Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz is still getting disrespected in RP rankings

Well, the Mariners can win the division, run October through Seattle, and still somehow watch Andrés Muñoz get treated like he’s a solid closer instead of that dude.

ESPN's Buster Olney has Muñoz sixth in his 2026 reliever rankings. MLB Network has him fifth on its “Top 10 Relief Pitchers Right Now” list. And on paper, those slots sound fine — until you remember what Muñoz has actually been doing for two seasons: showing up, shortening games, and making hitters look like they’re late to a train.

Mariners fans have a valid gripe with where Andrés Muñoz keeps landing in reliever rankings

Muñoz didn’t just have a nice 2025. He stacked it on top of a strong 2024. A 2.12 ERA in 2024, then a 1.73 ERA with 38 saves in 2025. That’s a two-season closer run that’s supposed to end the debate, not restart it.

Olney even admits the profile is nasty: four straight seasons with a big ERA+ and opponents held to a .493 OPS — and then he still lands Muñoz sixth, like we’re talking about a dependable setup man instead of the guy Seattle hands the last three outs to.

There’s also a familiar Seattle tax that shows up in these conversations. The park-effect skepticism never really goes away, but last year it didn’t even fit Muñoz. He was actually better on the road, allowing a .434 OPS with zero homers, compared to a .540 OPS at home with two. 

Over the last two seasons combined, Muñoz ranks second in ERA, trailing only Emmanuel Clase (who seems likely to be banned for life), and third in wOBA allowed, behind Clase and Mason Miller. That’s the resume we’re talking about. So when Muñoz is landing fifth or sixth, it doesn’t read like a harmless difference of opinion. It reads like the same old shrug Seattle pitchers get, even when the numbers say he’s been living in the top tier.

So pardon Mariners fans if they throw a tantrum along with us. If you’re building a list of relievers you trust when the season is hanging by a thread, Muñoz shouldn’t keep showing up outside the top three like it’s some polite compromise.