Tigers' Framber Valdez $115M splash has Mariners fans feeling payroll envy

Sep 23, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson, right, celebrates with majority owner John Stanton following a playoff-clinching victory against the Colorado Rockies at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn ImagesThe Seattle Mariners' 2026 payroll is a good news/bad news situation. It's up from 2025, but still a middle-of-the-road payroll at a projected $162 million. That remains the franchise's lane even in a World Series-or-bust year.

Because this is a World Series-caliber team — particularly after this week's long-awaited trade for Brendan Donovan — maybe quibbling about payroll amounts to picking nits. All anyone…