IF YOU'RE PATIENT, THEY WILL COME.
Have the Mariners built the "Infield of their Dreams"?
No.
There are better, more complete infields on several Major League ballclubs.
But did the Mariners' plan for building their infield for 2026 and beyond come together this offseason?
Absolutely.
And although patience wasn't always required to do so, it turns out that patience is indeed a virtue. I guess William Langland (I had to look that up) was right. My grandmother, too (didn't have to look it up). Or was it Axel Rose? I always get those two confused.
The St. Louis Cardinals made Utility Infielder Brendan Donovan available this offseason. And the Mariners weren't shy about raising their paddle to get in on the bidding. Seattle executives have publicly remarked that they've never had to exercise such patience to swing a deal. They worked on the Donovan trade for MONTHS, but in the end they got their man.
The left-handed hitting Donovan is a clubhouse dream, a 280 career hitter, a rolling ball of dirt on the basepaths and a versatile defender that will allow the organization to move him around as necessary, and primarily pending the activation of the M's top prospect. In other words, Donovan is scheduled to be Seattle's starting third baseman, but (MLB's 9th overall ranked prospect) Colt Emerson just might bump him to 2nd.
"I'll play wherever they want me to," Donovan told Chuck & Buck. "I just want to play."
20-year old Colt Emerson expressed similar remarks. Like so many top prospects, Emerson was raised at shortstop. And although he's likely to be JP Crawford's successor, the changing of the guard isn't likely to happen until 2027. Emerson's path to The Show in 2026 seems likely at 2nd or 3rd.
THE 2026 Mariners Camp Battle is undoubtedly at 2nd base. The participants? Emerson, 22-year old Cole Young (who cut his major league teeth last season to mixed results), Ryan Bliss (last year's Opening Day starter who is recovered from last year's season ending biceps tear and claims he used the offseason to become faster) and postseason hero Leo Rivas (though Rivas told Chuck & Buck he's pretty much resigned to filling a roster spot as an utility infielder).
Young seems to be the favorite to win the job, but the organization is not going to block Emerson due to his tender age and total lack of MLB experience. The 2026 Seattle Mariners have their eye on winning the World Series. They won't stand on ceremony. They'll stand on bi'ness. If Emerson seizes a roster spot this Spring, be it at 2nd or 3rd base, the Mariners won't stand in his way.
Patience again will rule. Perhaps it's Emerson who will have to be just “a little patient, yah, yah, yah”? Or perhaps it’s Cole Young? Perhaps the rehabbed Bliss? And certainly the Mariners front office knows how to be patient. It's the mother of activation in MLB. Knowing the right time to launch a prospect into the fire, or keep him away from the flames, so that he doesn't start his big league career by getting singed.
And finally, there is 1st base. Patience landed Josh Naylor at the 2025 Trade Deadline. But in an effort to keep Naylor, who won over the city in a short time, they didn't need to wait long at all. Turns out, the city won over Naylor, too. And now the stocky, Cheshire-Cat-smiling Naylor is wearing a Cooper Kupp Seahawk jersey while taking infield with his now permanent teammates, and seems to be seen at ten Kraken games per year.
He's one of us now. And according to those who know him, he couldn't be happier about making Seattle his home. And Mariners fans couldn't be happier to have a firstbaseman they know will be penciled into the lineup every game.
The Infield of Dreams hasn't come from Iowa or from Heaven, it hasn't made its way from out of the cornfield or whispered mysteries into our ears. The 2026 Mariners infield was assembled through trades, free agency, draft and development. They've been acquired through patience.
Thanks Grandma. You were right.