The Mariners have spent too much of this season asking healthy players to cover for missing ones. Now, with the stretch run gaining speed, three important pieces are finally moving toward the clubhouse door instead of the trainer’s table.J.P. Crawford could restore some order to Seattle’s scrambled infield, while Carlos Vargas and Matt Brash would give the bullpen fresh muscle at two different points in the game. None of them fixes everything alone. Together, though, they could make the roster look deeper, sharper and far less dependent on crossed fingers.J.P. Crawford Is Closing In on a Rehab AssignmentCrawford played five innings at shortstop for Triple-A Tacoma going 0-3 with a strikeout. His season has been choppy. But Seattle needs him back and active on the left side of the infield.Rivas was recalled when Crawford landed on the IL, making him the cleanest candidate to return to Tacoma. Colt Emerson on the IL could alter that calculation, however, putting the optionable Rodden on the bubble instead. Regardless, they’ll want Crawford back quickly, and someone will be squeezed out. Carlos Vargas Is Nearly Ready to Rejoin the BullpenThe hard-throwing right-hander has been working at Triple-A Tacoma and delivered 1 2/3 scoreless innings on Aug. 14. Reports say that he has continued to feel good and will likely rejoin the Mariners during this homestand.Vargas isn’t the glamorous reinforcement. But he’s a much needed one. He made 70 appearances and covered 77 innings in 2025, handling the kind of uncelebrated work that keeps an entire bullpen functional. He can absorb the sixth or seventh inning, bridge shorter starts and prevent Wilson from burning the same leverage arms.Nick Davila or Jhonathan Díaz are the most obvious candidates to lose an active-roster spot. Seattle will also need to create room on the 40-man roster because Vargas is returning from the 60-day IL. Matt Brash Could Transform Seattle’s Late-Inning MixBrash remains a little further away, but his return carries the biggest upside. The right-hander threw his first bullpen session on Aug. 15 and another during the Milwaukee series. His next steps could include one more bullpen session and live batting practice. MLB.com lists his expected return for late August or early September.We know what Brash brings when he’s right. Put him ahead of Andrés Muñoz, with Seranthony José Ferrer and Gabe Speier also available, and Seattle’s bullpen suddenly has defined layers instead of crossed fingers.The Mariners wanted another leverage reliever at the trade deadline and didn’t land one. Brash can become that addition. Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow