A week where young player after young player was whittled from the Seattle Mariners’ camp roster as they work their way towards identifying the final 26 for opening day ended with the release of one of its most veteran players – Mitch Haniger.

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The Mariners announced the release of Haniger before their penultimate spring training game Sunday morning.

“Mitch has been a significant part of Mariners history and will be missed,” Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said in a press release. “The day he arrived for his first spring training back in 2017, he established himself as one of the most focused, prepared, and hardest working players I’ve ever been around. We all appreciate the many ways he’s made us all better, on the field and off.”

Originally acquired from the Diamondbacks along with Jean Segura and Zac Curtis in a November 2016 trade, it was the then-lesser-known Haniger that would leave the biggest mark on the Mariners. Among his accomplishments with the team, Haniger leaves as the record holder for walk-off hits with eight, each a memorable moment for the team and fans alike.

“Putting on a Mariners uniform and playing at T-Mobile Park is something I’ll cherish forever,” Haniger said. “To our fans, my teammates, and everyone a part of this organization, thank you for embracing my family and me. We have so many great memories to look back on.”

When Jerry Dipoto embarked on the “step back” plan following the 2018 season, Haniger was one of the few players not dealt away. The intent was to keep the player teammates called “our champion,” as the example for the young players they anticipated coming up.

While he has had many memorable moments and set career highs in home runs (39), RBI (100) and runs scored (110) with the team, injuries have also been a part of his story. His latest, shoulder discomfort, has kept him from games since March 8. With the roster crunch it was hard to see how playing time would be found for the 34 year old, and the move was made with the club to pay the remaining $15.5 million remaining on the final year of his contract.

Thank you for everything you’ve done for our organization, fans and the community, Mitch.

Wishing you nothing but the best in the next chapter of your journey. pic.twitter.com/225rlO3M5Q

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 23, 2025

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Goalkeepers Jimmy Maurer and Blake Gillingham combined to make four saves as the Houston Dynamo earned a rare point in Seattle, playing the host Sounders to a 0-0 draw on Saturday night.

The veteran Maurer, making his first start of the season after Andrew Tarbell suffered a season-ending knee injury last week against Real Salt Lake, made three saves before having to leave in the 67th minute with an apparent quadriceps injury.

Gillingham, making his MLS debut, made one save the rest of the way for the Dynamo (0-3-2, 2 points), who have never won a regular-season match at Lumen Field.

Seattle’s best chance against Gillingham came in the 86th minute, when the Sounders were awarded a straightaway free kick about 25 yards from the goal. Albert Rusnak’s attempt for the upper right corner, however, sailed over the crossbar.

After putting just one shot on target in the opening 35 minutes, the Sounders (1-2-2, 5 points) started creating chances late in the first half.

Joao Paulo hammered an 18-yard shot just over the crossbar in the 38th minute following a nice building down the right wing.

A minute later, Danny Leyva’s left-footed shot from 20 yards forced Maurer to make a leaping save to knock the ball out of bounds. On the ensuing corner kick, Jonathan Bell’s header went just wide of the right post.

Seattle’s best opportunity came in the 43rd minute as Rusnak got the ball inside the top left of the penalty area and sent a pass to Alex Roldan on the right side. Maurer was forced to make a kick save on Roldan’s 12-yard shot.

Maurer also made a save on a sharp-angled Paul Rothrock attempt from the left wing in the 15th minute.

The Sounders honored Houston midfielder Nico Lodeiro in a pregame ceremony. Lodeiro spent eight seasons in Seattle, leading the Sounders to four MLS Cup appearances, including a pair of titles, and a CONCACAF Champions League crown. It was Lodeiro’s first visit to Lumen Field since leaving as a free agent before last season.

Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei had to make just one save. Lodeiro tried a bicycle kick from just inside the top of the 18-yard box in the 56th minute that went well wide of the right post.

Houston defender Ethan Bartlow — a native of Woodinville, Wash., who played at the University of Washington — had to come off with an apparent lower-body injury in the 21st minute.

–Field Level Media

SEATTLE – While mostly dry weather is expected today in Seattle, an atmospheric river will take aim at western Washington Saturday night. This will trigger widespread rain overnight through much of the day Sunday. 

For Saturday, you can plan on mostly cloudy skies and a few sunbreaks. Highs will be slightly cooler than usual, reaching the upper 40s to the low 50s. 

Later tonight, rain will start knocking on our door along the coast and the Northwest Interior. By midnight, rain should become much more widespread and extensive. The North Sound, the Olympics, North Cascades and North Coast will be impacted the most by heavy rain on Sunday. The soaking rain will make driving rather tricky. 

Highs will reach the upper 40s to low 50s around Western Washington Saturday. (FOX 13 Seattle)

Can you see the northern lights in Seattle?

If the skies weren’t so cloudy, parts of Western Washington (including Seattle), would have a chance of seeing the aurora borealis tonight! 

Sadly, clouds and rain will likely impede the view. More details at the NOAA site. 

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 11 p.m. today to 11 a.m. Sunday for snow accumulations of five to ten inches. This includes Stevens Pass and Mount Baker. Otherwise, snow levels will rising dramatically on Sunday afternoon. 

Ultimately, any snow will transition to rain over the passes by the second half of the day. The rapidly-changing conditions over the mountains will contribute to elevating the risk of avalanches in the backcountry. 

Avoid skiing and snowboarding in the backcountry on Sunday (if not today as well)! 

Snowy weather will develop over the North Cascades Saturday evening. (FOX 13 Seattle)

Winds will be gusty Sunday to Monday morning; however, winds will likely fall shy of the Wind Advisory criteria – meaning, winds aren’t expected to be damaging. 

However, the blustery weather will make it feel cooler and more uncomfortable if you’re trying to spend time outside. In isolated cases, there may be gusts up to 40 mph. Gusts of 20-30 mph will be more common. 

Temperatures gradually warm in Seattle into Monday afternoon. (FOX 13 Seattle)

River levels will be rising as heavy rain sweeps through the region, but only the Skokomish River looks vulnerable to flooding by Sunday night. We’ll monitor that closely. There, a flood watch is in effect.

The warmest weather of 2025 arrives on Tuesday as temperatures boost to almost 70 degrees in Seattle! Many communities could see their first 70s of the year. 

Temperatures remain mild on Wednesday. Showers and thunderstorms could develop at some point Wednesday afternoon. 

Cooler, wetter and breezier weather is back in action on Thursday – just in time for the Mariners home opener!

Temperatures warm to almost 70 degrees in Seattle on Tuesday! (FOX 13 Seattle)

Stay tuned: this forecast will likely change and evolve over time. 

Take good care, 

Meteorologist Abby Acone

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