Recent buzz has Seattle fans wondering if Mariners are dark horse Roki Sasaki team

The anticipation surrounding the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes has grown with every passing rumor and prediction. Several teams are interested in signing the right-handed Japanese pitcher, which makes it hard for any club to stand out above the crowded field.

Although the Mariners may not be the current favorite to land Sasaki, the organization's faith has remained strong this winter. Excluding the M's, there are at least seven other teams that seem to be in the running for the star pitcher. Seattle may have an outside shot of pulling this off, but the mystery of how likely they are to sign him has only increased with each passing day.

Mariners Rumors: Roki Sasaki destinations revealed with one question mark

The latest update on Sasaki does not specifically name the Mariners as a team likely to sign him, but Seattle could very well be the unnamed team.

After all, it's been reported that Sasaki might fit in better in a smaller market. Considering the West Coast draws plenty of Japanese players, on top of Seattle not being a huge market, it makes sense for M's fans to wonder if they're in contention.

We are inching closer to the start of the 2025 international amateur signing period on Jan. 15, and baseball fans are eager to see where Sasaki eventually goes. Next to Juan Soto, Sasaki has been the biggest headline this offseason, and since the star outfielder has been off the market for a month, more eyes have been following the dramatic Sasaki updates.

Morosi's current list is far too long for any team to feel comfortable about their standing. This includes the Mariners, which is a good thing in their case. If a small market club thinks they still have a fighting chance, then that means the evil empires in the Dodgers, Mets, and Yankees may have not fully gotten to Sasaki yet.

The good news is that the Mariners have shown a consistent interest in Sasaki, and although there isn't a concrete trail leading them to him, fans don't need to lose hope as long as there's still speculation lurking. At this point, it feels like anyone's game.