Last year, the Seattle Mariners entered the spring with questions concerning no less than three infield positions.

Over the course of the year, the Mariners threw out several choices at those aforementioned positions trying to find some combination that worked. Those players included, but weren't limited to: Dylan Moore, Donovan Solano, Rowdy Tellez, Cole Young, Ben Williamson, Jorge Polanco, Leo Rivas and Ryan Bliss.

Seattle doesn't have nearly as many questions this year when it comes to who will be the lineup, but that doesn't mean it's set in stone.

The Mariners acquired 2025 All-Star infielder Brendan Donovan in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals the week before pitchers and catchers reported to Peoria, Ariz. So far, Donovan is spending the lion's share of his reps at third base.

Donovan at the hot corner would leave second base as the only position still undecided, with former top 100 prospect Young, who made his major league debut in 2025, as the favorite to start Opening Day on March 26.

However, Seattle is willing to be flexible with that arrangement.

Donovan's positional versatility would allow him to move to second if need-be, and the team is getting a look at several of its young, promising infielders at both second and the hot corner.

"(Cole Young) comes in as the favorite if I were a betting man," Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said in a radio appearance on 93.3 KJR FM on Monday. "But there are a lot of good players in this camp. All age-22 or younger. Cole Young, I mentioned, Michael Arroyo and, obviously, Colt Emerson. We're getting Michael some reps at third base, Colt Emerson is taking some reps at third base. (Emerson's) played both shortstop and second base. Again, versatility is the key depending on who takes the step forward with the bat."

Arroyo (No. 67 MLB Pipeline top 100) has spent the majority of his career in the minors at second base and there was chatter this offseason about the team moving him to left field.

The 21-year-old hitter will be away from the team while he plays with with Team Colombia for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Due this his possible lengthy absence from the team's complex, it's reasonable to assume the team wants to get a look at him at a variety of roles before he returns from the international competition.

Arroyo slashed .262/.401/.433 with an .834 OPS across 121 games with the High-A Everett AquaSox and Double-A Arkansas Travelers last season.

Emerson (No. 9 MLB Pipeline) entered the spring expecting to potentially compete for third base before the M's acquired Donovan. He slashed .285/.383/.458 with an .841 OPS and hit 28 doubles, six triples and 16 homers with 78 RBIs across 130 games with High-A, Double-A and the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.

In his first season in the major leagues last year, Young slashed .211/.302/.305 with a .607 OPS in 77 games and hit seven doubles, a triple and four home runs with 24 RBIs.

As it currently stands, based on Dipoto's comments, the Mariners have Donovan penciled in at third base and Young at second.

But there does seem to be a route to Donovan either moving to second to allow either Arroyo or Emerson to play third, or for Emerson to supplant Young as the team's starting second baseman.

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