Based on last season’s results, one would think adding more frontline starting pitching isn’t at the top of general manager Jerry Dipoto’s wish list for the Seattle Mariners. None of their five starters had an ERA higher than 4.32; Luis Castillo and George Kirby were All-Stars, and Logan Gilbert wasn’t far behind.
Yet, the free agent market has far more pitchers available than hitters who can make a similar impact. In turn, some insiders like MLB Network’s Jon Paul Morosi believe the Mariners could part with a pitcher like Gilbert if they feel they have an easier path to adding another elite starting pitcher via free agency.
With Gilbert under team control through the 2027 season, the 27-year-old would likely hold significant trade value as the Mariners try to strengthen their lineup.
Which pitcher may the Mariners be targeting in free agency? Moroso indicated Seattle could actually be a legitimate suitor for Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who’s expected to sign for upwards of $200 million this offseason.
Mariners’ GM Jerry Dipoto has even told Morosi that the organization is “looking to re-establish their connection to Japan.”
Yamamoto has won two Pacific League MVPs while playing in the NPB. Mariners Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki won three MVPs in the NPB before becoming a ten-time All-Star and MLB MVP. Both athletes also played for the Orix Buffaloes. Could Yamamoto follow in Suzuki’s footsteps in the United States too?
Morosi’s report suggests Yamamoto is expected to be posted soon, opening a 45-day negotiation window for teams to sign the right-handed pitcher. While the Mariners may very well jump into the fray, indications are that the New York Mets and New York Yankees will also be involved, among many others.
As they say, you can never have enough pitching, and Yamamoto is regarded as the best starter on the free agency market. Anyone willing to pay the price may be looking at adding the next All-Star, if not a superstar, to their roster. Most teams would take that opportunity in a heartbeat, no matter the cost.