The past four seasons have seen the Mariners enter a golden age of pitching. From their elite bullpens of the 2020s to their drafting and developing starters. Four of their five starting pitchers were drafted and developed by Seattle: Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo, and Bryce Miller. But the success doesn’t end there. On the other side of the battery, Cal Raleigh also made his way through the Mariners system.
Pair of Mariners Stars Due for Extensions
Financial constraints are a played-out topic amongst Mariners fans and news outlets. The unfortunate reality of the situation is that they are the team’s biggest problem. A lack of ambition caused by the constraints makes building a competitive team around stars like Gilbert and Raleigh nearly impossible. We do know that extensions are something the Mariners are capable of doing, however. We saw Julio Rodriguez and Luis Castillo both sign nine-figure deals in 2022. So what’s changed?
2022 was the last “successful” year Seattle has seen. While they didn’t win anything, they were finally able to end the drought. Giving fans everywhere hope for the future. Fast forward to 2025, the Mariners have yet to make playoffs, and ownership is constantly filling the airways with lies about spending money and putting effort into the market. What about an extension at this point would even appeal to young stars?
Logan Gilbert
Gilbert, 28, is going into his fifth big league campaign. Coming off his best year, where he was an All-Star and even finished sixth in Cy Young voting, Gilbert has emerged as a real contender for Mariners Ace. In 2024, he led the league in innings pitched with 208.2 and WHIP (0.887), pitching to a 3.23 ERA in 33 games with 220 strikeouts, a career-high. Throughout 2022 and 2023 Gilbert was often overlooked by George Kirby. But in 2024 he took a step forward and became the reliable workhorse fans knew he could be.
Gilbert and the Mariners settled this offseason at $7.6m, avoiding arbitration. Entering his prime, expect nothing but improvement from here on out. This would give John Stanton and Co. a real headache. With their reluctance to trade their starters, the Mariners could easily make locking Gilbert up a priority, but if financial limitations keep rearing their ugly head, prepare for the worst.
Cal Raleigh
Raleigh, also 28, is also entering his fifth big league season. The Rawlings Platinum Glove award winning backstop emerged as the clutch bat the Mariners needed in the middle of the lineup in 2024. He was one of the few bright spots in a dark offense. His 4.7 WAR is his career high. So are his 34 homeruns (the most by a Mariners’ catcher) and his 100 RBI. Back-to-back 30 bomb seasons have left the Mariners catcher with MVP votes in both 2023 and 2024.
A Seattle legend after he ended the drought in 2022, Raleigh has emerged as a leader. Not only for the rotation, but for the clubhouse too. It’s evident just how much the Mariners lean on him, showcasing him constantly in media. Raleigh does have more leniency in his case. Free agency would see him entering his age 31 season, and with the number of innings the Mariners are running him out, it’s only a matter of time before he flows down the catcher to first baseman pipeline.
That might also benefit Seattle considering they don’t have a locked down first baseman. According to MLB Network, Raleigh leaving Scott Boras, who has a rocky relationship with the team and city of Seattle sparked rumors of an extension being easier. Given his ability to lead the pitching staff, it’s a no brainer Seattle want to keep him around.
Main Photo Credits: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
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