4 Mariners looking for redemption after short-lived 2022 playoff run

Perspective is often an interesting thing, and we can use the Seattle Mariners' playoff history as an example. On the one hand, this will be just their second excursion into the playoffs since 2001. On another, this is their second trip in four seasons, with them missing out by only one game in the standings on the other two occasions.

Irrespective of the perspective though, the Mariners are preparing for one of their most important playoff campaigns in franchise history, with so much promise for a team considered favorites by FanGraphs to advance to the World Series from the AL. Let's take a look at four players who need to do a lot better than the last time the M's appeared in the playoffs.

4 Mariners looking for redemption after short-lived 2022 playoff run

1. Cal Raleigh

We begin with the player who is coming off arguably the best ever season in Major League history by a catcher, switch-hitter and Mariner. Cal Raleigh set home run records in all three categories, as he went on to become just the seventh ever player to hit 60 in a season.

Raleigh had a superior season all around as he recorded a whole host of career bests, including an AL-leading 125 RBI, plus a .948 OPS, 169 OPS+ and 7.3 bWAR. Whether he wins AL MVP or not — and he should — he's the heart and soul of the Mariners clubhouse and in many ways as he goes, so does the team.

As such, it's imperative that Raleigh continues his dream-like offensive season into the playoffs, if the Mariners are to advance to the first World Series in franchise history. And he will need to do a lot better than he did versus the Astros in the 2022 ALDS, when he went just 1-for-14 and produced a solitary RBI.

There's plenty of reason for optimism that Raleigh will deliver more in his second excursion into the playoffs, given that he is a better player to the version from 2022. As per Baseball Savant, he ranks in the 99 percentile for Barrel% and 96th percentile in xSLG, while his patience at the plate is better than ever with him ranking in the 95th percentile in BB%.

2. Logan Gilbert

While Bryan Woo is expected to contribute this postseason, with him making encouraging progress from his recent pectoral tightness, one line of thinking is that he shouldn't be the Game 1 starter in the ALDS. This leads to the question of who will get that role and, by extension, could start two games pending how long the series goes — step forward Logan Gilbert.

Some will contend the more experienced Luis Castillo should get the nod, especially after his recent resurgence. However, Gilbert makes a lot of sense, with him taking over as the Opening Day starter in 2025 and going on to have the better campaign than his teammate.

This is not to say Gilbert didn't have his challenges this year, with his campaign compromised by injury and with him not on the same level as 2024, when he had the best season of his career to date. Still, this is someone who is arguably the most dominant and explosive pitcher in the rotation when he's on his game.

Of course being on will be key for a player who was pretty mid in his one and only start playoff start to date, in Game 1 of the 2022 ALDS versus the Astros in Houston. Gilbert allowed five hits, two walks and three earned runs over 5.1 innings in what was eventually a 8-7 loss. The M's will be hoping and needing more from someone who is now even more important to the rotation.

3. Andrés Muñoz

Andrés Muñoz got off to a ridiculously hot start to 2025, not allowing a single earned run in his first 24 appearances. While he endured some challenges during the second half of the season, overall he had an excellent campaign highlighted by a career-low 1.73 ERA and the third-most saves in the majors with a personal best of 38.

As for the playoffs, it's a case of finding out if Muñoz is now in a better position to succeed on the bigger stage, with him having added two All-Star selections to his name since his first postseason in 2022. Back then he had his issues, as highlighted by allowing six hits, three walks and three earned runs in 5.2 combined innings.

It was against the Astros that Muñoz really struggled, with him allowing five hits, two walks and all of the aforementioned three earned runs in three combined innings. The Marines would understandably much prefer the version who only allowed one hit and one walk in two combined innings in the Wild Card round against the Toronto Blue Jays.

One thing to keep an eye on with Muñoz is his propensity to give up free passes, with Baseball Savant ranking him in the 11th percentile for BB%. In fairness though, there's a lot more to be positive about, including ranking in the 98th percentile for Whiff%, as well as the 96th percentile for both K% and Fastball Velo.

4. Julio Rodríguez

As much as Raleigh is the heart and soul of the Mariners, Julio Rodríguez is the most talented player on the team, to the point of being regarded as a generational superstar in waiting. The five-tool ability is there, but such is the ceiling for the 24-year-old that there are many who believe he has yet to fulfil his potential.

We can appreciate why this narrative exists on some levels. However, in many ways Rodríguez is underrated both in Seattle and beyond, with the first four seasons of his Major League career actually being comparable to a certain Ken Griffey Jr.

No matter the opinion of what Rodríguez has achieved to date, what can be agreed is that he needs to step up in the playoffs and help lead the Mariners' charged to the promised land. And as with the others three players on this list, that means doing better than he did in 2022.

While Rodríguez hit just .217 with no homers during the 2022 playoffs, it's noteworthy that he was the opposite to Raleigh, Gilbert and Muñoz in that he was the only one to actually perform well against the Astros. However, it again alludes to his potential, that even more than the .896 OPS over three games in that ALDS will be expected from the three-time All-Star.