As the 2025 MLB season begins, the Seattle Mariners find themselves in a familiar position, entering the year with a largely unchanged roster from the previous season. The biggest addition of the offseason was veteran infielder Donovan Solano, marking another quiet winter for the team despite missing the playoffs in both 2023 and 2024. However, Seattle’s ability to contend this year remains strong, thanks to a dominant homegrown starting rotation featuring Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo—all of whom possess front-line potential.
Throughout the offseason, numerous teams expressed interest in acquiring Seattle’s talented young starters, but the Mariners chose to hold firm, signaling a potential long-term commitment to keeping their core intact. According to Adam Jude of the Seattle Times, the team is exploring ways to retain these pitchers well beyond their current contracts.
“Frankly, I’d love to see all four young pitchers stay here,” Mariners chairman John Stanton told Jude. “It takes interest from both the players and the organization, but we strongly believe in keeping a core group together. There’s a certain symmetry in maintaining a talented group like ours, and I feel great about that.”
Stanton’s comments align with Seattle’s long-standing philosophy of prioritizing internal talent over splashy free-agent signings. Over the years, the organization has secured Julio Rodríguez, Luis Castillo, and J.P. Crawford with long-term deals, opting to build from within rather than chase big names in free agency. Most recently, the Mariners extended star catcher Cal Raleigh on a six-year, $105 million deal, ensuring his presence in Seattle through at least 2030. The extension comes after Raleigh’s emergence as one of the game’s premier offensive catchers, capped off by a Gold Glove-winning 2024 season.
Gilbert’s Interest in Staying Long-Term
Among the Mariners’ young pitchers, Logan Gilbert has been one of the most vocal about his desire to remain in Seattle for the long haul. Jude reports that the right-hander expressed excitement over Raleigh’s extension, noting that it adds even more incentive for him to consider staying.
“[The Mariners] know where I stand,” Gilbert said. “Seattle has become like home for me, and I’d love to be able to finish my career here.”
While it remains unclear whether Kirby, Woo, and Miller share Gilbert’s eagerness for a long-term deal, securing Gilbert’s future would be a major win for the franchise. Since breaking out in 2022, he has been one of the most reliable arms in baseball, posting a 3.36 ERA and 3.50 FIP over three seasons. His 208 2/3 innings last year led the majors, making him one of the few true workhorses in the modern game. His durability and consistency earned him a sixth-place finish in AL Cy Young voting in 2024.
With two more seasons of team control remaining and his 28th birthday approaching in May, Gilbert appears to be entering a pivotal phase of his career where an extension could be mutually beneficial. A long-term deal would offer him financial security into his 30s, while allowing the Mariners to lock up a cornerstone of their rotation for years to come.
No Imminent Deal for Gilbert
Despite the potential fit, an extension for Gilbert does not appear imminent. He told Jude that it has been “a while” since the team last approached him about a contract extension and noted that he prefers not to engage in negotiations during the season.
Given his stance, any potential deal would likely wait until the upcoming offseason, when Gilbert will be preparing for his penultimate arbitration year. While no agreement is guaranteed, his openness to staying in Seattle gives Mariners fans reason for optimism that the team can continue building around its elite rotation for years to come.
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