchers. Through the course of September, one of the benefits of bringing up Harry (Ford) was that (Mitch) Garver could DH against lefties and we could have the ability to pinch-hit for him and still maintain a backup catcher in the event of injury, which is a pretty critical thing.”

It would seem curious keeping Ford on the roster for emergency purposes. If the Mariners play the Tigers, there is, of course, one lefty starter waiting to face them. Tarik Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner and presumptive winner for this season, would likely pitch Game 2 at T-Mobile Park. The former Seattle U standout tossed 7 2/3 innings in Tuesday’s win 2-1 win over Cleveland, allowing one run on three hits with three walks and 14 strikeouts.

Garver faced Skubal five times this year and struck out all five times, so that might not be as large of a concern. Keeping Ford as an emergency option for Garver to DH in possibly two games might not be as necessary as it appears.

The Guardians are using three right-handed starters in the wild-card series, but there is a small chance they could use a lefty, either Logan Allen, who didn’t make the wild-card roster, or Joey Cantillo, to start a game in the division series out of necessity.

Obviously, Leo Rivas and Miles Mastrobuoni provide the most versatility coming off the bench. And should be on the roster.

If they face a right-hander as expected Saturday, the Mariners will likely roll out the familiar lineup of:


Randy Arozarena, LF
Cal Raleigh, C
Julio Rodríguez, CF
Josh Naylor, 1B
Jorge Polanco, 2B
Eugenio Suárez, 3B
Dominic Canzone, DH
Victor Robles, RF
J.P. Crawford, SS
That would leave Rivas, Mastrobuoni, Luke Raley and Garver as locks for the bench with one remaining spot.

Would they use it on Ford as a third catcher? Does rookie Cole Young, who has played sparingly in September and has three hits in his last 59 plate appearances, make the roster? The Mariners brought up five players for the taxi squad: shortstop Colt Emerson, third baseman Ben Williamson, catcher Nick Raposo, utility player Samad Taylor and outfielder Rhylan Thomas.

Taylor is the most versatile of the group, capable of playing almost any position, and he’s also a strong base stealer. He swiped 44 bases in 54 attempts this season for the Rainiers and would be useful as a pinch-runner. Thomas stole 35 bases in 43 attempts for Tacoma and is a solid defensive player. He’s also a high-contact, left-handed hitter who drew 46 walks and struck out only 32 times in 547 plate appearances while batting .325.