Seattle Mariners Skipper Says It Will Be Hard Take Field Without Mitch Haniger on Opening Day

SEATTLE, Wash. - The Seattle Mariners will open up the 2025 regular season on Thursday night against the Athletics at T-Mobile Park. The M's are coming off a season that saw them go 85-77 and miss the playoffs by one game. Seattle hasn't won the American League West since 2001.

With the 26-man roster nearly officially set, there are several intriguing names to follow including Ryan Bliss, Rowdy Tellez and the recently-extended Cal Raleigh. Bryan Woo is going to be on the Opening Day roster for the first time as well.

However, there is one name that won't be on the roster for skipper Dan Wilson: Mitch Haniger, who was released earlier this week. The 34-year-old was a valuable part of the M's organization for a number of years, playing in Seattle from 2017-2022 and again in 2024. He hit 39 homers back in 2021 but hit just .208 with 12 homers and 44 RBIs last season.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Wilson expressed his respect for Haniger and all he's meant to the team:

Yeah. ​You ​know, ​Mitch, ​​a ​lot ​of ​contributions ​to ​this ​organization ​over ​the ​years. ​A ​lot ​of ​leadership. ​A ​lot ​of ​guys ​in ​that ​clubhouse ​still...he's ​had ​a ​big ​impression ​on ​and ​a ​big ​impact ​on ​over ​the ​years. ...When you're a leader, ​you ​pore ​into ​people ​and ​they ​go ​out ​on ​the ​field ​and ​there's ​a ​part ​of ​you ​in ​them ​too. ​So, ​I'm ​sure ​he'll ​be ​watching​closely. ​It's ​tough ​to ​not ​have ​him ​here. ​Obviously ​a ​guy ​that we ​all ​looked to for a lot ​of ​years, ​and ​his ​contributions ​of ​the ​organization ​have ​been ​great. ​And ​it'll ​be ​tough ​taking ​the ​field ​without ​him.

Haniger is now a free agent. The Mariners will still owe him $15.5 million this season. In addition to his big 2021 season, Haniger represented the Mariners at the 2018 All-Star Game.

The M's and A's will take the field at 7:10 p.m. PT. Logan Gilbert will pitch for Seattle against Luis Severino.