The Seattle Mariners are expected to take a run at one of the biggest names in the outfield market, with former Chicago Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki now in their sights.
That pursuit comes with a familiar face. The Mariners are expected to lean on Ichiro Suzuki in their pitch to Seiya Suzuki, per Jude’s reporting, as Seattle looks to make a serious play for a player who could draw plenty of interest this winter.
Seattle is not expected to make a push to re-sign Randy Arozarena, who is projected to be the most sought-after bat in free agency. Arozarena and Suzuki both received qualifying offers from their teams and are expected to turn them down.
The two outfielders are coming off the best seasons of their major league careers. Arozarena hit .281/.381/.484 with an .865 OPS in 154 games, piling up 34 doubles, two triples, 26 home runs, 79 RBIs and 26 steals in 34 attempts.
Suzuki posted a .270/.368/.473 line with an .841 OPS in 143 games. He added 31 doubles, a triple, 26 homers and 86 RBIs.
Payroll matters here, too. Seattle is estimated to have $30-35 million available in roster payroll, which frames the kind of swing the club can realistically make.
There’s also a deeper layer to the Suzuki pursuit. If Seattle lands him, it would mark a return to a market the organization once worked often.
The Mariners first tried to sign Suzuki when he was posted by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball before the 2021 season. Ichiro Suzuki was part of that original recruiting effort, and Seiya Suzuki ultimately chose Chicago.
The Mariners have not had a player from Japan on the roster since starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi in 2021. There are three posted NPB players available right now - right-handed starting pitcher Hiromi Itoh, right-handed starter/closer Kaima Taira and third baseman/corner outfielder Teruaki Sato - but the Mariners are not expected to pursue any of them, per Jude’s article. That leaves Seiya Suzuki as the clearest path back into that market.
Defensively, Suzuki also brings a stronger glove than Arozarena. Suzuki has played mostly left field, while Arozarena has spent most of his time in right, though Suzuki has 133.2 innings in left over his career. Baseball Savant credits Suzuki with five outs above average in 2026, good for the 89th percentile, along with 14 defensive runs saved, which ranked second in the majors and first in the National League among right fielders.
Arozarena’s numbers were less flattering in the field. He finished with -5 outs above average, placing him in the 13th percentile, and -2 defensive runs saved, near the bottom among major league left fielders.
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