ANALYSIS: Right Field Could be a by-Committee Approach For Seattle Mariners in 2026

The Seattle Mariners made it closer to the World Series than ever before this past season.

Seattle was able to have its most successful playoff run ever despite several injuries to several positions, including right field.

The Mariners entered the year with Victor Robles, fresh off a career resurgence in 2024, as the de facto starter in right.

Long-term injuries to both him and first baseman/outfielder Luke Raley caused Seattle to pull from its own organizational depth and around the league to find an answer.

Leody Taveras, Rhylan Thomas and Samad Taylor were among players the Mariners tried out in right field.

Eventually, Seattle found consistency in the form of Dominic Canzone. He finished the year with 30 runs in 82 games and hit 11 doubles and 11 home runs with 32 RBIs and slashed .300/.358/.481 with an .839 OPS.

After Robles returned from his left shoulder fracture/dislocation, he and Canzone split time in right field.

Both players, along with Raley, are under team control in 2026. Robles will play under the last of a two-year contract with a club option for 2027; Canzone will be under his last year of pre-arbitration in '26; and Raley will be under his first year of arbitration in '26.

Those three being back in the fold clouds the right field picture for '26. Top 100 prospect Lazaro Montes is also projected to make his major league debut next season. He ended 2025 with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers and will all but certainly be a non-roster invitee to spring training.

All four players provide different pros and cons and question marks.

Robles is the most dynamic player and best defender of the four and is capable of creating havoc on the base paths. But he's yet to prove he can be a high-end contributor across an entire season.

Canzone has performed the best most recently. If the M's prefer to ride the hot bat, he's earned the right to prove he can be the team's answer for the position. But, similar to Robles, he's yet to prove he can perform over an entire year.

Raley is the most versatile of the four players and is capable of moving to first or the outfield in in-game situations. He's also been unable to perform in a starting role over the course of a season.

Montes is unproven, but has 30-40 home runs potential and made major improvements in his swing decisions in 2025.

Seattle won't force Lazaro into a starting role if it doesn't feel like he's ready and if the club has a player performing.

But with three major leaguers with experience at the position and a top 100 prospect in the wings, it wouldn't be a surprise if whoever takes the field opening day in right field has a short leash.

It wouldn't be a shock if the Mariners rotate through players at the position and one could argue they should regardless.

But whatever the situation is, right field is shaping out to be the biggest question mark going into spring training. And it will be interesting to see who goes into Opening Day with the role and whether they can hold onto it.

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