Director of Dynasty Content - Canadian born and raised, moved to Arkansas with my wife and two sons Ezra and Ari. Followed and played baseball my whole life; played dynasty for 25+ years.
The Mariners were many people's choice to represent the AL in the World Series before the 2025 season, and they made it all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS, only to fall just short to the Toronto Blue Jays. Falling short of their expansion cousins in what would have been their first appearance in the Fall Classic was a disappointing conclusion to what was a very successful campaign.
This team is built on their young controllable pitching, and they kept themselves in most games thanks to co-aces Logan Gilbert and George Kirby, upstarts Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller, and veteran Luis Castillo. There were a few bumps in the road, but all told, this rotation was as advertised and led the M's to their fifth straight season of 85+ wins. The bullpen was solid with anchor Andres Munoz locking it down at the back end and several other capable arms contributing, including Matt Brash.
Recently, the offense has been what has held this team back, but the 2025 version performed well from top to bottom. Their superstar, Julio Rodriguez, needed a running-mate to lead this team to the next level, and Cal Raleigh stepped up and then some, slugging 60 home runs in the best offensive season we have seen from a catcher. There were important contributions from Randy Arozarena, freshly signed Josh Naylor, freshly departed Jorge Polanco, and current (as of the time of writing) Eugenio Suarez. There is definitely room for an infusion of youth and talent, which the Mariners have in abundance.
Colt Emerson is a special hitter, and the baseball world will meet him very soon, maybe even on Opening Day. He could slide into the second or third base vacancies after reaching Triple-A late in the 2025 season. Lazaro Montes and Michael Arroyo didn't quite have the same success in Double-A as they did in High-A, but the Mariners' affiliate in Little Rock is a tough place to hit. They should both begin there in 2026 and could be on the short list of callups late in 2026. Jonny Farmelo and Felnin Celesten have as much upside as any hitters in the minors and could be big-time risers by this time next year. On the pitching side, the M's have a lefty and a righty who could be long-term answers for their big league rotations in Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan. They should both move quickly in 2026.
All told, the Mariners have plenty of fantasy-friendly options up and down their major and minor league rosters. They are a great development organization, especially on the pitching side, and you should have confidence rostering their players.
Dynasty Buys
Colt Emerson
Why would I be suggesting a top prospect as a buy? Because he’s being undervalued and there is a good chance he will have regular playing time at some point in 2026. Emerson’s home runs and steals don't stand out, but this is a prospect with an incredibly high floor and burgeoning power. His second-half performance uptick (most notably, his power coincided with an adjustment from a leg kick to a toe tap. His groundball rate (nearly 60% in the first half) improved dramatically (sub-40% in the second half), allowing him to get into more power. Emerson, ranked outside of the top ten by most outlets (including us), compares very favorably to JJ Wetherholt, who is a consensus top 10 prospect, in most contact and power metrics, and he’s nearly three years younger. The only area where Emerson trails is his chase rate, which is around 30% (sub 20% for Wetherholt), but I am confident this will improve as Emerson matures. The Mariners have a wide-open third base position, and if they would rather play him at second or short, it wouldn’t take much to make that happen, as their current options are a couple of uninspiring offensive profiles in Cole Young and J.P. Crawford (contract expires after 2026).
Jonny Farmelo
This suggestion is all about tools. Farmelo can do it all on a baseball field, and since he’s had a couple of significant injuries, no one has seen him for an extended run of playing time; he hasn’t been able to show his tools off. Farmelo has good bat speed, and he jumped his ISO score from .157 in 2024 to .230 in 2025 (.234 in 101 AFL PA). The Statcast metrics (max EV 109.2 mph max EV, 93.9 EV90, 52.0% hard hit rate) from the Fall League also further point to solid power projections for the 21-year-old. Farmelo’s stolen base output dried up in 2025 (2 in 3 attempts), but 9 bags in the AFL tell us that he was simply being cautious on his way back from injury; he has legitimate 70-grade speed. All of these things point to a projectable power/speed monster. There are obvious concerns with his swing decisions and ability to make consistent contact. Farmelo had a 37% chase rate in High-A this season and 75% zone contact rate (63% overall). If these numbers continue, he will have trouble reaching his true upside. His small-sample in the Fall League gives us hope that with more reps, he will mature and improve as a hitter. He reduced his chase rate (20.4%), raised his zone contact (87%), while his overall contact remained steady (64%). Farmelo’s continued development will depend on his commitment to swing at more pitches in the zone, and if he can do this (while staying healthy for a full season), you are going to see his tools play - and fantasy stock soar.
Dynasty Sells
Luis Castillo
Castillo has performed consistently well over the last several seasons; his ERAs over the last three seasons (3.54, 3.64, 3.34) reflect an ability to limit damage and use his home park to his advantage. What the surface numbers don’t tell us is that his skills have declined steadily over the last five seasons, including a drop in fastball velocity. Just four seasons ago, Castillo sat at 97.2 mph with his fastball, and in 2025, he dropped below 95 (94.9) for the first time in his career. This correlates well with his decrease in strikeout rate, which has followed; just two seasons ago, it was 27.0% while this season he recorded a career-low 21.7%. Castillo has outperformed his expected ERA four seasons in a row, and while he might do it again, his xERA, FIP, and xFIP are all trending in the wrong direction. If you can get a younger mid-rotation option for him, jump at the opportunity.
Lazaro Montes
Montes is a fun player; his raw power rivals the best in the minors, and he truly enjoys playing the game. He will be a fan favorite when he arrives in Seattle. Similar to Farmelo, Montes struggles with making contact, but to a much more concerning degree for the 6’5 slugger. His .263 ISO and multiple batted balls over 115 mph tell us his power is legit, but his sub-65 % zone contact and sub-60% overall contact point to a profile that might not reach his peak potential. Even with small gains in these two areas, this is a player who could hit 30 home runs in the big leagues, but unfortunately, his contact rates are trending in the wrong direction as he moves up levels. Montes is still being valued as a top 40 prospect, but it might be wise to shop him and see if you can get a player who will provide more certain value.
The future is near! 2026 should be the year we see Colt Emerson begin what should be a very long and successful major league career. The 6'0, left-handed swinging shortstop just hits, and did so at three levels in 2025. His season line at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A was .285/.383/.458, 16 HR, 14 SB and an 11.8% walk rate and 17.5% strikeout rate. Emerson is a high-contact hitter with solid power and speed. Many have questions about Emerson's power, and for good reason; he had just six professional home runs before 2025. Emerson has worked hard to get stronger and lift and pull more balls, and it's starting to pay off. Emerson's EVs are up (90th over 104 mph at Triple-A), and he is doing damage when he makes contact (over .400 wOBACON and .171 ISO). Emerson has been regarded as one of the top prospects in recent seasons, but he doesn't generate the same buzz as others because he's not a flashy player. Smart dynasty managers know that flashy doesn't always win, and Emerson, with his across-the-board skillset, is a winning player. - Greg Hoogkamp
With four above-average or better pitches and average or better command, Anderson provides a good amount of polish coming out of the college ranks, and with projection remaining in his 6'2, 180 lb frame, he couldn't have landed in a better organization to get the most out of him than the Mariners. They must have been thrilled to see him fall to them at the number three pick in the draft, and any dynasty manager with the third overall pick in their FYPD should feel exactly the same if he falls to them as well. Depending on whether your league allows players from Asia to be drafted in the FYPD, Anderson could be an easy 1.01 pick in a class full of uncertainty. This is a high-floor right-hander who should move quickly through the minor leagues. - Kyle Sonntag
With great power comes great hit tool concern for many prospects, and Montes serves as a quintessential illustration of this phenomenon. Still just 21 years old, the 6’5, 210 lb outfielder used his easily-plus-grade pop to crush 32 home runs and post a career-high .263 ISO in 131 games, with his season split nearly evenly between High-A and Double-A. While his ability to demolish a baseball is undeniable, Montes struggled to get his bat on the ball consistently in 2025, especially once he reached Double-A, where he made contact in the strike zone at an abysmal 64% clip, and his whiff rate was an equally alarming 40.9%. Add in his below-average defense, and Montes begins to look a lot like a high-ceiling but low-floor future big leaguer. His remarkable upside makes him a top-40 prospect in baseball for the time being, though his performance in 2026 could push him up or down the list quite a bit. - Lucas Morel
Director of Amateur Scouting, proud to lead and share the team's work. | Check out Path to the Show on Bally Sports Live and College Baseball Now everywhere! | Grateful for family, the Vols, and everyone who reads Prospects Live. | For His Glory.
Director of Amateur Scouting, proud to lead and share the team's work. | Check out Path to the Show on Bally Sports Live and College Baseball Now everywhere! | Grateful for family, the Vols, and everyone who reads Prospects Live. | For His Glory.
Director of Dynasty Content - Canadian born and raised, moved to Arkansas with my wife and two sons Ezra and Ari. Followed and played baseball my whole life; played dynasty for 25+ years.
Director of Dynasty Content - Canadian born and raised, moved to Arkansas with my wife and two sons Ezra and Ari. Followed and played baseball my whole life; played dynasty for 25+ years.
Director of Dynasty Content - Canadian born and raised, moved to Arkansas with my wife and two sons Ezra and Ari. Followed and played baseball my whole life; played dynasty for 25+ years.
As Director of Pro Scouting, I lead a talented group of evaluators as we break down future stars. You can find me at random California League games throughout the season!
A Giants fan living in San Diego, been playing fantasy baseball since 2005 and dynasty since 2021. Started the Dynasty Baseball Pickups podcast in June 2023 and joined Prospects Live in March of 2024.
Dynasty player of 10+ years. Helping you find the building blocks of your championship rosters as a co-host on the Dynasty Baseball Pickups podcast since mid-season 2023, joined Prospects Live at the start of 2024.
