The Seattle Mariners’ offseason plans have brought renewed attention to JP Crawford after the longtime shortstop completed his eighth season with the organization.
Crawford reached free agency following the final season of the five-year extension he signed in April 2022. His tenure with the Mariners included a Gold Glove Award in 2020 and more appearances at shortstop than any player in franchise history.
Acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in December 2018, Crawford helped Seattle end its 21-year postseason drought in 2022. The Mariners also recognized him among their top 50 players during this season’s 50th-anniversary celebration.
ClutchPoints shared an update Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter, relaying reporting from The Seattle Times’ Adam Jude on Crawford’s future and the Mariners’ infield plans.
The Mariners have informed Crawford they do not plan to bring him back for the 2027 season, according to Jude.
Crawford appeared in 974 games with Seattle, batting .247 with a .340 on-base percentage and .367 slugging percentage. He totaled 78 home runs and 366 RBIs.
The Mariners have already made a substantial commitment to Colt Emerson, signing him to an eight-year, $95 million contract before his major league debut. The agreement includes a club option for 2034.
Emerson’s agreement was the largest guarantee at the time for a player without major league experience. He debuted in May, becoming Seattle’s youngest major leaguer since Felix Hernandez. The deal gave the Mariners a long-term investment in their infield’s future.
Crawford volunteered earlier this year to move to third base to accommodate Emerson. At the time, Seattle’s management had discussed installing Emerson as its starting shortstop in 2027.
Emerson’s rookie season ended with left wrist surgery, leaving his recovery as another consideration in the club’s offseason planning. He was expected to be ready for the start of next season following the procedure.
Crawford remains a free agent as the Mariners prepare to move forward without one of the central figures from its recent history.