PEORIA, Ariz. — When the World Baseball Classic opens on March 5 and runs through March 17, the Seattle Mariners’ spring training complex may feel unusually quiet. Sixteen Mariners will be scattered across the globe, wearing different flags and carrying national expectations instead of navy and teal. Cal Raleigh with Team USA. Julio Rodríguez representing the Dominican Republic. Josh Naylor for Canada. Randy Arozarena and Andrés Muñoz suiting up for Mexico. No other MLB club is sending more players to the tournament, and while the spotlight shines internationally, life — and opportunity — goes on back in Peoria.

For the Mariners, the WBC isn’t just an international showcase. It’s a temporary vacuum, and vacuums create chances. With so many established names absent, spring training innings, at-bats, and high-leverage reps suddenly become available. For players fighting for roster spots or larger roles, the next two weeks could quietly shape the 2026 season.

The most intriguing ripple effect may come in the infield, where Cole Young and Colt Emerson are poised to benefit immediately. Even before Seattle acquired Brendan Donovan, both prospects were expected to see significant spring action. Donovan’s arrival didn’t change the organization’s curiosity — it clarified it. MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer labeled Young and Emerson the “leading tandem worth watching from a roster construction standpoint,” and the WBC only amplifies that evaluation window.

Donovan is penciled in as the everyday third baseman, but his versatility allows manager Dan Wilson to move pieces around. With Arozarena, Naylor, and others gone, Donovan can slide into left field or first base, opening third for Emerson and second for Young. The default expectation remains Young winning the second base job while Emerson, MLB Pipeline’s No. 9 overall prospect, heads back to Triple-A Tacoma for polish. But spring has a way of disrupting tidy plans. If both force the issue, Seattle may find itself clearing two roster spots instead of one — a problem teams rarely complain about.

In the outfield, the WBC could offer a second chance to players who faded from view in 2025. Luke Raley is one of them. After a brutal season, it’s easy to forget that as recently as 2024 he posted a 128 OPS+ with 22 home runs. That version of Raley still exists somewhere, and the Mariners haven’t given up on finding it. With Arozarena, Naylor, and Dominic Canzone away on international duty, at-bats will open up across right field, first base, and designated hitter. For Raley, those reps could mean the difference between platoon purgatory and a more permanent role.

Victor Robles is fighting a parallel battle. Last spring, he was Seattle’s Opening Day right fielder and leadoff man. Now, after a disastrous 2025, he’s staring at the possibility of becoming a fourth outfielder. The WBC absence list creates a narrow but meaningful window. If Robles catches fire, he could reclaim the starting right field job outright. Even if he falls short of that, a strong showing could earn him occasional starts at leadoff, especially against left-handed pitching where Donovan’s splits raise questions. For Robles, this spring isn’t about redemption narratives — it’s about relevance.

Behind the plate, the competition is quieter but potentially consequential. Cal Raleigh’s durability has defined Seattle’s catching situation for years, but Mitch Garver’s exit finally opens the door for a true backup battle. Andrew Knizner and Jhonny Pereda are the only other catchers on the 40-man roster, putting them at the front of the line. Knizner brings more big-league experience and pedigree, while Pereda offers defensive intrigue. With Raleigh away at the WBC, whoever handles pitchers better, controls the running game, and looks comfortable managing a staff could quietly lock down one of the cushiest backup roles in baseball.

The bullpen may be where the WBC creates the most pressure. José A. Ferrer was already under scrutiny as the new left-handed arm in Seattle’s relief corps. Once Andrés Muñoz, Gabe Speier, and Eduard Bazardo depart for international duty, that spotlight intensifies. Ferrer’s profile lives somewhere between “promising” and “unproven.” With Washington, he flashed premium velocity and a sharp slider, but never fully broke out as a dominant swing-and-miss reliever. Spring training offers him a chance to change that perception. If he does, Ferrer could climb the bullpen hierarchy quickly, pushing himself closer to the high-leverage conversation.

For fans, the WBC will be about national pride and star power. For the Mariners, it’s also about evaluation, leverage, and opportunity. While Seattle’s biggest names chase international glory, the organization will be watching closely in Peoria, noting who fills the silence with performance. The spring complex may feel emptier, but the stakes have never been louder. When the WBC ends and the stars return, some roles will already be decided — by the players who stayed behind and seized the moment.