Being in the big leagues as long as J.P. Crawford has, he knows what is needed from a team for them to reach their ultimate goal.
Last season, Crawford and the Seattle Mariners came close, reaching the World Series, falling in seven games to the American League Champion Toronto Blue Jays. In 2026, the Mariners have been sluggish out of the gate, entering Monday’s action at 25-29, struggling to stack wins consistently after having their best season in a half-decade.
Injuries Have Plagues Seattle Mariners
Part of that has been injuries to key players like Cal Raleigh and Brendan Donovan. Crawford also spent some time on the injured list, missing the first several weeks of his 10th big league season with right shoulder inflammation. Since returning, Crawford has reclaimed his starting shortstop position, but his long-term security in Seattle is much more of a question mark moving forward.
During spring training, the Mariners inked top shortstop prospect Colt Emerson to an eight-year, $95 million extension, before the 20-year-old had stepped on a big-league diamond. Speculation immediately raised on whether Crawford would be pushed off of short and how the 31-year-old would handle the news of Seattle’s investment in his potential replacement, seeing that Crawford is in the final year of his current contract.
But the former first-round pick in 2013 has been adamant that there is no animosity or ill-will towards Emerson or the organization. He wants to win, and if Emerson can help the Mariners do that, Crawford doesn’t care what or where his own role is.
Currently, Crawford is hitting just .199 but has still logged a 101 OPS+ due to his ability to take walks. The Long Beach native’s keen eye and strong swing decisions still make him a viable threat at the plate, and he has a track record of finishing with an average or above OPS+ in four of his last five seasons.
J.P. Crawford’s Defense Has Dropped: Offers To Play Third Base
But where Crawford has really seen a drop-off is in his defense. Logging negative seven defensive runs saved, he has struggled with his arm and range in the field, making Mariners fans yearn for Emerson, who was recently called up, to be the full-time option at short.
With Seattle treading water, Crawford went to manager Dan Wilson within the past week and offered to play more third base. The aforementioned Donovan, Seattle’s usual starter at third, was sidelined again with injury, and having the better defensive player at this point in Emerson at one of the game’s most important defensive positions could make a difference in the Mariners playing a more consistent brand of baseball. Crawford was also seen taking pregame grounders at third, as the last time he played the position in an MLB game was in 2018 with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Although he has yet to take the field at third in 2026, Crawford’s self-awareness and selflessness are evident to his teammates, coaching staff, and fanbase. To further put to rest any resentment he might feel toward Emerson, Seattle Sports insider Shannon Drayer reported that Crawford and fellow MLBbro Josh Naylor bought Emerson his first big league suit during the team’s recent off day in Kansas City.
Will JP Crawford Be Traded With Arrival Of Colt Emerson?
Having a lot of baseball left in the tank, Crawford can be an attractive option for other teams or even the Mariners themselves in free agency. His bat is still solid, he can provide some versatility with the glove, and his winning attitude and veteran presence are valuable for clubhouses around the league.
Emerson just produced his best offensive performance through the first seven games of his major league career. And in doing so, the 20-year-old added his name to a list that also features two of the franchise’s legendary stars.
Emerson, MLB Pipeline‘s No. 6 overall prospect for 2026, went 4-for-4 with three doubles, an RBI, and a run scored in the Mariners’ 8-6 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. He became the third Seattle player who’s 20 years old or younger to produce a four-hit game, according to MLB Pipeline. And the only other Mariners to do that are Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and three-time MVP Álex Rodríguez.
