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‘They don’t trust McKenna’: What to make of Hiller’s benching decision

NHL senior writer James Mirtle joins JD Bunkis to try and make sense of Jim Hiller’s decision to bench rookie Gavin McKenna for all of the 3rd period and OT in the loss to Buffalo, and why he wanted to…

Published: Friday, 16 October 2026 at 3:11 PM
‘They don’t trust McKenna’: What to make of Hiller’s benching decision
Key Things to Know
  • The Mariners face multiple major roster decisions after losing Game 7 of the ALCS to Toronto.
  • President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto stated that re-signing pending free agent Josh Naylor is a top priority.
  • Third baseman Eugenio Suárez is also a free agent, with rookie Ben Williamson viewed as a possible successor.
The Story in 60 Seconds

The Seattle Mariners are facing several major roster decisions following their Game 7 ALCS elimination by the Toronto Blue Jays. Despite capturing their first AL West title since 2001 and seeing Cal Raleigh hit 60 home runs, the franchise fell short of its first World Series trip, prompting manager Dan Wilson and front office leaders to address upcoming personnel needs.

President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto identified re-signing pending free agent first baseman Josh Naylor as a priority. The front office must also make decisions regarding free agent third baseman Eugenio Suárez, potentially replacing him with rookie Ben Williamson, while second baseman Jorge Polanco holds a $6 million player option.

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