
The Seattle Mariners will be one of the most well-represented teams when the 2026 World Baseball Classic takes place from March 4-15.
Outfielders Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez, Dominic Canzone, pitchers Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, Andres Munoz, Matt Brash, Eduard Bazardo, Jurrangelo Cijntje and infielders Michael Arroyo and Josh Naylor are among the players who could suit up for their respective countries. Arozarena is already confirmed.
Those aforementioned players could suit up for a variety of countries, including Team USA, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Canada, Venezuela, Italy, the Netherlands and Colombia.
Brash and Naylor are the players expected to compete for their native Canada and they could, apparently, be joined by another former Seattle pitcher.
According to a report from Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, team Canada manager Ernie Whitt said the nation is lobbying for former Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton to come out of retirement.
Paxton played 12 seasons in the major leagues from 2013-24. He retired after the '24 season. The 6-foot-4, 37-year-old nicknamed "The Big Maple" has never competed for Canada in the WBC despite his decade-plus major league career.
Paxton spent seven years of his career in the Pacific Northwest. He was drafted by the Mariners in the fourth round of the 2010 MLB Draft.
Paxton played for Seattle from 2013-18 and had a two-year stop with the New York Yankees before returning to the M's for 2021 on a one-year deal. Paxton made one start in '21 for Seattle before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery.
Paxton posted a 3.42 ERA with 619 strikeouts in 583.2 innings pitched across 103 games with the Mariners. He posted a 43-26 record.
If Paxton is lured out of retirement to compete in the WBC, he'll (likely) get a chance to play with the present of the organization in Brash and Naylor.
Brash posted a career-best 2.47 ERA in 2025. He fanned 58 batters in 47.1 innings pitched across 53 outings. He had 21 holds and had four saves in five opportunities.
Naylor, who was acquired by Seattle in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 24, scored 32 runs in 54 games, and hit 10 doubles and nine home runs with 33 RBIs. He slashed .299/.341/.490 with an .831 OPS and stole 19 bases in as many opportunities. He signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract with the M's this offseason.
Canada is in the Pool A of the WBC, which will compete from March 6-11 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. If Naylor, Brash and Paxton are all on team Canada, they could compete against Colombia in Pool A play. If all players are confirmed for their respective rosters, Naylor, Brash and Paxton (Canada) could face Arroyo (Colombia) and that would offer a display of the Mariners' past, present and future.
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