In the aftermath of the Seattle Mariners’ electric 2026 season, speculation has already begun about what lies ahead for the franchise. While some fans may call the early predictions a jinx, others see them as inevitable.
The Mariners are long overdue for a World Series appearance. After years of steady growth and a breakthrough postseason run, many believe that Seattle is almost there. National writers are starting agree. From MLB’s Will Leitch to ESPN’s Buster Olney, projections for the Mariners’ future suggest not just a championship, but a potentially long-term run for the team.
Experts Predict a World Series Window Opening in Seattle
Will Leitch recently ranked teams most likely to win at least one of the next 10 World Series. Beginning with the 2026 season and ending in 2035. He placed the Mariners second overall, behind only the Dodgers.
“Sure, it was a heartbreaker to lose the American League Championship Series like that,” Leitch wrote, “but this team has felt like one that’s on the way up for a few years now. Last year might have just been the first step.”
Leitch highlighted Seattle’s combination of youth and depth thanks to their strong farm system that rivals Los Angeles. He also noted that the Mariners’ major league current roster is notably younger. Julio Rodríguez, who just turned 25, anchors a lineup in which every regular starter is younger than multiple Dodgers’ key players.
Leitch also emphasized the growing expectations of a fanbase that has finally tasted postseason success.
“The Mariners also have a fanbase that, now that it has tasted success, is only going to want more,” he wrote. “Seattle is extremely well-positioned over the next decade to finally make (and win) that first World Series. That’s a very scary thing to say out loud — just ask any Mariners fan.”
Rounding out Leitch’s top 10 were the Blue Jays, Mets, Red Sox, Phillies, Orioles, Cubs, Padres, and Athletics.
What Olney Has to Say
Leitch’s long-term prediction is one Mariners fans can get on board with. However, ESPN’s Buster Olney’s opinion wasn’t as well received in the Pacific Northwest. Yes, Olney projected the Mariners to win the 2026 World Series, but he labeled this take as bold while also laying out a long-term plan for how it would happen.
“This will be the year that Julio Rodriguez fully emerges as one of the game’s best players,” Olney wrote. “Cal Raleigh continues his reign as the best catcher in the majors and Colt Emerson is promoted to the big leagues in May and wins the AL Rookie of the Year Award.”
For many fans, the prediction doesn’t feel far-fetched at all. After a wildly successful 2025 season, confidence around the organization has never been higher. Olney calling his prediction bold was a little off to some Mariners’ fans.
Olney didn’t stop there. He suggested that the Mariners were entering a stretch of dominance comparable to the 2015-2024 Astros. While fans appreciate the prediction, it puts pressure on a team that has yet to make a World Series appearance.
Only time will tell if these projections come true. For the first time in years, fans and analysts talk about the Mariners not just as a feel-good story, but as serious contenders, and possibly something more.
Seattle Mariners World Series Predictions Gain Momentum