It took several confusing hours, but it was reported that Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger had exercised his $17.5 million player option for 2025.

MLB’s deadline for players and teams to exercise their options was Monday at 2 p.m. PT. That deadline passed without the Mariners, reporters and insiders officially saying whether or not Haniger had exercised his option.

Fans speculated as to why Haniger did not opt ​​to sign up, given that he was unlikely to make $17.5 million in 2025 in free agency.

It turns out that Haniger actually exercised his option. It just wasn’t reported at deadline.

Haniger was always up to date Seattle Roster of 40 players MLB.com which included injured players activated Monday from the 60-day injured list.

There was also a list of free agent players released by the MLB Player’s Association (which has since been deleted) that did not list Haniger among them.

If that wasn’t enough of an indication that Haniger had exercised his option, a report MLB Trade Rumors writer Anthony Franco confirmed this.

Haniger is coming off a bad season in 2024. He hit .208 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs.

Haniger’s playing time decreased when Dan Wilson was hired as manager on August 22. He only received 43 plate appearances after Wilson was hired.

Haniger’s name is all over the Mariners record book. He set the franchise record for strikeouts with his eighth in 2024. He is also fifth in club history for home runs at T-Mobile Park with 58 and is 10th all-time in club history. the franchise for total home runs with 119.

Barring a trade or designation for assignment, Haniger will be the second-highest paid player on Seattle’s 2025 roster behind franchise star Julio Rodriguez ($19.912 million).

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