The Seattle Mariners aren’t just having a rough 2026 season on the field, with some truly heartbreaking losses piling up. One of the biggest gut punches has been watching two-time All-Star reliever Andres Munoz struggle like never before. But despite his career-worst numbers, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand is reporting the M’s are likely to pick up his $8 million club option for 2027.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Tough Year For Our All-Star
It’s been tough to watch, right? Our bullpen, usually a rock, has had some real issues this season, and Munoz, a guy we’ve counted on in high-leverage spots, just hasn’t been the same. Entering September, his performance has been a shocking turn. We’re talking a -0.1 bWAR across 52 appearances. His 4.35 ERA and 91 ERA+ are the absolute worst marks of his entire MLB career. It’s a far cry from the shutdown closer we’ve seen dominate opposing lineups, and frankly, it’s enough to give any Mariners fan some serious worries. If it weren’t for his previous lights-out success as a closer for the M’s, we might be talking about moving on entirely from the veteran right-hander.
Why The Emerald City Is Making An $8 Million Bet
So why, with numbers like that, are the Mariners still leaning towards keeping him? Feinsand lays it out, and honestly, it makes a lot of sense when you zoom out. First, the cost of top-tier relievers in this league is just insane. Munoz’s $8 million option, even for a down year, looks like a reasonable gamble when you consider what it would take to sign a comparable high-profile arm on the open market. He still remains a key piece of Seattle’s relief corps, at least on paper, and the team needs to think strategically about that.
Then there’s the history. This guy is only 27 years old, a two-time All-Star, and we know what he can do when he’s on his game. This 2026 season is really his first truly bad one. The reliever market, as we all know, is a total crapshoot more often than not. Who’s to say we wouldn’t try to replace Munoz and wind up with a worse reliever while Munoz goes somewhere else and suddenly finds his old stuff again? That would sting, big time. It makes more sense to bring him back, let him work through this, and hope he can turn things around. His track record suggests this year is just an anomaly, not a sign of permanent decline.
The Mariners are likely to keep Munoz by picking up that $8 million club option, and honestly, it feels like the right call for now. We’ll be looking forward to seeing him back on the mound, hopefully silencing the doubters and showing us that All-Star form again. If he struggles next season, then a move might be more logical. But for now, here’s to a big bounce-back for Munoz next year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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