The Seattle Mariners offseason will be under a lot of scrutiny, but for different reasons than previous years.

In recent years, the Mariners were eliminated from playoff contention in the final week of the regular season. The front office was strapped with financial restraints that prevented the team from bringing in big-name free agents. The biggest contract handed to a free agent position player was a two-year, $24 million deal signed by backup catcher Mitch Garver.

This year, Seattle was one win away from making the World Series for the first time in franchise history and are estimated to have $30-35 million to spend "as a starting point" in free agency, according to team president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto.

There are several free agents the team could target in the offseason, with the priority being to bring back first baseman Josh Naylor.

Two potential targets for the Mariners are international free agents and corner infielders Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto, respectively. Those two players will be posted by their respective Nippon Professional Baseball teams from Japan.

In a recent article, the Athletic's MLB insider Jim Bowden published a story projecting contracts for the top 50 free agents and potential free agent fits.

Murakami was ranked as the No. 12 free agent available and is predicted by Bowden to earn a six-year, $160 million ($26.7 million AAV) contract.

Okamoto was listed as the No. 18 free agent available. Bowden projected him to sign a four-year, $90 million ($22.5 million AAV) contract.

Bowden listed Seattle as a potential fit for both teams.

Both players are capable of playing first and third base, which are positions of need for the team. Okamoto can also play in the outfield.

Murakami has a higher power profile and is younger (25-years-old), which is why he's projected to command more money.

Okamoto is older than Murakami (29-years-old) and has better bat-to-ball skills. Okamoto's strikeout rate was 11.3% in 2025 compared to Murakami's 28.6%.

Naylor was predicted by Bowden to earn the same contract as Okamoto. At the current available projections, the Mariners wouldn't be able to afford two players among the combination of Okamoto, Murakami and Naylor.

Depending on how true the "starting point" comment is from Dipoto, there's a chance Seattle could extend its payroll to bring in both Naylor and one of the two international infielders.

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