The Mariners Farm System: The Mariners’ farm system is defined by explosive tools at the top, a mix of polished bats and athletic profiles in the middle, and a handful of high‑risk investments that require patience and monitoring.
Summary
The Mariners’ system is headlined by Colt Emerson, Felnin Celesten, and Harry Ford, three players who combine polish with impact tools. Celesten’s twitchy athleticism and switch-hitting upside give him star potential at shortstop, while Emerson’s advanced hit tool and plate discipline make him a cornerstone infielder in the making. Ford, already a high-floor catcher, blends OBP skills with speed and power, offering everyday fantasy impact. Alongside them, Lazaro Montes brings middle-order masher upside with elite raw power, and Jonny Farmelo adds dynamic leadoff potential thanks to plus speed and bat speed.
Supporting this top group are names like Luke Stevenson and Michael Arroyo, both of whom offer everyday fantasy utility with strong offensive profiles. Stevenson’s patience and plus power could make him a valuable fantasy catcher, while Arroyo’s patient approach and growing pop give him a versatile infield profile.
Kade Anderson leads a strong but thin group of pitchers that also includes Jurrangelo Cijntje and Ryan Sloan. While the pitching depth is down, the Mariners do such a great job with their pitching that there will likely be some pop-up players during the 2026 season.
AI-Assisted Fantasy Tiers: Methodology and Observations
AI has made significant strides in all aspects of our lives. Over the past four years, I have compiled 500,000 words of personal scouting narratives, which have formed the foundation for training my own AI assistant. This assistant now evaluates prospects and assigns fantasy tiers exclusively based on the insights and observations contained in my write-ups.
After requesting that my AI assistant generate fantasy tiers using this year’s reports, I found that the AI’s rankings generally align with my own assessments. However, there are some cases where the AI’s evaluations differ from my personal rankings. I am sharing those differences here for your consideration.
🥇 Tier 1: Fantasy Impact Target
- Felnin Celesten — Explosive actions, switch‑hitting SS; twitch, bat speed, power/speed star ceiling.
- Colt Emerson — Advanced hit tool, plate discipline, emerging power; cornerstone infielder upside.
- Harry Ford — Athletic catcher, strong OBP, speed/power blend; everyday difference‑maker.
- Lazaro Montes — Massive raw power, plus EVs; middle‑order masher upside.
- Kade Anderson — Advanced command, polished pitch mix, competitive edge; mid‑rotation with strikeout upside.
🥈 Tier 2: Everyday-Upside Targets
- Jonny Farmelo — Plus speed and bat speed; dynamic leadoff profile if healthy.
- Luke Stevenson — Plus power, patient approach, strong EVs; everyday catcher potential.
- Michael Arroyo — Patient hitter, growing power, versatile infielder; OBP anchor with pop.
- Ryan Sloan — Big frame, fastball/slider combo; durable innings‑eater starter profile.
- Jurrangelo Cijntje — Athletic delivery, unique look; mid‑rotation or swingman potential.
- Nick Becker — Athletic corner bat, raw power; swing refinement could unlock impact.
- Tai Peete — Athletic infielder, bat speed; multi‑positional utility likely without hit gains.
To see the list, click here.
