Lazaro Montes and Michael Arroyo both got promoted to Triple-A on Sunday night, but what does it mean for the Mariners moving forward?
On Sunday night, reports surfaced that the Seattle Mariners are promoting top prospects Lazaro Montes and Michael Arroyo to Triple-A Tacoma. Both players had spent the entirety of 2026 with Double-A Arkansas after getting promoted there last season.
Getting promoted to Triple-A obviously puts both players one step closer to Seattle, so let's dig a little deeper.
About Montes
Just 21 years old, the Cuba native has drawn comparisons to Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez because of his prodigious power at the plate. In 79 games with Arkansas, Montes is hitting just .234, but Arkansas is a notoriously difficult place to hit. He's got an impressive .369 on-base percentage while also popping 25 homers and driving in 66 runs.
He hit 32 homers a season ago between High-A Everett and Arkansas. He's currently ranked as the No. 26 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline.
About Arroyo
Also 21, Arroyo is ranked as the No. 43 prospect in the game by MLB Pipeline. Just 5-foot-10, he's one of the better pure offensive players in the M's system as well, and he's hitting .287 this season with 10 homers and 40 RBIs. He also has a .364 on-base percentage.
Defensively, he's a tougher case. He is not regarded as a particularly strong second baseman and the M's have begun transitioning him to the outfield as well. He's played 30 games at second base this season, 31 in left field and five at designated hitter.
He also represented Team Colombia at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, serving as the best offensive player in their lineup.
What are their MLB odds this season?
Given that they are in Triple-A and given the production, they both certainly have chances to get there, however, their cases come with complications.
Montes is an outfielder who is more than likely a designated hitter. The Mariners already have Dominic Canzone raking in the DH spot, and even if they don't want to use him there, they need to find time for Cal Raleigh in that spot, and they also need the ability to rotate Brendan Donovan through.
Of course, injury can change things, and the rosters expand to 28 players on Sept. 1, so there is a chance, but it feels like a narrow path right now.
As for Arroyo, his path is also narrow at the moment. If the team sees him as an infielder, they already have Cole Young, JP Crawford, Colt Emerson and Donovan in those roles, and if they see him as an outfielder, then Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez, Canzone, Luke Raley and Victor Robles are already there.
Given that Arroyo has some versatility, he may make more sense as a bench bat or a Sept. 1 call-up, but even then, the playing time would be very sporadic.
What about a trade?
With the trade deadline coming on Aug. 3, is there a chance that the Mariners are trying to put Montes and Arroyo in hitter-friendly environments to potentially inflate their trade value?
It's certainly possible as the M's chase a second straight American League West title.
Also of note
The latest edition of the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast is now out, and it features M's broadcaster Aaron Goldsmith. You can listen here, or you can watch the YouTube player below.
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