Blue Jays' Seiya Suzuki interest destroys hopes of a Mariners free-agent steal

The list of offseason needs for the Mariners is extensive, including a strong right-handed bat after ranking 22nd in team batting average from the right side of the plate. One player who stands out as a viable option to improve this area, is Seiya Suzuki. However, any hopes of acquiring him might be over before they even get warmed up, at least based on the latest news concerning the Japan native.

We actually wrote about Suzuki early in September, focusing on him as a dream free-agent Plan B if Randy Arozarena walks. (Perhaps that should be when.) The 32-year-old has just completed the best all-around season of his five years in the majors, with a career-high 5.1 bWAR. He's just what the Mariners need as a good bat and a tremendous outfielder, and yet apparently here come the Blue Jays to throw a spanner in the works.

According to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, citing a league source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the Blue Jays are expected to pursue Suzuki this offseason. Certainly you can appreciate this, with Bannon noting that the five-time NPB All-Star's .841 OPS would have led all qualifying Jays by nearly 80 points. Assuming Canada's only Major League team does make a play for him, this very much leaves the Mariners firmly in the rear view mirror.

Is Mariners ownership prepared to step up to the plate and offer more financial support?

The reality is that only one team out of the Mariners and Blue Jays is known to be a big spender in free agency, and it's not the one in Seattle. As much as this season's Opening Day payroll for the M's was a franchise high, it was still only 16th out of all 30 Major League teams. The Blue Jays meanwhile, were fifth.

The thinking is that Suzuki will find it hard to top the five-year, $85 million deal he signed with the Cubs in 2022. However, if the Blue Jays set their mind on acquiring him, they'll have no problem paying over the odds to secure his signature. Certainly we know they have the backing of ownership, as evidenced by the outrageous 14-year, $500 million extension that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. agreed to last April.

For anyone who wonders if the Mariners are even interested in Suzuki, keep in mind they apparently had him on their radar as a trade candidate back in June. At the time, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times suggested the M's would probably consider a Suzuki-for-Luis Castillo type deal. Further, there had been discussions in the past with the Cubs regarding Castillo trade scenarios, making it seemingly more feasible.

Of course ultimately it came to nothing, not that the Mariners were complaining after shipping Castillo and his remaining contract to the White Sox and getting Boston Smith as part of a tremendous return package. At the same time though, you still get the feeling the M's would like to find a way to sign Suzuki. However, it's going to be all but game over if the Blue Jays do indeed enter the picture and the teams get into a bidding war.

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