According to an ESPN reporter about 3 minutes ago, following the confirmation that $40.4 million was formally paid to Ryan Bliss, the franchise and first-choice second baseman for the Seattle Mariners, after his departure was officially confirmed following his misunderstanding with the team over a two-year contract extension, which was reported that he turned down due to personal reasons that were not reviewed as the head coach announced, as ESPN announced, the franchise second baseman was also reported to have officially rejected the Toronto Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks blockbuster deal due to…

Mariners Observations: What stood out from opening day win

SEATTLE – Baseball season is back, and the Seattle Mariners are back to their winning ways on opening day.

Recap: Polanco, Arozarena HRs lift Mariners over A’s 4-2 in opener

The Mariners knocked off the American League West-rival Athletics 4-2 Thursday night in front of a boisterous T-Mobile Park crowd. With the win, Seattle improved to 30-19 all-time on opening day, the best mark by an active AL team.

Here are four things that stood out from the victory.

Hip, hip Jorge!
Jorge Polanco’s first season with the Seattle Mariners was a disappointing one, but he was the hero of Game 1 of the 2025 season.

Polanco finished 3 for 3 on the night with a pair of singles and the go-ahead two-run home run that put the Mariners up for good in the bottom of the eighth inning. For reference, he didn’t have his first multi-hit game of 2024 until May 1.

When the Mariners traded for Polanco before the 2024 season, the hope was that he would come in and be a difference-making bat in the middle the lineup. He certainly wasn’t that, but a good start to 2025 might be just what he needs to regain the form he showed in Minnesota, where he had a .780 OPS over 10 seasons.

Considering the questions facing the M’s infield coming into this season, a rebound from Polanco is one of the things the team needs most to get back to the playoffs.