Logan Gilbert's projected 2027 salary is another reason Mariners shouldn't trade him

Despite its recent reputation for being a pitcher-friendly ballpark, the Mariners haven't had as much arm talent come through the ranks as you may have expected. The three players representing the franchise in the Hall of Fame in Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martínez, and Ichiro Suzuki, were all position players. Randy Johnson's best years were with the Diamondbacks and players like Jamie Moyer and Mark Langston were great, but fall just short of being considered franchise cornerstones.

The only pitcher to reach that peak for Seattle was Félix Hernández, who spent all 15 of his big-league seasons with the Mariners. Since his retirement, the team has struggled to fill his place, but the team's current crop of starting pitching contains more than enough talent for Seattle to find the next great franchise starter.

To many, Logan Gilbert is the most appealing option to keep around long-term. While his teammates have had their ups and downs, Gilbert hasn't posted an ERA higher than 3.73 since his rookie year while accumulating 902 innings over the past five seasons. He's already the eighth-best pitcher in Mariners history by fWAR (17.8) and talks of an extension have been circulating since his sixth-place Cy Young finish in 2024.

Talks of an extension have started to gain steam once more, but so have rumors of a potential trade, especially with the Mariners needing to get back to contender status. However, a few variables could lead to a team-friendly arbitration if Seattle can get another year of Gilbert for cheap, why not run it back?

Logan Gilbert is projected to make $15.4 million, reasonable enough for the Mariners to keep him

MLB Trade Rumors recently published their projected 2027 salaries for every arbitration-eligible player, and though Gilbert is comfortably the Mariners' highest-paid player, it's hardly an unfathomable amount for Seattle to pay, especially given what he's capable of. Here's what other pitchers accomplished this season while being paid a similar amount.

It's a bit of a peculiar salary range for starting pitchers. Between $14 and $17 million, there's a little bit of excellence with a lot of question marks, especially for players like Senga and Gallen. Gilbert may not be capable of reaching the same peaks of the likes of Fried or Yamamoto, but assuming he maintains the consistency of the past several seasons, a salary under $16 million will be money well spent, especially when compared to this peer group.

Not all players will be worth their projected arbitration salaries, but in a year that saw regression from George Kirby, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo, it's difficult to imagine parting with Logan Gilbert will be part of a winning strategy for a team that seems dead-set on hitting the ground running in 2027.

One possible wrinkle for Seattle to keep in mind is that 2027 will be Gilbert's final year under club control. Normally, this would incentivize teams to make a trade, especially if they'll struggle to retain him in free agency but this is all the more reason to push for an extension. After Cal Raleigh signed his extension in 2025, Gilbert echoed a sentiment of wanting to do the same, saying "I'd love to finish my career here."

Seattle has already committed to several long-term position player contracts, but have struggled to do the same following the disappointment of the Robbie Ray contract. Still, it's at least a little ironic that a team that has depended so heavily on their pitching staff to win games has been unwilling to commit to any of the players upholding such a responsibility.

Logan Gilbert is a homegrown player who has already proven his ability to contribute on the mound. If he's not the ideal candidate for a contract extension, it'll be difficult to find one who fits the mold.

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