Mariners parting ways with veteran shortstop J.P. Crawford

Nov. 11—LAS VEGAS — A farewell that appeared likely at the end of the season has indeed come to an expected conclusion. The Mariners are moving on from the longest-tenured shortstop in franchise history, having informed J.P. Crawford that they do not plan to bring him back in 2027, multiple industry sources told The Times. Crawford, who joined the Mariners in 2019 and just finished a five-year, $51 million contract, became a free agent after the season. He will be 32 in January. In his 974th and final game for the Mariners, Crawford was removed from the last game of the season in the fifth inning so he could receive a well-earned standing ovation from a sold-out crowd at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 27. Crawford was named one of the top 50 players in franchise history during the team's 50th anniversary celebration in August, and he was a key figure in helping the Mariners through the first full-fledged rebuild in club history and ending a 21-year playoff drought in 2022. Crawford had expressed interest in re-signing with Seattle, saying he wanted to finish his career with the Mariners. "I owe the fans, I owe Seattle everything," he told The Times after the season ended. "They taught me how to truly be free and be myself and to play the baseball that I always thought I could play in the big leagues. There's no spot I'd rather be." The team, however, is ready to move on. Who winds up playing shortstop for the Mariners in 2027 is up in the air. The M's signed top prospect Colt Emerson to a $95-million contract extension with the expectation that he would be Crawford's heir apparent. Emerson, 21, had a turbulent rookie season in 2026 while trying to play through a wrist injury that first surfaced in spring training. He ultimately had surgery in August to repair a partially dislocated tendon in his left wrist. The club expects he will be healthy for spring training. Emerson split time between shortstop and third base as a rookie, and it's possible he could slot in at third base in 2027. Veteran infielder Brendan Donovan, after an injury-shortened first season in Seattle, is also an option at third base, though the Mariners would prefer to employ him in a super-utility role.