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Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez makes it hard to not like the M's. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

MLB futures: Should you bet on this team to win its first-ever World Series?

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 3/4/24

You might think that since the Texas Rangers won their first World Series in 2023 that oddsmakers would be keen on another MLB franchise winning its first-ever championship. This isn't the case, however, as DraftKings lists the odds of a first-timer winning at +900 and for them not to win at -1400.

Of course, that doesn't mean that one of the five teams yet to win a World Series couldn't surprise us this season. But is one of them worth betting on?

The Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays are all varying degress of long shots to win the Fall Classic in 2024, according to DK. However, Seattle has the most favorable odds at 20-1 and, frankly, they are worth considering your wager.

Sure, the Mariners were expected to have a bang-up 2023 campaign only to narrowly miss a postseason bid, and they've never made a World Series appearance let alone won it. But before you put your money down on a team like the Houston Astros or the Los Angeles Dodgers to repeat past postseason success, here is why you should consider wagering on the Seattle Mariners in 2024.

Julio Rodriguez with the home run robbery and he had everyone fooled pic.twitter.com/i9zS4iMe2Z
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) August 9, 2023

It's hard not to like the Mariners at 20-1 with a player like Julio Rodriguez in the lineup. The 2022 AL Rookie of the Year ended his 2023 campaign slashing .275/.333/.485 with 32 home runs,103 RBI and 37 stolen bases, and was equally impressive in the outfield last season. His relationships with Mariners' icons Ken Griffey Jr. and Ichiro Suzuki add to what makes Rodriguez a player to cheer for, with MLB.com going so far as to say that if "the Mariners do end up reaching that first World Series, he’s going to be the guy who leads them there." While one player does not a full MLB team made, Rodriguez helps make Seattle a more appealing team to wager on.

And it isn't just Rodriguez. The Mariners are a younger team brimming with talent and ready to take the team into a new era, and that extends into their pitching rotation. Veteran Luis Castillo leads a band of 31-and-under aces who had the second-lowest team ERA in the bigs last season (3.74) according to StatMuse. Seattle's bullpen is as stacked as its starting rotation, and will be lethal in 2024 if they can stay healthy. (Just think of how unstoppable they'll be once Matt Brash is healthy enough to deal in 2024.)

Of course, when considering putting money on the Mariners to win the World Series, you also have to look at the competition around them. The AL West is a lopsided group with Houston and Texas topping the division last season with the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland A's bringing up the rear. If the Angels and A's are as bad as they were last season -- and it's safe to think that will be the case -- then the two Texas teams are Seattle's biggest competition. The Rangers have had a tame offseason after winning their first-ever World Series, which some critics believe will do them a disservice this season. If the Mariners are going to get back into the playoffs, let alone be a good bet to win the World Series, these are the teams they need to keeping pace with.

We have liftoff pic.twitter.com/eyvdOGwaTt
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 3, 2024

Oddsmakers may currently have their eyes on certain teams to repeat World Series success in 2024, but that will no doubt change once the regular season gets underway and there are win-loss records to contend with. With that in mind, you should take a look at the odds for which teams have never won it before -- and keep the Seattle Mariners in mind when you place your bet.

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