Seattle, WA

Drayer: Seattle Mariners weren't done – How Polanco addition fits

Published

2 years ago

January 30, 2024

Drayer: Seattle Mariners weren't done – How Polanco addition fits

After the Seattle Mariners’ trades that brought in Mitch Haniger, Anthony DeScalfani and Luke Raley to the Seattle Mariners three weeks ago had been completed, there was a clear air of relief in a reply to a question posed to president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto.

Mariners Trade Breakdown: Who is new 2B Jorge Polanco?

“I feel like today is the first time all offseason that we can say if we were playing the opening day game tomorrow, we feel good about the team that we have,” Dipoto said in the media call later that Jan. 5 evening. “It’s a complete team.”

While some interpreted that as “the Mariners are done this winter,” in reality it was a statement of fact – and a significant accomplishment given the turn the offseason had taken early on, with Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander needing to subtract from the roster before they added due to financial constraints.

For the vast majority of the offseason there were missing pieces – vital pieces. And no, the plan was not to just fill them with utility players. Nonetheless, it was an uncomfortable place to be.

On Jan. 5, they felt they could at least field a good team with the numbers adding up at most positions, some via the platoon, but the hope was they could add.

The target: Jorge Polanco.

Mariners make trade with Twins for All-Star Jorge Polanco

“He’s a guy that we have liked and tried to acquire for years,” said Hollander. “I think I personally made more calls on this trade than I ever have on any trade before at the behest of both my own want to add him to our group, so a really big day for us. (I) feel like it makes us a lot better and excited to add him.”

The addition of the switch-hitting Polanco at second base will eliminate a planned platoon at that position, likely moving it to third base where the platoon can be better utilized with Luis Urías and Josh Rojas.

Instant Reaction: Drayer with Wyman and Bob on trade for Polanco

“The switch-hit is huge for us the way our team is constructed,” said Hollander. “To have a guy who’s platoon neutral who can hit in the middle of our lineup from either side is a big advantage for Scott (Servais) as he stacks the lineup up to be able to go left, right, switch.”

Polanco, who hit primarily in the top three spots of the order for the Twins in recent years, could slide into the No. 3 spot for the Mariners, solidifying the top of the order before mixing and matching through the middle. The addition gives length to the lineup, and it builds a stronger bench. One of Mitch Haniger, Dominic Canzone or Luke Raley will be available off the bench each night, plus utility player Dylan Moore, catcher Seby Zavala, and Rojas or Urías.

The addition did come at a price both in the immediate and perhaps future, though, with outfielder and top-100 prospect Gabriel Gonzalez and pitching prospect Darren Bowen included in the trade. Off the big league roster, the Mariners could afford to lose the recently acquired DeScalfani, but key reliever Justin Topa will need to be replaced.

“I definitely do want to take a moment to praise Topa on this call,” Hollander said to the media Monday night. “Justin Topa was awesome for us last year. From Day 1 of spring training, he showed up. He was open to coaching, he was open to new ideas, worked his butt off to make sure he stayed on the mound every day. He was available to us and got huge outs for us all year long. Topa was great, we’ll have to replace that. I think it most likely will be internally with a possibility, like always, that we could add externally as well.”

The bullpen does appear to be thin in established talent, but a strength of the Mariners in recent years has been in uncovering pitching gems. Is the next Topa or even Paul Sewald in the current group of spring training invitees? There are candidates with Jackson Kowar, Carlos Vargas and Prelander Berroa all possessing stuff, though none have yet put it together at the big league level.

Time will tell how it all shakes out, but on paper – multiple projection systems ranked the Mariners second in the division before Monday’s trade – this team is better than the team that finished last season.

Pitchers (and it’s very worth noting the starting five was kept intact) and catchers report to spring training in just over two weeks.

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Mariners sign utility player who is married to Hollywood star
• Baseball America’s Glaser: Mariners prospect Emerson ‘on a rocket’
• Video: Grading Seattle Mariners’ offseason with Mike Salk and Shannon Drayer
• Close Look: Two Mariners legends set to enter Baseball Hall of Fame race
• The fun story of how Cal Raleigh heard about Haniger’s Seattle Mariners return

Follow @shannondrayer

Source link

Related Topics:Featured Home MyNorthwest.com MyNorthwest.com - Seattle news Sports talk and community.traffic weather

Click to comment

Seattle, WA

Game Preview #47: Seattle Kraken @ New Jersey Devils

Published

2 hours ago

January 14, 2026

Press Room

Game Preview #47: Seattle Kraken @ New Jersey Devils

The Matchup: Seattle Kraken (21-15-8) @ New Jersey Devils (23-21-2)
The Time: 7:00 pm EST
The Broadcast: MSGSN, Devils Hockey Radio

On Monday night, the Devils defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-2. After a disastrous start to their road trip, which saw the Devils lost the first 3 games in a row, the Devils were able to close out the trip with a victory. The win was their 1st in their last 5 games, and only their 3rd in their last 11 games.

Jacob Markstrom got the start and gave the Devils a chance to win (or as I like to call it, he did his job), only letting up 2 goals. It helped that on the same night, the offense decided to do their job for once too. I would assume that Keefe goes back to Jake Allen for the game tonight, as Markstrom has not started in back to back games since 12/3 and 12/5. However, at this point in the season, crazier things have happened, so we shall have to wait and see.

Dawson Mercer got the Devils on the board at 10:07 of the 1st period to give the good guys a 1-0 lead heading into the 2nd period. Ryan Hartman tied it up for the Wild at 13:41 of the 2nd, before Ondrej Palat scored with 8 seconds left in the period to give the Devils back the lead at 2-1. I assure you, I double checked it. It’s correct. Palat did in fact score a goal. His 3rd of the season. I can’t believe it either.

Jesper “Wait…I don’t HAVE to pass every time I have the puck?” Bratt scored not once, but twice…less than a minute apart in the 3rd period to put the Devils up 4-1. Dougie “I’m confused, do you guys want me or no?” Hamilton had assists on both Bratt goals. In a sure sign that hell is about to freeze over, Palat scored his second goal of the game at 9:39 of the 3rd. Yes folks, Palat matched his goal total, for the entire season so far, in one game. Marcus Foligno added a meaningless PP goal at 19:41 of the 3rd and the Devils won 5-2.

On Monday, the Kraken defeated our hated rivals, the New York Rangers by a score of 4-2. Mika Zibanejad and Sam Carrick gave the ~~rich New Yorkers who pretend to be actual hockey fans, but real hockey fans can’t afford tickets at MSG, so the arena is filled with these people instead~~ Rangers faithful false hope with a 2-1 lead after the 1st period. However, the Kraken would go on to score 2 goals in the 2nd period and 2 more in the 3rd period to send the Rangers crowd home disappointed, which is always a good thing. So in this case, way to go Seattle!

Phillip Grubauer started in net against the Rangers on Monday. Considering that he hasn’t started back to back games since 11/13 and 11/15, I would expect Joe Daccord to get the start in net tonight against the Devils. Their game tonight against the Devils is their 3rd game of a 5 game road trip.

Injuries, Roster for Tonight, Yada, Yada, Yada.

In news which I still find hard to believe, the Devils actually have a healthy roster at the moment. I don’t want to jinx it, so I will not say it out loud, but I believe typing it out is safe. With the win, it is probably safe to assume that Hamilton will stay in the lineup tonight and that Nemec is back to being one of the players on the short list of those that are held accountable. However, it’s possible that the Devils are trying to shop Hamilton, so who knows if and when that happens (a trade) or if and when Nemec gets back into the lineup. As of this writing, I’d expect to see Hamilton play tonight, but we shall see what news comes out before the game tonight.

Grimace’s Prediction and 2025-2026 Record Tracker

Grimace was very pleased to see a win last night. For his mental sanity though, he’s still choosing to stay on his self induced break from predictions for now. His apologies.

Grimace’s 2025-2026 Season Prediction record currently stands at 12-10-0.

It was great to see the Devils get a win in their last game against Minnesota. It was a much needed win, at a minimum, to break the losing streak and the seemingly endless cycle of negativity. I am still of the view though, that it was 1 game. When they start winning, more than they lose, then I will start to have some more confidence. I am confident in this though. With everything that has been going on lately with this team, if the Devils come out flat tonight and/or play a stinker on the level of the 9-0 Islanders game, the home crowd is going to get absolutely brutal. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below and thanks for reading!

In a shameless bit of non hockey related self promotion (approved by Chris – thanks Chris), I wanted to plug my brand new podcast on here, if any of you are interested in listening. We have a light hearted, fun discussion about any movies, music or video games mostly from the 1980s and 1990s. Please feel free to listen to us on any of the formats below and any feedback is welcome (positive and negative). Also, please follow us and subscribe, even if you think we stink. 🙂

Source link

Seattle, WA

How the Seahawks got their name 50 years ago

Published

14 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

How the Seahawks got their name 50 years ago

STEILACOOM, WA – Fifty years ago, the Seattle Seahawks got its name through a radio competition where fans got the chance to choose a name.

“I think it’s the best name ever,” said Tom Barnum.

In 1975, Barnum learned he would have a chance to name the new Seattle NFL team.

He tells FOX 13 Seattle he sent in a few suggestions, including sockeyes, ospreys, mariners (this competition was two years before the Seattle Mariners’ first season), but we all know what came out is the winner: The Seahawks.

According to the Seahawks, the organization received more than 20,000 entries and nearly 1,741 different suggestions.

Barnum was one of about 150 people who entered the name Seahawks.

As acknowledgment for his suggestion, the newly named Seahawks organization sent Barnum a personalized team yearbook/program, as well as two complimentary tickets for the season.

This year, Barnum was recognized again. The Beast Bus Family learned his story and got Barnum, his sons, and his grandson tickets to the Hawks game versus the Colts in December.

Courtesy of the Beast Bus Family

The good, the bad, and the ugly

The Seahawks received nearly 2,000 team name suggestions. Some of them make sense, others have to be satire.

Here is a list alphabetically of all the names the Seahawks listed as other suggestions from the 1975 contest.

A

Aardvarks, Aleuts, Aero-Techs, About Timers, Anchovies, Alkis, Asters Domes, Abominable Snowmen, Alki Ants, Apple Knockers, Aqua-Ducks;

B

Bigfoots, Blue Sounders, Bunyan, Bumbershoots, Buffalo Chips, Belaying Pins, Billy Goats, Buzz Saws, Bronze Bobcats, Bay Hawks;

C

Catamounts, Clouds, Cloudbursts, Clam Diggers, Cool Dudes, City Slickers, Cockatoos, Cumulo Nimbos, Crabs, Cutthroats, Chowderheads, Chinook Passers;

D

Daffy Ducks, Domebusters, Diarrheas, Dogwoods, Drizzlers, Ding Dongs, Dreadnaughts;

E-F

Electric Loggers, Ferrys, Flounders, Frogs, Fruits Pickers, Flying Wedges, Ferrets;

G

Green State Geoducks, Green Giants, Go-E-Ducks, Gnomes;

H

Hammerheads, Harpooners, Halibut Heads, Herman’s Hermits, Hydrofoils;

I

Ichi Ban, Identified Flying Objects, Igloos;

K

Koala Bears, Killer Whales, Kelpers, Kilowatts, King Krabs;

L-M

Lucky Loggers, Microwaves, Mongooses, Major Domos, Montlakes;

N

Nibblers, Nutcrackers, Nordy’s Best, Nanuks;

O

Orangutans, O-Zones;

P

Peckerwoods, Pachyderms, Playwrights, Puget Puffers, Puddle Jumpers, Pacific Crests, Pike Street Misfits, Plimsoll Marks, Peacemakers;

Q

Queen City Quinaults, Quicksands;

R

Rainbirds, Rainy Ramblers, Rain-Dears, Running Salmon, Raining Suns, Rain Gods, Rainbeams, Red Tide, Roaches, Roosters, Royal Broughams, Roostertails, Rain-Beaux, Rain Hawks;

S

Sodbusters, Sounders, Spunkies, Spittoons, Sea Urchins, Salty Dogs, Sheep, 747’s, Silver Sasquatches, Skeletons, Sardines, Sperm Whales, Sleazies, Sonics, Snowflakes, Sourdoughs, Squids, Snorkels, Sinbads, Salamanders, Sun Dodgers, Scoundrels, Shamans, Sky Hawks, Stiletoes, Space Needlers, Scampi, Superscenics, Sawdust Eaters, Spodiodees, Soggies, Saints ‘n Sinners, Shrimps;

T

Ticks, Tremites, Toads, Third Degree;

U & V

Undertow, Vampires;

W

Waumpums, Weather Beaters, Woodpeckers, Water Hawks, Washington Georges, White Roosters;

Y-Z

Yogas, Zonkers, Zodiacs.

MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE

How to watch Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers playoff game

Chairlift stops at WA’s Summit at Snoqualmie, forcing rope evacuation

2 people found dead inside Mason County, WA home

Tacoma’s Spud’s Pizza hit by repeated break-ins after fire

Crook steals thousands worth of Pokemon cards from Everett, WA store

First 5 pm sunset of 2026 to return to Seattle this month. Here’s when

To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.

Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.

The Source: Information in this story came from the Seattle Seahawks, the Beast Bus Family, and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.

NewsSeattleSeattle SeahawksSports

Source link

Seattle, WA

How to watch Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers playoff game

Published

1 day ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

How to watch Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers playoff game

SEATTLE – The Seattle Seahawks are hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday in a prime time rivalry game in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs.

This will be the Seahawks’ second consecutive game against the 49ers, having beaten them in Week 18 to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC, earning a first-round bye. They now meet again, this time with the winner advancing to the NFC Championship.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) is congratulated by head coach Mike Macdonald during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn

Keep reading for details on the Seahawks vs 49ers playoff game, and how to watch it live.

When is the Seahawks vs 49ers playoff game?

The Seahawks and 49ers will face off in the NFC Divisional Round at 5 p.m. PT on Saturday, Jan. 17.

Where is the Seahawks vs 49ers playoff game?

The Seahawks have homefield advantage after securing the #1 seed in the NFC, with the 49ers traveling to Lumen Field in Seattle.

What TV channel is the Seahawks vs 49ers playoff game on?

The Seahawks vs 49ers playoff game will air on FOX 13 in the Seattle area. You can watch Gameday on FOX 13 for pregame coverage and postgame analysis.

The game is also available to watch with a subscription to FOX One or NFL+.

What radio station is the Seahawks game on?

To listen to the game, fans can tune into Seattle Sports 710 AM, KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM, the Seahawks mobile app, SiriusXM 226, 225 or 88, and on the SiriusXM app.

Steve Raible and Dave Wyman will call the action with Jen Mueller as the sideline reporter.

More on the Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC after beating the 49ers in Week 18, winning 13-3 in a hard-fought defensive battle.

The teams now meet each other in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs, after San Francisco took down the defending Super Bowl champions in the Wild Card Round, the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Seahawks and 49ers also met at the beginning of the season, where the Niners came out on top 17-13. The Hawks are currently on a seven-game winning streak, but got a bye week as the No. 1 seed.

MORE SEAHAWKS NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE

Mike Macdonald happy to be done watching games, now preparing Seattle Seahawks for 49ers rematch

Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba named AP first-team All-Pro, 4 named to second-team

Businesses in Seattle’s Pioneer Square gear up for Seahawks playoff game

Seattle Seahawks confident in Sam Darnold after he flopped in his playoff debut last season

Browns request interview with Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde, per report

To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.

Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.

Seattle SeahawksSportsNFL

Source link