The Seattle Mariners already made a huge move this offseason, re-signing Josh Naylor to a five-year contract.
They've got a much smaller decision to make by the end of this week.
Friday is MLB's non-tender deadline. That means that players who are eligible for arbitration have to essentially be extended a contract offer, and if they aren't they are released.
If a team doesn't expect to like the arbitration amount they'll be told to pay a player, they can non-tender them and allow them into free agency.
The Mariners' notable non-tender candidate listed by MLB Trade Rumors is the reliable relief pitcher Trent Thornton.
MLBTR projects Thornton to earn $2.5 million in arbitration.
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Thornton joined Seattle midway through the 2023 season from the Blue Jays and has been very reliable.
In 127 appearances for the Mariners, Thornton has a 3.65 ERA. He has struck out 130 batters in 140.2 innings pitched.
That has lowered his career numbers considerably. In parts of five seasons with Toronto, Thornton had put up only a 4.77 ERA.
The 6-foot tall righty is 32 years old now, and so he's at that stage when most relief pitchers turn into journeymen by default. It doesn't seem the Mariners cost themselves much by letting Thornton hit free agency. They'd likely be able to re-sign him for a bit less if they want him back, or sign an equivalent dollar-figure reliever that they like better.
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