The Seattle Mariners, long haunted by October heartbreak and near-misses, are once again gearing up for what fans hope will be the franchise’s most historic season yet. The ambition for 2026 is clear: end the longest World Series drought in Major League Baseball and finally bring the Commissioner’s Trophy to the Pacific Northwest. With a pitching staff already considered one of the most complete in the league, the Mariners have opted to add a bit of insurance and experience by signing ex-Braves veteran right-hander Dane Dunning to a minor-league deal with a spring training invite.
A Former Workhorse with Braves Championship Credentials
Dunning’s name may not carry the same weight it did just a couple of years ago, but his résumé is not without distinction. In 2023, he served as the innings workhorse for the eventual champion Texas Rangers, racking up 172 2/3 innings with a 3.70 ERA and a 12-7 record. Though shifted to a bullpen role for the postseason, his contributions during the regular season were substantial. That very year, he posted a 2.7 bWAR, which would have earned him a much bigger paycheck in a different market or timeline.
A Rough Slide and an Uncertain Path
But baseball’s pendulum swings fast. In 2024, Dunning’s ERA rose dramatically to 5.31, and by midseason 2025, he was designated for assignment by Texas. The Braves took a flyer on him in a minor trade, but Dunning didn’t find traction in Atlanta either and was eventually placed on waivers. Now, in early 2026, he’s a reclamation project, albeit a compelling one.
Seattle’s Low-Risk Gamble Could Pay Off
Seattle’s bet here is not without calculation. T-Mobile Park is notoriously pitcher-friendly, particularly when it comes to suppressing home runs, Dunning’s Achilles’ heel in recent seasons. If he can regain some of his old command and keep the ball in the yard, he may yet be a useful swingman or emergency starter.
The Mariners have little to lose. Should their rotation remain intact, bolstered by a blend of youthful firepower and veteran poise, Dunning becomes a valuable depth piece stashed at Triple-A. If injuries crop up or innings limits become a factor late in the year, his experience could offer the kind of quiet stability that doesn’t make headlines but wins pennant races.
And if the stars align, who knows? Perhaps this once-overlooked arm could play a small but vital role in helping Seattle write the final chapter of a story they’ve been trying to finish for nearly 50 years.
