Blue Jays merchandise yanked from Mariners store after players complain

The Toronto Blue Jays might be heading to Seattle this weekend, but travelling fans should hope they’ve already picked their outfits out well in advance.

Yesterday, the news broke that the Seattle Mariners team store at T-Mobile Park had put out a shelf of Blue Jays merch in anticipation of the MLB’s only Canadian team visiting this upcoming Friday to Sunday for their annual series, which has historically seen thousands of fans make the trek from Western Canada.

Apparently, not everyone was happy with that decision.

Today, Seattle radio voice Dave Mahler revealed the team store had actually reversed the decision, filling the same shelf that once offered Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette shirts with exclusively Mariners merchandise once again.

Mariners team store. 4 hours ago vs 5 minutes. It’s gone pic.twitter.com/LMt9BGDTmx

— Dave “Softy” Mahler (@Softykjr) July 19, 2023

Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae shared a few social media screenshots of Mariners players complaining about their competitors’ merch being sold in their own team store, though it’s not clear if the players’ comments had anything to do with the ultimate decision to reverse their fortunes.

After a couple of Mariners players voiced their displeasure, the #BlueJays merch has been removed ahead of the series in Seattle this weekend.
(📸 @Softykjr) https://t.co/WeC0lTdY00 pic.twitter.com/ky9IPKBb3f

— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) July 19, 2023

The rivalry between the two teams has only heightened since last season, with the Mariners sweeping Toronto in a two-game set at the Rogers Centre last fall during the American League Wild Card series to eliminate the Jays from the MLB playoffs.

And Toronto could inch closer to tying their all-time series in Seattle, as the Blue Jays have a 101-105 record versus the Mariners on the road.

Toronto currently occupies the second Wild Card spot, while the Mariners are 4.5 games back of the third and final extra playoff berth in the American League.

Wherever fans are getting their merch from, it still should be an exciting series as both teams are deep into the hunt for a return to the MLB postseason.