Mariners, ROOT Sports streaming deal comes at a perfect time for fans

If you ask any Seattle Mariners fan in the Pacific Northwest what frustrates them most, you might expect them to mention the team’s decades-long World Series drought. But while that does sting, there’s another frustration that has left them disgruntled year after year: broadcast blackouts and the rising cost of watching their team from home.

For too long, Mariners fans have had to jump through hoops just to follow their team — paying for separate streaming services, navigating regional restrictions, and dealing with overpriced packages that offer little else they actually want along with local viewership charges. And let’s be honest (sorry Fubo, no disrespect) that the frustration is real. The outcry has been beyond just audible — it's loud, persistent, and justified.

But finally, the organization has heard us, and just in the nick of time.

As reported by Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times, the Mariners and ROOT Sports announced on Friday the launch of the ROOT Sports Stream app. It's a game-changer for fans across the Mariners’ regional footprint.

This new streaming service provides a direct-to-consumer package that allows fans to watch games without cable, without blackout restrictions, and without the extra headaches that have plagued them for years. The service will be available to fans in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Alaska, and portions of Idaho.

Kevin Martinez, the Mariners' President of Business Operations had this to say:

“Our goal is to connect fans to Mariners baseball in as many ways as possible. The new ROOT SPORTS Stream app is an excellent complement to the existing, valuable partnerships ROOT SPORTS has with TV providers to bring Mariners baseball to all fans in the Pacific Northwest.”

The best part? The price is just $19.99 per month.

For fans who have been shelling out upwards of $80 a month just to access ROOT Sports through traditional cable and other streaming packages, this is a massive win.

Now, instead of overpaying for one channel buried in a bloated package, they can simply subscribe and stream games directly on their mobile devices and smart TVs. It’s a move that’s been years in the making, and credit goes to Martinez and the Mariners for recognizing the frustrations of their fanbase and finally addressing them head-on.

This isn’t just about convenience — it’s about inclusivity. It’s about acknowledging that modern fans consume sports differently and making sure that everyone, regardless of their cable situation, can watch the team they love.

Now, if only the Mariners can deliver something else fans have been waiting on — a championship in 2025.