Seattle Mariners announce 4-year extension for Marco Gonzales

The Seattle Mariners have had a relatively quiet off-season. That is until Jerry Dipoto got to work over the past 10 days. After adding a fun lottery ticket on waivers, he went ahead and took care of one of his own.

The Seattle Mariners announced, less than an hour ago, that they have signed left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales to a 4-year extension with a 5th-year club option. The extension kicks into place following the 2020 season.

The team has not confirmed the exact terms of the extension, but it is being reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that the extension is for $30 million. The terms of the 5th-year club option remain unknown, though Jon Heyman has reported that it could be worth $15 million. Gonzales, who was under club control through the 2023 season, is now controlled until at least 2024.

Gonzales will still earn his scheduled $1 million salary in 2020, bringing his new contract total up to 5-years, $31 million guaranteed. If the club exercises the option, the final tally for the team and Gonzales will be 6-years at $46 million.

Gonzales finished 25th in pitcher fWAR in 2019 and has racked up a 7.1 fWAR in 2 full seasons removed from Tommy John Surgery. The soon-to-be 28-year-old was acquired by the Mariners in the summer of 2017 in a controversial trade with the St. Louis Cardinals for Tyler O’Neill.

Gonzales is the second Seattle Mariners to sign an extension prior to hitting arbitration this off-season after Evan White signed his 6-year, $24 million contract (with 3 club options) was finalized late in 2019.

Dipoto had this to say in the press release issued:

"“Since joining the Mariners, Marco has been a model of consistency, quietly ranking among the most productive starting pitchers in the AL… His presence, competitiveness, preparation and leadership make him a key part of our future.”"

The Mariners may not be done extending players they view as part of their core moving forward. But for the second time, this winter, Dipoto and the Mariners have committed to a player long before they had to, a clear indication of a well thought out plan.

We are still awaiting salary breakdowns on a year by year basis and will update you when we get them.