Mariners' J.P. Crawford open to move to 3B, opening door for Colt Emerson at SS

Upon the arrival of 20-year-old top prospect Colt Emerson on Sunday, Mariners veteran shortstop J.P. Crawford approached Dan Wilson with an idea.

If you need me to play third base, I'm willing to give it a try, Crawford told the Mariners manager, in a nutshell.

The potential shift is still in an exploratory stage, but Crawford made his first appearance with the Mariners at third base on Wednesday morning during some light pregame drills, with Emerson next to him taking ground balls at shortstop.

All along, Mariners management has been transparent about its plan to hand over the shortstop job to Emerson going into 2027.

At Crawford's behest, the first phase of that succession plan has begun earlier than expected.

I want to be a Mariner for life," Crawford said, "and I think that's the best way to do it."

The 31-year-old Crawford is in the final year of a five-year, $51 million extension he signed in April 2022, and he has embraced a mentorship role for the Mariners' two promising young infielders, Emerson, 20, and second baseman Cole Young, 22.

When Emerson homered Monday night for his first major-league hit, Crawford was the first player out of the dugout to greet the rookie with the celebratory trident. And after the game, Crawford was the first teammate to douse Emerson in a Gatorade shower.

"It means everything," Crawford said of embracing that mentorship role. "When I came up (in Philadelphia), I really didn't have anyone to show me the ropes until I got over here and Dee Gordon and Kyle Seager took me under their wing. And I made a promise to myself to be like them."

Crawford appeared in 26 games at third base during his first two seasons with Philadelphia in 2017 and '18.

"I really liked it over there," he said. "... Just catch the ball, throw the ball. You're just in a new spot. That's all there really is to it."

Crawford was a late scratch from Wednesday's lineup against the White Sox because of a triceps contusion in his throwing arm, after being hit by pitches in virtually the same spot in his right arm in back-to-back games Sunday and Monday.

Crawford did not make any throws from third base Wednesday morning as he manages his sore arm.

"J.P. is … a selfless player," Wilson said Wednesday morning, "and he'll go wherever anybody needs him to go."

After Crawford approached Wilson on Sunday, Crawford's agent followed up with a phone call to Mariners GM Justin Hollander on Sunday evening.

"Not many players in his position would be willing to do this," Hollander said. "He loves the Mariners and he wants to do anything to win a World Series here."

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Crawford is the longest-tenured player on the Mariners roster, in his eighth season as the starting shortstop. He won the AL Gold Glove in 2020, and last year, he surpassed Alex Rodriguez as the Mariners' all-time leader in games played at the position.

"The goal here is to win a World Series and stay here as long as I can, and that's only two things on my mind, he said.

Crawford remains one of the Mariners' most productive offensive players, with more walks (29) than strikeouts (28). He ranks among the top 10 shortstops this season in homers (six), on-base percentage (.358) and wRC+ (119, with 100 representing league average).

On March 31, the Mariners signed Emerson to an eight-year, $95 million contract, the largest deal ever for a player who had yet to make his MLB debut.

Emerson made his MLB debut Sunday, starting at third base for the Mariners.

And with Crawford managing his sore right arm, Emerson made his first start at shortstop in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the White Sox, cleanly handling all four of his defensive opportunities.

Emerson's defensive progress in the minor leagues had drawn strong reviews from scouts over the past year.

Crawford's defense, meanwhile, has been heavily scrutinized. He's made just three errors in 40 games, with a .980 fielding percentage that ranks 13th among qualified shortstops. He ranks near the bottom of the league, though, in advanced defensive metrics such as Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved.

The Mariners' opening day third baseman, Brendan Donovan, is on the injured list for the second time this season because of a groin strain.

The Mariners promoted Emerson on Sunday when Donovan landed back on the IL. When Donovan is healthy enough to return, the club plans to shift Donovan into a super-utility role, expected to be in the lineup every day while bouncing between multiple positions on the field.

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 5:08 PM.