The new-look Mariners offense is already making wild MLB history

The Seattle Mariners have been unstoppable recently. The highs of an eight-game win streak have officially tied the team with the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West. And while Houston is sputtering, Seattle seems to have plenty of gas left in the tank.

However, the success of the team is being driven by what some might consider to be a surprising part of the roster.

Over the past few years, the Mariners have become known for having outstanding pitching and lackluster offense. In 2024, the team combined for an OPS of .687 (22nd in MLB) and an ERA of 3.49 (2nd in MLB). Unfortunately, the lopsided abilities of the team haven't been enough to get them to a playoff berth since 2022. And for a few years, it seemed like the front office's unwillingness to pay a premium for offensive upgrades in the offseason would prevent the team from ever being a serious postseason contender.

With their hitting woes fixed, the Seattle Mariners have turned into one of the most well-rounded teams in MLB

As it turns out, perhaps the organization knew something that fans didn't because this season, Seattle has become an offensive force to be reckoned with. Through internal improvements and big acquisitions at the deadline, they've continued to tear it up at the plate and on the basepaths. Since July 31st, they've hit 19 home runs (tied for 3rd in MLB) and stolen 22 bases (1st in MLB), making some interesting history along the way:

Josh Naylor has been the crown jewel of this year's trade acquisitions, posting an unreal 158 OPS+ over his first 16 games with the team and already accumulating as much rWAR than he did during the 93 games he played with the Arizona Diamondbacks. His numbers have been so good that there have already been discussions of potentially extending a free agent contract to him in the offseason.

Eugenio Suárez, on the other hand, has gone completely cold since returning to Seattle. Over the first 11 games of his second stint with the Mariners, he has an OPS+ of -5 while slashing .098/.136/.195 over 44 plate appearances. Outside of the intangible benefits of having an old friend return to the locker room, his on-field impact on the team has been largely negative. Still, with the support of other players like Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena, and the aforementioned Naylor, he still has a chance to warm back up without totally sinking the team's hopes.

What seemed like a good chance to make the playoffs now seems like a near certainty. FanGraphs has the odds set at 95.4 percent with a 57.0 percent chance to win the division. At their current pace, they could be in shape to make quite the run in October, but Mariners fans are all too familiar with the dangers of looking too far in the future. With this team, catastrophe could strike at any moment and it's rarely too late for the season to slip out of their grasp.

Nonetheless, the momentum is strong and the vibes are good. Just as it's dangerous to be too optimistic in the moment, it's equally as risky to be so cynical that you miss the chance to get in while the going's good.