ESPN suspiciously labels the Mariners as the 'Best Fit' for pricey free agent slugger

Every offseason, the rumor mill ends up naming the Mariners as a "top destination" or "potential landing spot" for at least a few of the top free agents. It happens to nearly every team that has even some chance of contending, but hearsay about Seattle picking up a major name is particularly questionable because there isn't much precedent to back it up.

The last time they signed a big name was with Robbie Ray's five-year, $115 million deal in 2021, and he only spent two years on the team's payroll and one year on the field before Seattle decided to get out from under it and trade him to the Giants. In recent years, they've opted for spending money on extending homegrown talents like Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh to outstanding results. Still, that hasn't kept some from restarting the annual whirlwind of winter rumors on who they might sign.

The Seattle Mariners are, once again, being linked to Munetaka Murakami

In a recent article discussing best fits for the top free agents, ESPN's David Schoenfield mentioned that Munetaka Murakami could fit a perfect niche in Seattle, rounding out the roster while their younger infield prospects take time to develop and they get more clarity on first base. This isn't the first time that the slugger has been connected to Seattle, and it could be a recurring conversation throughout the offseason, for good reason.

Despite being fiscally responsible and having one of the more efficient payrolls in baseball, the results of this year's postseason have officially elevated the Mariners into contender status. Rather than trying to maximize wins per dollar spent, it's time for the organization to commit to winning, and part of that could mean spending big on the more alluring names to fill holes in the current roster.

The 2025 trade deadline was a glimpse into what Seattle baseball could be like with effective corner infielders. Josh Naylor was incredible at first base and if the Mariners are willing to meet his now lofty asking price, there's no reason he couldn't spend the rest of his prime years with them. When it comes to third base, the options are less clear cut. Outside of Alex Bregman, who unsurprisingly opted out of his contract with the Red Sox after a great season, there aren't a lot of free agents who could move the needle, at least not in the United States.

Initial salary projections for Murakami are hefty and place him in the range of six years, $160 million. This may have priced out the Mariners just a few years ago, but now that they've turned the corner on their risk appetite and seem ready to bump payroll, it could be in the realm of possibility. After all, that's an AAV of $26.7 million, slightly more than what Luis Castillo is making annually for the remainder of his contract with the team.

Without Murakami, Colt Emerson could get called up to play third base, but getting called up to the big leagues is enough of a challenge without also having to play your non-primary position. At just 20 years old, it's probably better to give him more time in the minor leagues than it is to rush his development.

Typically, this would be just another in a long line of educated guesses and fun offseason hypotheticals. But with the recent inflection point in the way that the Mariners have been operating, landing Murakami may end up being more fact than fiction.