SEATTLE — All hell broke loose at T-Mobile Park when the Seattle Mariners officially confirmed they had activated super closer Andrés Muñoz’s 2026 option, worth $7 million, plus a $1 million escalator bonus after what is widely considered the greatest season of his career in 2025. It wasn’t just a strategic decision — it was Seattle’s unabashed declaration: “We’re ready to come back and win.”
Muñoz, 26, has evolved from a young talent with a 103 mph pitch to one of MLB’s three most feared closers.
In 2025, he marked:
A career-best 1.73 ERA
38 saves — third in MLB
83 strikeouts / 62.1 innings
64 plate appearances, nearly unbeaten
7 postseason games without a run
Without him, the Mariners couldn’t have dreamed of reaching the ALCS; with him, they took Toronto all the way to a thrilling Game 7.
As one analyst put it:
“Seattle didn’t just keep a closer — they kept the identity, the temperament, and the hope of this bullpen.”
GM Justin Hollander: “No-brainer” — and Seattle agrees
At the press conference, general manager Justin Hollander didn’t beat around the bush:
“This was the easiest decision we made all winter.”
The decision, along with the announcement of Mitch Garver’s mutual option rejection, opens a new financial path to focus on strengthening the roster around the bullpen — the element that once pushed Seattle to the brink of defeat.
At $7 million plus escalator, Muñoz is nearly MLB’s biggest bargain for a pitcher with triple-digit velocity and a slider that makes even AL sluggers shudder.
From “magical” $7.5 million contract to Mariners icon
Few will forget that in 2021 — when Muñoz was still recovering from Tommy John — Seattle signed him to a four-year deal for just $7.5 million. That decision is now considered “one of the smartest deals of the decade.”
Now, the Mariners still have options:
$8 million in 2027
$10 million in 2028, which can increase based on how many games he completes.
A two-time All-Star closer is in his prime — but still in a financial structure that allows Seattle to build a long-term competitive roster.
Fans explode: “Keep Muñoz, save our season”
On social media, Mariners Nation went crazy:
“Toronto took the ALCS, but Seattle kept Muñoz. That’s enough to start revenge in 2026.”
The excitement is palpable across Seattle. Because fans understand: in the postseason, where every pitch can decide the season, no one wants to face the Mexican senior.
The Mariners may have stopped short of the Blue Jays, but this is a team that doesn’t retreat, it just builds strength. Keeping Muñoz isn’t just a market move — it’s a confirmation of direction.
Some pundits have called the move “the opening piece to an explosive winter.”
Muñoz — a symbol of speed, fear, and hope
Triple-digit fastball. Slider gone. Ice-cold charisma.
Andrés Muñoz is more than just a closer. He is Seattle’s response to the entire American League:
“We’re not done. We’re just getting started.”
And with the 2026 option exercised, the Mariners retain their most dangerous weapon — a promise to their fans that the 2026 season’s revenge journey has officially begun.
