In today’s digest: the Mariners’ first-round pick Ace Reese gets to know Seattle and shows off his power; the Seahawks are close to a record contract with cornerback Devon Witherspoon; Alaska Airlines is selecting the Boeing 737-800 to replace the Hawaiian Airlines fleet in Hawaii.
First swing at T-Mobile Park: how Ace Reese gets to know Seattle
Few rookies can boast that, on their very first visit to a new city, they managed to stop by the famous Pike Place Market, admire the Space Needle, and knock a couple of balls around at the future home stadium of the team. That’s exactly how Ace Reese’s first day in Seattle went—21-year-old outfielder from the University of Mississippi, chosen by the Mariners with the No. 24 pick in the 2026 draft. In an interview with MLB.com, Reese admitted that the mix of iconic sights and baseball work made the trip unforgettable.
His work at the plate during a practice round drew particular attention. Even though it was 30 degrees Celsius—rare heat for the Puget Sound area—which could have “helped” the ball drift toward the right side of the field, reporters specifically pointed to the clean, raw power of his swing. That’s the kind of pop the Mariners were looking for with their first-round selection—an ability to drive balls into the stands without relying on any weather anomalies.
Reese, commenting on his choice, emphasized that Seattle—its baseball traditions and atmosphere—has always appealed to him. For those unfamiliar with the American draft system: the No. 24 pick means the team selected the player in the first round, and those picks typically come with expectations of future stars. “Junior” is a third-year student—meaning Reese had two full seasons under his belt in NCAA and had already made a name for himself. Signing a player like that is a long-term investment, and the first days in the new city suggest the scouts didn’t get it wrong: the young man not only hits with power, he also knows how to enjoy the moment.
Seattle prepares a record contract for a star cornerback: Witherspoon close to a new multiyear deal
One of the biggest questions of the offseason for the Seattle Seahawks—when will the team extend cornerback Devon Witherspoon’s contract?—apparently may have an answer soon. According to information published Tuesday by NFL Network analyst Ian Rapoport, the Seahawks have made Witherspoon an offer of more than $30 million per year, and the deal could be finalized shortly. Rapoport made the statement in the context of a report that Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez of the New England Patriots—both first-round picks in the 2023 draft and eligible for extensions—are in negotiations with their respective clubs. Both players are represented by the same agency, Win Sports Group, which also represents Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Rapoport noted that the talks are moving in parallel, but Witherspoon has clearly progressed further than Gonzalez, and he wouldn’t be surprised if the deal for Seattle’s cornerback gets done first, setting the market.
A contract with an average annual value of $30 million in new money appears likely to set the floor for both players, who are expected to target becoming the highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL. That status currently belongs to former Washington star Trent McDuffie, who signed a $31 million-per-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams after being traded from Kansas City. Next are Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner of Indianapolis at $30.1 million and Derek Stingley Jr. of Houston at $30 million, while fourth is Jaycee Horn of Carolina at $25 million, according to Spotrac.com. In 2026, Witherspoon is set to earn $10.1 million in the final year of his standard four-year rookie contract, and in March, the Seahawks exercised the 2027 season option worth $21.161 million. The team’s leadership has repeatedly said it wants a long-term agreement with Witherspoon, similar to the contract already signed with Smith-Njigba. Recall that the 2027 season option for the receiver was activated on the same day as Witherspoon’s option—March 20—and four days later, Smith-Njigba signed an extension through 2031 worth $195.1 million total over six years. Witherspoon’s contract structure is expected to be similar: it should include the next two seasons he’s already playing under the current deal and keep him with the team for the next decade.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, back in March, said he hoped the team would be able to keep Witherspoon, just like Smith-Njigba. “I think what gets missed is their role as leaders of our team and how young they are,” he said after Smith-Njigba’s contract signing. “It’s a unique combination of how much impact they have on the team, but they’ve also been here three years, so there’s an opportunity to lay a great foundation for the next 10 years, which is very inspiring.” Negotiations with Witherspoon have been going on at least since last spring, and the fact the deal hasn’t been closed yet shouldn’t be surprising: the Seahawks often wait to work on big extensions until the start of training camp. Another complication is Gonzalez’s parallel desire to get a new contract as well—he finished his college career at Oregon. Still, a sign that there aren’t major obstacles in the talks is that Witherspoon took part in the entire offseason program, including both required and voluntary workouts, and was on the field during the joint practices. You can also see him in promotional materials for Hard Knocks. Gonzalez, meanwhile, missed much of the voluntary portion of the Patriots’ offseason.
Witherspoon himself turned 25 in December and has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times since arriving in Seattle thanks to the pick acquired in the trade that sent Russell Wilson to Denver. In a recent Super Bowl win over the New England he recorded four receptions, one sack and one hit on a quarterback play that led to an interception and a 45-yard return that helped seal the victory. Some believed Witherspoon should have been named MVP of the match. For now, the Seahawks have a little more than $25 million under the salary cap ceiling for 2026, but they can structure the deal so it won’t increase (and could even decrease) Witherspoon’s current 2025 cap hit, which is $10.137 million. For comparison, Smith-Njigba’s cap hit this year is $10.371 million. Closing Witherspoon’s deal soon—possibly even before Saturday’s start of training camp—would allow the Seahawks to focus on other contract matters, above all extending the contract of defensive tackle Leonard Williams. He could become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season, and there are rumors the team might try to give him a new contract before he hits the market. A new agreement could also reduce Williams’ 2026 cap hit, which is just over $29 million—the second-highest on the team after $37.9 million for quarterback Sam Darnold. In addition to these updates, the Seahawks announced Tuesday that they’ve signed free-agent cornerback Brandon Johnson, waiving tight end Harrison Bryant. Johnson started his college career at Duke, transferred to Oregon in 2024, and in 2025 signed with Philadelphia as an undrafted rookie, spending much of last season on the practice squad. He played in three games and made three tackles. With the move, the Seahawks’ roster now has 10 cornerbacks and five tight ends.
Details of the talks and potential implications for the cornerback market are covered in the original article by The Seattle Times.
Alaska Airlines chooses the Boeing 737-800 to replace Hawaiian’s fleet in Hawaii
Alaska Airlines, which completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in 2024, announced it has selected an aircraft type to replace the aging Boeing 717 fleet on routes between the Hawaiian Islands. The company is pointing to the Boeing 737-800—a proven aircraft that, according to Alaska Airlines, is best suited for intensive operations in salty sea air and frequent short-haul flights.
As reported by The Seattle Times, the transition to the new aircraft type won’t begin until at least 2028. The upgraded fleet’s base will be Honolulu on Oahu. Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakoú said the decision was made with long-term investment in Hawaii in mind, and with a deep understanding of how important inter-island flights are for local residents and tourists.
The new aircraft will differ not only in greater reliability, but also in improved comfort. Passengers will get free internet access through Starlink, increased cargo space for surfboards, twice as many seats in first class, and more than 30 additional seats in an enhanced economy cabin. That matters especially because, for many residents of Hawaii—which is an archipelago of eight major islands, six of which are available for mass tourism—inter-island flights are the only way to get to work, school, relatives or the hospital. There is no statewide ferry service there, and aviation remains a vital piece of infrastructure.
Jim Landers, head of Alaska Airlines’ Hawaii division, emphasized that because of the short flight durations (typically less than an hour), the aircraft are operated under double the load. Much of the time, they’re not at cruising altitude but in the low-level air full of salty spray, which makes heavy technical maintenance demands. The Boeing 737-800 was chosen specifically for its durability and ability to handle those operating conditions.
Alaska Air Group, the parent company that runs hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, plans not only to update the fleet but also to strengthen its overall presence in Hawaii. A new lounge in Honolulu is planned, along with modernization of airport infrastructure. In addition, a Huakaʻi by Hawaiian loyalty program with special fares and discounts has already been launched for residents of the state.
The fleet replacement is part of a broader strategy to strengthen both airlines following the merger. Alaska Airlines, which flies to more than 140 destinations worldwide, is betting on the proven 737-800 model to preserve and improve service quality on the busiest route—between the islands of the Hawaiian archipelago.
