Mariners get a new warning not to let ace Logan Gilbert reach free agency

We haven't heard much from Logan Gilbert ever since he hit the 15-day IL. He has been staying active while on the road to recovery, but while the Seattle Mariners have reached new heights, he has been on the sidelines.

Given how effective Gilbert was in the six starts he did make this year, the conversation about him has shifted from his start-to-start performances to his overall future with the organization.

With his free agency approaching in 2028, it's never too early to think about whether he'll be allowed to reach free agency or used as a future trade piece. If recent reports are to be believed, the former option might be a little too rich for Seattle's blood.

How much would it cost to keep Logan Gilbert in Seattle?

In a recent piece predicting the next historic free agent contract, ESPN insider Jeff Passan projected Gilbert to net a deal in the ballpark of $200 million. The last time the organization coughed up that kind of money for a pitcher, it was to lock down none other than Félix Hernández.

If they want to try and get ahead of the curve, the Mariners could try to get Gilbert to sign an extension to get more years of his prime at a discounted rate before letting him hit the open market. If that were the case, the most recent predictions before the season had him pegged at $126 million, a total bargain compared to what Passan thinks he might be able to get.

This makes Gilbert's performance over the next few years bittersweet. On one hand, if he continues to shove and be an elite arm at the top of the rotation, his stock price will continue to increase and the probability that he settles for a lower extension in Seattle or that the Mariners will be fiscally liberal enough to compete for him in free agency will continue to skid.

This is all the more reason to try and push extension talks as soon as possible. The Atlanta Braves have set the standard for how to manage extensions for talented players as they've managed to get top talent like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Sean Murphy for next to nothing relative to their contributions.

Seattle has already taken a step in the right direction by extending Cal Raleigh. Given his working relationship with Gilbert as well as the organization making moves to build a strong core for the next few years, an extension could and should be the next item on the agenda.