Who will be on the next (first) Mariners team to make the World Series?

Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty ImagesThe 114th World Series is in the books, and for the 41st time in 41 opportunities, the Mariners were elsewhere. They are in a daunting stage on what is often called the “win curve”, with an aging roster and stardom more than superstardom from their prime players. As a result, a World Series appearance seems as distant as ever. But one day, assuming baseball continues to be played, their ship will come in. As the Red Sox celebrate on the ground-up bones of the Dodgers, the Mariners must make a number of decisions on how to proceed with their roster. Even as the current 25-man is a mystery, there are players within the organization who could be part of the Mariners next (first) World Series contender. It is an unlikely thought, but so much can change in five years, much less ten, when some of the names on this list may be entering the prime of their careers. Both Boston and Los Angeles built cores around players acquired from all manner of places, so in that mindset, let’s look at which Mariners have the best shot at a World Series appearance in Northwest Green.

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