MLB insider hit the nail on the head before Mariners demoted Colt Emerson

This past week saw MLB Network's Jon Morosi discuss the Mariners' dilemma with Colt Emerson, during an appearance on Seattle Sports with Dave Wyman and Bob Stelton. The 20-year-old has since been reassigned to minor league camp, but don't believe for one moment that the situation surrounding him has now been resolved.

Emerson is expected to begin the 2026 season in Triple-A Tacoma, which was the prevailing sentiment from early on in spring training. However, ahead of Saturday's announcement that he was being reassigned, the combination of some promising performances and J.P. Crawford's ongoing shoulder issue seemed to set up a genuine shot at making the Opening Day roster for the Mariners.

This in turn would have led to the predicament of how Emerson's presence on the Major League roster could impact other Mariners players. As Morosi said to Wyman and Stelton on Thursday: "If (Colt) Emerson is on the club, he has to start a majority of the games ... you can't bring him up and sit him."

Colt Emerson plus J.P. Crawford equals an uncomfortable situation for the Mariners

The additional implication was that you also couldn't sit Crawford in favor of Emerson if both players were on the roster, but where would this have left the Mariners' top-rated prospect? Really the only way you could have had both involved, was if All-Star utility trade acquisition Brendan Donovan was needed somewhere other than at third base.

Some will think this is no longer a problem after Emerson was reassigned, but can you really see him being banished to Triple-A for the entire season? As much as we appreciate that some more time in Tacoma can't hurt after only six appearances there last season, his .364 batting average and 1.172 OPS alludes to the question of how much more experience he really needs.

Emerson entered spring training in Peoria with high hopes and brimming full of confidence. And even though he didn't get off to the best of starts, he soon found his rhythm with the bat and finished with a .268 batting average and .828 OPS in 18 Cactus League games.

So, what happens when Emerson does more than likely get called up to the majors, and with it expected to be sooner than later? As mentioned, it would take the Mariners needing Donovan somewhere other than at third base to have both the 2023 first-round draft pick and Crawford playing regularly in the lineup.

Three possible solutions, albeit none which the Mariners would prefer come to fruition

One possibility is if Donovan has to play at second base, but this would require the doubtful scenario of Cole Young struggling. He turned up at camp looking stronger and leaner following some pointed advice from Julio Rodríguez, and after starting just 2-for-15 with seven strikeouts he's since caught fire and is overall now batting .302 with a 1.090 OPS.

Another more possible scenario is if the platoon of Luke Raley and Victor Robles falters in right field, with Donovan having considerable experience in the outfield as recently as 2024. However, what happens if neither of these scenarios come to fruition? (Which the Mariners will be hoping is the case.)

There is a chance that Emerson doesn't get out of Triple-A all season if he happens to pull a 2024 Jackson Holliday, but there isn't really much point banking on this. As such, would it then take the uncomfortable decision of trading Crawford to resolve the issue of playing time when the young infielder is called up to the majors?

In reality a trade of the Crawford is obviously not going to happen now, especially when you consider how much it could disrupt the clubhouse given his standing as a leader and popular teammate. (The last thing you need following the whole Handshakegate fiasco with Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh.) As such, as much as Emerson is not an issue right now, expect the dilemma surrounding him to loom large over the Mariners organization throughout the 2026 season.