It would be easy to look ahead, but the M's can't afford to do that.
If you listen to the Seattle Mariners talk in spring training, the message is clear.
This team wants to win a World Series. They are talking openly about it. They are no longer content with just making the playoffs. They want that to be routine. What they also want is that elusive World Series appearance and the also-elusive ring that comes with winning it.
After knocking down the American League West division title door in 2025 and after taking the American League Championship Series to seven games, it's easy to understand why the M's have bigger goals. They've nearly been to the top of the mountain. Now? They want to conquer it.
It would be human nature if the Mariners wanted to fast-forward to October again. Because they've won before, it would be understandable if they just assumed they can win once more.
But that's not the way that baseball works. The minute you take things for granted is the minute you get passed. The moment you look ahead is the moment that you get run over.
Manager Dan Wilson on Feb. 12. Matt Kartozian-Imagn ImagesSo how do the Mariners avoid those pitfalls in 2026 and how do they fall in love with the daily grind once again?
"Yeah. I mean, that's a huge thing," said manager Dan Wilson at the Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday. "And I think that goes back to what we've been talking about. You've got to stay present. You've got to stay here and in the moment. And, you know, goals are great, but if you just focus on the goal and you forget about the steps it takes to get to that goal, that's not good. And so I think our first step in getting to where we want to go is spring training. And using this time as a time of preparation. And that's where we're headed. And it kind of starts tomorrow as we start the games."
The M's open up Cactus League play on Friday afternoon at 12:10 p.m. PT against the San Diego Padres. Wilson announced that Dane Dunning will start that contest and he spoke more about the plans for the early spring on Thursday as well.
Also to know
--The Mariners reportedly signed catcher Mitch Garver to a minor league deal on Wednesday and he's expected to be in camp by the end of the week. Garver spent the last two years with the Mariners, hitting 24 home runs. We took a look at the full situation here.
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