Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo earned a $1.5 million bonus from the pre-arbitration pool on Tuesday because of his outstanding work in the 2025 season. 

The 25-year-old went 15-7 with a 2.94 ERA over 30 starts, striking out 198 batters in 186.2 innings. He was one of the most reliable and consistent starters in the American League, earning an All-Star Game appearance and finishing fifth in the American League Cy Young voting.

When it came to the 2025 Mariners, Woo was absolutely the ace.

The question I have moving forward? How will the Mariners treat and view him in 2026 and beyond?

Why I ask: Status in a rotation matters

While most athletes you talk to will tout the importance of team success (and most of them mean it), they also know that individual accomplishment, experience and respect matter a lot. There is a hierarchy in the clubhouse, in a lineup, on a staff and in a bullpen that plays into at least some organization decisions.

So, with that in mind, will the Mariners give Woo the No. 1 starter designation in 2026? Will he start on Opening Day? If it's a game of "what have you done for me lately?, it would be deserved. If it's a game of "have you proven it over and over again and earned it?, it might be a different answer.

The dynamics at play 

Logan Gilbert is older than Woo, more experienced, and also an All-Star. He also started on Opening Day in 2025, solidifying himself as the new ace of the staff and taking that role over from Luis Castillo. Castillo has started two Opening Day's for Seattle.

Would manager Dan Wilson push them aside in response to Woo's dominant season? Would Wilson push Gilbert to the No. 2 spot, and then bump George Kirby or Castillo down into the No. 3 or No. 4 spots? How would all that go over in the clubhouse? Would it matter at all?

At the end of the day

This is the kind of story that sports radio loves to run with, and I will be talking about it on next 'Refuse to Lose' podcast, but players are adaptable. Given that Woo has been with this group for so long, I think the other pitchers would understand it if Wilson went to him on Opening Day.

I think, where things tend to get hairy, is when you bring in an outside arm and just give them something they haven't earned in that clubhouse.

You can hear more of my thoughts in the video player above.

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