The Seattle Mariners have arguably more expectations than ever before going into this offseason.

The Mariners were one win away from a World Series for the first time in franchise history this season. They lost 4-3 to the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

Seattle will return most of the foundation of players that helped lead the franchise to the ALCS, including center fielder Julio Rodriguez, catcher Cal Raleigh, closer Andres Munoz and the starting rotation of Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller.

There are still several positions for the Mariners to figure out, namely first base, third base and the bullpen, and they will have over $30 million to figure it out.

A potential target for Seattle is now free to negotiate with MLB teams.

Corner infielder Munetaka Murakami, one of the most prolific slugger in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, was posted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows on Friday (Nov. 7). Due to international posting rules, Murakami has 45 days to negotiated with MLB teams starting Saturday (Nov. 8). If he fails to come to terms with an MLB team, he'll return to NPB.

Based on the 45-day window, Murakami will have until Dec. 23, two days before Christmas, to sign an MLB deal.

Murakami played eight seasons in NPB. He scored 535 runs in 892 games and hit 146 doubles, four triples and 246 home runs with 647 RBIs. He slashed .270/.394/.557 with a .951 OPS.

In his eight seasons, Murakami was a fourt-time All-Star, two-time Central League MVP and one-time Japan Series champion (2021). He helped lead Japan to two gold medals in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics and the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Murakami had six seasons with over 30 home runs, including a 56-home run campaign in 2022.

Murakami is capable of playing first or third base, both of which are positions of need for the Mariners.

First baseman Josh Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who were both acquired by Seattle at the trade deadline, are set to be free agents. Naylor is the Mariners' No. 1 priority in the offseason, but Murakami could be a good replacement for Suarez or pivot-option for Seattle, depending on how negotiations with Naylor play out.

Murakami is projected to earn an eight-year, $158.5 million contract ($19.8 million AAV) in free agency, according to Tim Britton of The Athletic.

The annual value Murakami is projected to earn would fit in with the Mariners' budget, and he would be able to make up a large amount of the power lost if Suarez doesn't return. But he would take up roughly two-thirds of what the club is projected to have in the offseason. That would limit Seattle's ability to fill other positions of need.

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