The Seattle Mariners' top offseason priority is to bring back Josh Naylor.
After that, they've got to solve third base.
Eugenio Suarez is a free agent, and his struggles after coming to Seattle from the Diamondbacks at the trade deadline likely make him a lower focus for the Mariners. That could mean they need a replacement.
Given that the Mariners got within one run of the World Series, they seem likely to make a splash even if Suarez leaves.
One player that multiple insiders have said would fit nicely in Seattle is Japanese third baseman Munetaka Murakami. He's the NPB record holder for home runs in a single-season by a Japanese player, at 56.
ESPN's Kiley McDaniel released contract projections on Thursday, which shows what the Mariners might need to shell out for Murakami. His prognosis: five years and $80 million, along with at $13 million posting fee.
"A reasonable expectation is Murakami can be an immediate home run threat with a solid walk rate but a low average and not much in the way of baserunning or defensive value -- maybe Kyle Manzardo/Matt Wallner on the lower end, Spencer Torkelson as a medium comp and Brent Rooker as the hopeful outcome," McDaniel writes. "The above projected contract might look weird for that set of comps, and there are a number of teams that wouldn't go over $50 million for Murakami, but there are also not many mid-20s position players on the free agent market with a clear carrying tool and no QO; these sorts of players demand a high price on the trade market if they're even available. A comp that comes up is Joey Gallo, who most fans think was always a bad player, but he did post 4.4 WAR in his age-27 season, and next year will be Murakami's age-26 season."
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The Mariners will be far from alone in the Murakami market.
The Los Angeles Dodgers can never be counted out, given their pursuit of other Japanese stars and their seemingly endless pockets.
McDaniel also floats the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees as two possibilities, although the Cubs don't really need a corner infielder.
The Mariners may have the biggest mix of need and incentive, given the potential hot corner opening combined with the urgency to improve upon a special season that came up a little short.
If McDaniel is right, Seattle can push its offer even a bit higher than $80 million, because for the Mariners, an overpay might actually work out to be fair value if Murakami is as advertised.
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