Huge contracts from the Seattle Mariners are a rarity, especially when they’re position players. Even more so when they’re free agents. The last major contracts the Mariners handed out were Robinson Cano‘s 10-year/$240 million deal and Nelson Cruz‘s four-year/$57 million deal. It’s fair to call both contracts a success. The pair put up six All-Star appearances and totaled 40.5 WAR in their five seasons in the Emerald City. Seattle’s frugality, however, is no more evident than in recent seasons. The biggest contract given to a free-agent hitter since 2015 is Mitch Garver‘s two-year/$24 million contract.
But, the Mariners are no stranger to the free-agent market. They’ve increased their spending on hitters over the past two seasons, signing AJ Pollock to a one-year/$7 million contract in 2023, and Garver in 2o24. However, the Mariners’ payroll is way below where you would expect a contending team in a market like Seattle to be. Multiple reports list the Mariners at 18th in total payroll. That would give them a projected payroll between $135 million and $146 million. Finances have been a problem since John Stanton took over in 2016.
So, here are some ways the Mariners can make competitive moves on a tight budget.
Three Ways the Mariners Can Improve On a Budget Moving Forward
1. Trade from Pitching Depth
The last thing most Mariners fans, and according to most reports until recently, the actual Mariners, want to do is trade from their pitching surplus. But, Seattle has a proven pitching lab as of 2024 which has them sitting on a potential gold mine. One name that’s been thrown around the past week is Luis Castillo. Castillo was acquired in 2022 and signed a five-year/$108M extension the same year. Castillo was thrown into the ace role and propelled the Mariners to their first postseason in 21 years. Since 2022, he’s been a reliable innings-eater for Seattle, but he comes at a price. His extension has him netting $21 million annually, which would more than double the Mariners’ projected spending money.
However, trading him would leave a gaping hole in the rotation. Cristopher Sánchez from the Philadelphia Phillies is a great, cheap option, with a salary of $5 million. Alec Bohm is another cheap name the Mariners have been circling, so they could package him in with a couple of their top prospects and the third overall pick they just got from the draft lottery.
Emerson Hancock also waits in Tacoma. He’s shown flashes at the big-league level and could be a decent trade option.
2. Sign Roki Sasaki
If a quality name like Sánchez exceeds the Mariners’ price range, rumors indicate they are also making a “huge push” for Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki. Sasaki is a great fit for Seattle. There’s the obvious Japan link with legend Ichiro rumored to be on the pitch. More so, Sasaki’s agent recently came out and said that a “soft launch” into a smaller market team would suit him better.
The Mariners are planning a full-fledged recruiting pitch for Roki Sasaki that is expected to include Ichiro, the Japanese icon and future Hall of Famer. (via @A_Jude) https://t.co/wUBvOKXLDR
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) December 11, 2024
Signing Sasaki would give Seattle the freedom to implement a six-man rotation, which would help their pitchers rest, or it would allow them to trade a different starter for quality bats since offense is the biggest problem.
3. Sign Veteran Free Agents
Recent reports around Seattle say the team is targeting a veteran right-handed first baseman. Former Mariners Justin Turner and Carlos Santana are both great options for returning. Reports suggest the Mariners are heavily looking into Santana, who last signed a one-year/$6M contract, which fits right in with their budget. Santana was decent in Seattle, providing a great veteran presence for Julio Rodríguez, and for the team morale as a whole. He only hit .192, but he had some big home runs down the stretch. His slowed-down approach and calm in the storm helped the Mariners on the road to the playoffs, and even in them, contributing to their comeback in the 2022 Wild Card series in Toronto.
Justin Turner makes this a brand new ballgame in the 8th with one swing 💪 pic.twitter.com/3d3lL6ZgXC
— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024
Justin Turner is another great option who also enjoyed PNW-bound success, and he remains just a good all-around hitter, Turner helped to steady the lineup in 2024. He also provided some great leadership and lineup flexibility, chipping in at first base, DH, and even third base. He hit .264 with five home runs and 24 RBI, tripling his 2024 WAR with the Toronto Blue Jays (0.4 to 1.2). On top of that, he instantly endeared himself to fans by paying homage to the legendary Seattle band Soundgarden with his walkup music. He still has a connection to the city, posting on social media that he was spending time in Seattle in the off-season.
Santana would slot in as an everyday first baseman, while Turner would shift between first and DH, and fill in at third when needed.
Photo Credit: © Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
