SEATTLE -- The Mariners have locked up their class from the 2026 MLB Draft. The club has reached agreements with each of the 18 picks that they anticipated would sign, a source told MLB.com over the weekend, though it has not yet made a formal announcement. First-rounder Ace Reese is expected to be in Seattle on Tuesday to put pen to paper then go through the standard meet-and-greets with team brass and his future teammates. The only picks that the Mariners did not reach agreements with were 18th-rounder Dominic Santarelli and 20th-rounder Connor Shouse, though that was expected. Here’s a full breakdown of the terms for all 18 selections (all picks agreed at slot value unless specified, and Rounds 11-20 do not have slot values): |
- Round 1 (No. 24 overall): Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State -- $3.5 million (slot value $3,818,700)
- Round 2 (No. 65): Jake Brown, OF, LSU -- $1,382,600
- Round 3 (No. 101): Nathan Taylor, RHP, Cincinnati -- $778,200
- Round 4 (No. 129): Trevor Lucas, 3B, UNC Wilmington -- $450,000 (slot value $591,700)
- Round 5 (No. 162): Hayden Yost, OF, Florida --- $415,000 (slot value $429,100)
- Round 6 (No. 191): Henry Ford, 3B, Tennessee -- $335,900
- Round 7 (No. 220): Ryan Wynn, SS, Georgia --- $350,000 (slot value $266,100)
- Round 8 (No. 250): Mason Eckelman, C, Ohio State -- $220,900
- Round 9 (No. 280): Drew Whalen, RHP, Auburn -- $250,000 (slot value $202,700)
- Round 10 (No. 310): Eric Jeon, 2B, Stanford -- $220,000 (slot value $192,300)
- Round 11 (No. 340): Wyatt Queen, RHP, Oregon State -- $275,000
- Round 12 (No. 370): Connor Marshburn, RHP, UNC Wilmington -- $200,000
- Round 13 (No. 400): Anthony Treto, RHP, Tarleton State -- $150,000
- Round 14 (No. 430): Chris Diaz, RHP, Florida Gulf Coast -- $275,000
- Round 15 (No. 460): Charlie Sutherland, OF, Minnesota -- $150,000
- Round 16 (No. 490): Chris Torres, LHP, U South Carolina Upstate -- $150,000
- Round 17 (No. 520): Matthew Matthijs, RHP, North Carolina -- $75,000
- Round 19 (No. 580): Michael Petite, OF, Virginia Commonwealth -- $150,000
Of note, the Mariners came in just under their bonus pool of $8,218,200, which only accounts for Rounds 1-10 and which was the sport’s seventh-lowest. The latter was a byproduct of picking later in each round after their deep postseason run, and that they did not have Competitive Balance Round picks this season. Their total commitment to Rounds 1-10 picks was $8,202,600 -- as the higher bonuses in Rounds 11, 12, 14 (anything beyond $150,000 after Round 10) are counted towards the bonus pool. |
Another factor in the club not using its full allotment was due to some of their higher-round picks agreeing under slot value -- such as Reese and fourth-rounder Trevor Lucas, a third baseman out of UNC Wilmington -- as well as how the Draft unfolded. The Mariners had pocketed roughly $460,000 after Day 1 by agreeing with those players under slot, then they intended to go after at least one high-upside high-schooler in the early rounds of Day 2. However, they could not align on price points as those picks were approaching, so they pivoted to a more down-the-middle approach. It’s also why the Mariners wound up exclusively with college selections throughout their 20 picks, except for Santarelli, who they knew they likely wouldn’t sign due to his strong commitment to LSU. Again, it’s relatively common for teams to not retain late-round picks, especially high-schoolers who want to go to college and improve their stock. This was not as robust of a Draft for high-school talent, many in the industry have suggested. “Once we got done on Day 1 and the first part of Day 2, we looked up and really looked at it and said, 'Wow, we have a really good crop of college guys,’” Mariners vice president of amateur scouting Scott Hunter said. “You always think college guys are mature and at their max. But there's a lot of projectability in a lot of the guys we took [on Day 2] that I think we think we're getting on the right point of their career arc that's going to be even better than what they're showing right now.” Each of the 18 selections have already reported to the club’s Spring Training facility in Arizona for a rookie camp. The lone exception is Reese, so he can go through Tuesday’s formal announcement. He’ll join the rest of the Draft class in the desert immediately after. |
|
|
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
|
|
For those following closely on the farm, you might’ve noticed that Michael Arroyo has been absolutely raking since being promoted to Triple-A Tacoma on July 7. After going 1-for-4 on Sunday, he’s now 14-for-40 with two homers, one triple and two doubles in nine games with the Rainiers, for a slash line of .350/.391/.600 (.991 OPS). This comes after he posted a slash line of .287/.364/.456 (.820 OPS) with 10 homers, one triple and 12 doubles over 65 games at Double-A Arkansas. He’s also been crushing left-handed pitching, now 8-for-11 at Tacoma and with a .843 OPS overall against southpaws in 2026. Though it’s not immediately likely, the Mariners haven’t ruled out Arroyo being in the mix for the big league club during its stretch run in September. It’s largely why he’s spending more time in left field (seven games at Tacoma) than second base (two games), to get him more acclimated to the position -- a just-in-case measure to keep all options open. Arroyo, 21, is in his sixth season of pro ball, having signed with Seattle in the 2022 international class for $1.375 million. He’s rapidly climbed the prospect rankings -- now the club’s No. 4 and MLB Pipeline’s No. 41 overall. |
MARINERS.TV LANDS SPONSOR |
The club announced over the weekend that PEMCO Insurance is now the presenting sponsor of Mariners.TV. “This is a continuation of our effort to partner with the strongest brands in our region to create unique opportunities for our fans. Our partnership with PEMCO is yet another example of an authentic relationship centered around shared values, commitment to community and deep ties to the Pacific Northwest,” Chris Voigt, Mariners senior vice president of corporate sponsorships, said in a statement. |
50 Seasons Celebration Weekend • Aug. 7 -- Alumni Home Run Derby Night presented by Muckleshoot Casino Resort: Don’t miss an epic postgame competition as Ichiro and more swing for the fences. Buy Tickets » • Aug. 8 -- 50 Seasons Celebration Night presented by Daktronics: Witness the most iconic gathering of franchise greats as the Top 50 Mariners Players are unveiled and honored at T-Mobile Park. Buy Tickets » • Aug. 9 -- 50 Seasons Pin Day presented by KeyBank: As part of this season's collectible pin series, the first 10,000 fans will score a 50 Seasons Pin to add to their collection. Buy Tickets » Mariners Suites Are you planning an event this summer? Check out a Mariners Suite. The perfect venue for all kinds of events, from birthday parties and family celebrations to client meetings and company outings. Enjoy customizable set-ups, first-class catering and private entry & parking. Book now at Mariners.com/Suites. |
|
|
FORWARDED FROM A FRIEND? SUBSCRIBE NOW |
To subscribe to Mariners Beat, visit this page and mark "Mariners Beat" from our newsletter list. Make sure you're following the Mariners or that they're checked as your favorite team. |
|
|
|
