The Mariners failed to land the Japanese infielder, but a domino effect from the signing could lead the team to Bo Bichette
The Seattle Mariners missed out on another big-name free agent in corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto on Sunday.
The Mariners reportedly had interest in the Nippon Professional Baseball veteran, but one of the team's biggest rivals of recent years, the Toronto Blue Jays, ended up snagging the former Yomiuri Giant.
Toronto's gain could create an interesting domino effect that leads one of the best pure hitters in baseball to the Pacific Northwest. If Seattle is bold enough to make the move.
The current expectation is that Okamoto will play third base for the defending American League pennant-winners. With him manning the hot corner, this means that Ernie Clement, who set the postseason single-season hit record these past playoffs, will likely move to second base.
With Clement at second, the logical move would be Andres Gimenez playing shortstop. Which would essentially mean the Blue Jays have all infield positions secured and shortstop Bo Bichette's time in Canada is likely at an end.
Currently, the Mariners have openings at second and third base. It's not his natural position, but the M's could look toward Bichette as the answer at second.
Bichette is coming off a resurgent season where he was one of the best pure hitters in the American League. He slashed .311/.357/.483 with an .843 OPS in 139 games. He hit 44 doubles, a triple and 18 home runs with 94 RBIs.
Bichette's 94 RBIs were the second-most in a single season in his career since he made his major league debut in 2019. His batting average was second in the majors behind AL MVP Aaron Judge (.331).
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Bichette's arm strength (82.3 mph) ranks in the 36th percentile of baseball, according to Baseball Savant, which makes him more likely to play second than third for Seattle.
The issue when it comes to a potential Bichette and Mariners union isn't fit or ability. It's cost.
Bichette currently has a market value of eight years, $186.4 million ($23.3 million AAV) according to Spotrac.
If Seattle signs Bichette for even close to that market value, it would be by far the biggest contract given to a free agent hitter since president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto joined the organization in 2015. The current record is a five-year, $92.5 million contract signed by first baseman Josh Naylor this offseason.
Dipoto said at the start of this offseason the club's offseason budget was exact to its end-of-2025 payroll ($168 million) "as a starting point." FanGraphs projects the Mariners' current payroll at $157 million, leaving the team about $11 million.
A deal for Bichette, even a one-to-two year deal with an option that would allow him to test the free agent market again in 2027, would likely push Seattle well past that threshold.
The Mariners are in the middle of a legitimate contention window the club hasn't seen in over 20 years. But at the same time, the team has seen other AL teams such as the Blue Jays, Houston Astros, and Baltimore Orioles all make significant improvements this offseason. And there are more elite free agents such ass outfielder Kyle Tucker and third baseman Alex Bregman that could widen the gap between Seattle and the rest of its AL rivals.
A deal for Bichette would be territory Mariners ownership hasn't yet traversed. But to remain competitive, it's a trek the team should make.
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