In the roundup: Seahawks defender Leonard Williams confirmed talks about extending his contract; the Mariners will air three matches against the Dodgers for free on a new streaming service; and the viral raccoon Jimoti will be the focus of a themed night at T-Mobile Park.
Leonard Williams Confirmed Talks Over a New Contract With Seattle
Seahawks defender Leonard Williams, one of the team’s defensive core players, confirmed that his agents have already held several conversations with the club about a new agreement. The 32-year-old defensive lineman, who helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl last season, is entering the final year of his current three-year contract worth $64.5 million, signed in March 2024. “There have been some conversations,” Williams admitted after one of the practices. “But nothing is final.”
He’s trying not to dwell on the potential status of free agency, noting that players who worry too much about their contract often lose focus and play poorly. “When I’m focused on my team and on how to get better, it usually takes care of itself,” he added.
Williams joined Seattle in the middle of the 2023 season after a trade from the New York Giants, then later signed a long-term deal. In two full seasons with the Seahawks, he recorded a Pro Bowl appearance (NFL’s All-Star Game) and was named to the All-Pro Second Team in 2025. During that time, he logged 18 quarterback sacks in the regular season and one more in the playoffs, including the sack that was part of Seattle’s Super Bowl LX-winning path. Notably, before moving to Seattle, his only Pro Bowl came as far back as 2016, when he played for the New York Jets.
During the offseason, ESPN polled club executives, scouts, and coaches, and Williams was named the best defensive lineman at his position across the entire league. One of the coordinators even called him “the most important player on that Super Bowl-winning team.” Williams said he was proud to receive that kind of assessment, emphasizing that recognition from his peers means far more to him than praise from fans. “It’s nice to get that kind of recognition late in your career,” he said. “But I don’t let it go to my head. There are a lot of young guys who want my spot.”
Contract extension talks are happening against the backdrop of a noticeable boom in the market for top interior defensive talent. Earlier on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Jalen Carter to a four-year, $152 million deal—$38 million per year—making him the highest-paid defensive tackle in league history (in new money). Williams’ average salary under his current contract is $21.5 million per year, which currently places him only 14th among players at his position. That clearly shows how quickly inflation in the NFL can outpace even successful veterans. Seattle traditionally doesn’t extend contracts if more than a year remains before they expire, so Williams is now one of the leading candidates to improve his terms. The club is already trying to work out an extension with cornerback Devon Witherspoon, but talks with Williams are also ongoing.
It’s still too early to say whether the two sides will reach an agreement before the start of the season, but the very fact that negotiations are happening suggests that the Seahawks value the experience and stability of one of the leaders on their defense. In an article by ESPN, the outlet notes that Williams has gotten used to this kind of uncertainty over the course of his career and appears ready to leave contract decision-making to his agents.
Free Viewing: Three Mariners Games vs. the Dodgers Will Be Streamed Without a Subscription
Modern technology is changing the usual way people watch sports broadcasts, and the Seattle Mariners decided to give fans a chance to sample their new streaming service for free. The offer involves three upcoming away games against the reigning World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. As reported in an article on Seattle Sports, these games will be available on the Mariners.TV platform without any subscription and even without entering a credit or debit card.
All viewers need is a free MLB.com account. After that, the games can be watched either via a direct link on the website or through the official MLB app on mobile devices or streaming devices.
Why did the Mariners take this step? This is the first season in which the club is offering its own in-market streaming service, Mariners.TV. It replaces ROOT Sports, which stopped operating after the conclusion of the 2025 season. For many residents of the U.S. Pacific Northwest, that means a shift from the familiar model: previously, games were carried by cable networks, but now the emphasis is on internet broadcasting. However, the service is available only in the team’s home territory, which covers the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. Residents in those regions can either purchase a direct subscription to Mariners.TV or access the games through cable, satellite, or internet providers.
It’s important to note that the free promotion applies to all three games of the series, which will be played Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:10 p.m. local time. For fans who prefer radio, Seattle Sports 710 AM will provide the traditional pregame coverage, with pregame shows starting at 6:00 p.m. The radio stream is available for free in the Seattle Sports app for listeners in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia, and Alaska.
By the way, even if you’re watching the video with a paid Mariners.TV subscription, you can switch the audio to radio commentary: in a browser, that’s done via the radio tower icon in the bottom-right corner, and in the MLB app via the “Broadcast Options” menu.
This move by the Mariners isn’t just charity—it’s a marketing tool. Potential subscribers get to experience the service firsthand: picture quality, how the interface feels, and how the streaming works. Given that the Dodgers are two-time champions and one of the most popular opponents, interest in these games will be high. The club likely hopes that after the free viewing, some of those viewers will want to sign up for a paid subscription for the rest of the season.
Among other news mentioned in the article are a possible Mariners trade aimed at strengthening the bullpen, as well as a change at hitting-coach assistant. But the biggest intrigue right now is whether the new streaming model can keep an audience that’s used to traditional television. A free weekend may well be the deciding factor.
Some concepts may be unclear to readers far removed from sports: Mariners.TV is a streaming service that lets you watch Mariners games online within the team’s home region. ROOT Sports was a regional sports channel that previously aired games but shut down after the 2025 season. An “in-market” subscription means that access to broadcasts is available only to viewers located in the territory where the team is based (usually several states). The key takeaway is that free viewing is a way to attract new users and popularize the new service that has replaced traditional cable broadcasting. For fans, it’s a no-risk chance to try an alternative; for the club, it’s an important step in the digital transformation of how people consume sports media.
Jimoti the Raccoon Becomes a Baseball Star: The Seattle Mariners Host a Night for the Viral Little Animal
The story of a raccoon named Jimoti, who took the internet by storm this summer, has gotten an unexpected follow-up: its “home” baseball team, the Seattle Mariners, has officially announced a themed night in honor of the furry hero. As reported on the Yahoo Sports website, the event will take place on August 5 at T-Mobile Park during a game against the Detroit Tigers. The first 20,000 fans will receive free “rookie cards” for Jimoti—collectible cards, including rare versions: a gold “1 out of 1,” a silver “1 out of 100,” a sparkling blue “1 out of 500,” and numbered “1 out of 2000” cards.
For the most devoted fans, there will be a special “Jimoti Night” ticket that includes a T-shirt featuring an animated raccoon wearing a Mariners baseball cap. For each such ticket sold, the team will donate $2 to the Ballard Food Bank, a local charity.
The idea to celebrate the raccoon didn’t come out of nowhere. Last summer, Seattle resident Kiana Hall recorded a video of the funny animal running through the city streets and named it Jimoti. The raccoon’s hunched back is noticeable—likely due to a spinal deformity—which didn’t stop it from becoming a favorite of thousands of people on social media. Soon, homemade posters supporting Jimoti appeared at T-Mobile Park, where the Mariners play, and the team even included him in their famous mascot race (the traditional ballpark sprint where animated salmon and other local symbols run instead of athletes). Now, Jimoti will get a full night dedicated to him.
Notably, on August 4—one day before the Seattle event—the Rocket City Trash Pandas will hold their own “Jimoti Night.” The team is the Los Angeles Angels’ farm club from Alabama. Their name translates to “Trash Raccoons from Rocket City,” and they decided to embrace the viral theme. The program includes a raccoon parade in which fans wearing raccoon costumes can participate, treats and drinks served in bowls styled like trash cans, and the first 200 kids will receive a free Jimoti mask.
This case clearly shows how a random viral moment can turn into a full marketing event that brings the community together. A raccoon with a spinal deformity became an unofficial Mariners mascot, and the club is using that popularity for charity and to attract fans. Collectible cards (rookie cards) are standard in sports, but here they’ve been produced in honor of the animal—making these items targets for collectors, especially rare chase card versions. The fact that the idea to support Jimoti came from the team’s star outfielder Julio Rodríguez shows just how deeply internet culture has penetrated professional sports.
Jimoti’s story is more than just a cute oddity. It reflects how local teams can use viral fame to create additional value and strengthen their bond with fans. Baseball has always been known for its traditions and mascots, but now a real raccoon from the streets of Seattle is being added to that pantheon—becoming the hero of the summer. Fans who can’t make it to the game can follow updates on the sports publication’s Yahoo Sports page, where this story was originally published.
