Mariners Rumors: Seattle keeps getting linked to game-changing Japanese slugger

As the Mariners pivot their focus from the 2025 World Series to the 2026 season, reloading the roster has become the organization's new top priority. The final weeks of Mariner baseball this year illustrated several weaknesses in the current roster, and in addition to any non-tender decisions or trades, several players will also be leaving in free agency, notably Seattle's two corner infielders: Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez.

Given his contributions to the team during the regular season and the playoffs, there's likely some urgency to bring Naylor back on a long-term deal, but the same can't be said for Suárez. His acquisition was arguably the most exciting move by any team, but it failed to live up to the hype, as he posted a .682 OPS with the team in the regular season and a satisfactory .700 OPS in the postseason. Luckily, the Mariners could look overseas for help at third base.

The Seattle Mariners are said to be one of the potential teams to sign Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami this winter

In a recent article by Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Mariners were listed as one of four teams that were expected to make big pushes to sign third baseman Munetaka Murakami after he's posted — the other contenders being the Yankees, Mets, and Phillies.

Given his career numbers in the NPB, the interest from big league clubs is warranted. Over his eight seasons, the 25-year old hasn't posted a wRC+ below 150 since 2019 and has also amassed 265 home runs and 722 RBI. He also set the single-season NPB record for most home runs (56) hit by a Japanese-born player, formerly held by Sadaharu Oh. His raw power has allowed him to split time between both third and first base, making him a possible target for teams needing help in either position.

He's expected to be quite the hot commodity once he's made available, and it won't be an easy path for Seattle if they're serious about pursuing his services. Compared to the other big market contenders, the Mariners stand out like a sore thumb. Seattle's $135.1 million payroll pales in comparison to the other three teams and is half of what the Mets are paying their players every year ($274.9 million).

While that has limited their negotiating leverage in years past for other marquee free agents, one could also argue it means they have more to spend. Furthermore, despite the immense difference in spending, the Mariners have arguably fewer needs than their big market counterparts, who have all either been eliminated from the postseason or failed to make it in the first place.

Another important factor to consider is that Murakami is not without fault. Very much a three true outcome hitter, his strikeout rate has gradually climbed towards 30 percent over the past few years, and it could be his Achilles heel when facing the higher level MLB pitching. Along with his defensive liabilities and positional uncertainty, less risk-averse teams with multiple gaps to plug may pass on him until he has a more proven track record.

Precedent would suggest that it's dangerous for Mariners fans to get excited about the team's offseason moves since they tend to be underwhelming at best and catastrophic at worst. Even when frequently mentioned as an "interested party," big signings rarely pan out.

Yet things seem different for Seattle in many ways. They've already turned aggressive trade deadline deals into a deep postseason run and there's reason to believe this is just the start of a new chapter for the club. A slugging corner infielder could be the piece that officially elevates the Mariners from perennial underdog to annual championship threat.