The Seattle Mariners‘ latest recruit has set the fan base on fire—not with dazzling plays, but with a storm of conflicting opinions. Some hail the move as a masterstroke, while others are ready to declare it the franchise’s next great disaster. In a world where every signing is either a championship-clinching coup or a colossal blunder (no in-between, of course), this one has somehow managed to be both at the same time. Buckle up, because the debate is only getting started.

While other teams are making big moves in the offseason, the Mariners have gone unnoticed. With some great existing players like Julio Rodriguez and some new additions like Jorge Polanco, they are looking quite strong. They have also made one other signing that has fans buzzing the signing of Rowdy Tellez.

The report is that the Mariners have signed Tellez to a minor-league deal with an invitation to the 2025 spring training. This is a great opportunity for Tellez to bounce back from a difficult season with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In the last season with the Pirates, he played 131 games with an average of .243 and hit 13 home runs with 56 RBIs. Although not a bad season, it is subpar for a major league player. And this is exactly the reason he has only been given a minor-league deal. This deal has split the Mariners fan base into two.

But hey, baseball is all about second chances, right? Tellez now finds himself at a crossroads—either he proves the doubters wrong and earns his spot, or he fades into the long list of “what could have been” stories. The Mariners’ front office, already unpopular this offseason, is banking on the former, while a chunk of the fan base is bracing for the latter. Whether this signing turns out to be a hidden gem or just another forgettable experiment, one thing is certain—Seattle’s offseason just got a whole lot more interesting.

Fans torn over Seattle Mariners’ low-risk, high-drama signing

The Seattle Mariners have made a move that’s as low-risk as it is high-drama. Signing Rowdy Tellez to a minor-league deal. On paper, it’s a harmless depth addition, but try telling that to the fan base, which is currently split between cautious optimism and outright frustration. Some see a power-hitting reclamation project. While others see another mediocre gamble in an offseason lacking fireworks. One thing’s for sure—Seattle didn’t just sign a player; they ignited a debate.

Sarcastic? Maybe, maybe not. But one thing is for sure it seems that this fan is highly excited about the signing. It looks like this is exactly the signing the Mariners needed, because while some have been crying about a weak offseason even after signing Jorge Polanco and Donovan Solano, this seems to be the icing on the cake for others. This indeed looks like an A+ signing.

Was this the batter the Mariners looking for? Not according to this fan. With an average offseason compared to other teams, the Mariners seem to have made a mistake with this one. They did add some batting prowess by signing 2 infielders. But Tellez is not the right fit, some think. They might have signed him for a minor-league deal, but it looks like the fans think they could have done something better than signing a guy who had a subpar 2024 season.

There is a reason why the Pirates did not want Tellez in their team for the 2025 season. After a disastrous 2024 season batting with an average of .243, the Pirates did not even think twice. This made this fan question why the Mariners signed him. He let everyone know that the reason Tellez was in the market was not because he wanted to be there but because he had no choice. This signing might turn out to be a gold mine for the Mariners. We will just have to wait and watch.

Another sarcastic take? Maybe. But it could also be like having a dessert after dinner. With the proper training and effective usage of Tellez, he might win them the AL. After not making the postseason in 2024, the Mariners needed some boost to the team. And this is exactly what some of the fans were looking for. There might be some criticism now, but wait till Tellez gets on the field.

There was some bad news for the USA hockey fans as they lost to Canada in the finals of the 4-Nation Face-Off. But this seems to top even that for some fans. With the hyped signing, the Mariners can look at the 2025 season with a new vision. Although it’s a minor league deal, Tellez has proved that he can improve under the right conditions, and the Mariners think that they can provide this.

If the Mariners truly believe they can unlock Tellez’s potential, then this could be a genius move—or a classic case of wishful thinking. Either way, Seattle fans better buckle up, because this rollercoaster is just getting started.