Logan Gilbert has the scoop on what Mariners’ rotation has been up to

With Seattle Mariners pitchers and catchers due to report to Peoria in two weeks, Logan Gilbert has been left wondering where the offseason went.

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“This time I think it flew by,” Gilbert said from his home in Florida when he joined The Hot Stove on Seattle Sports this week. “Training-wise it has been pretty similar, nothing crazy. I tried to get into a regular schedule despite the fact we went longer (in the playoffs).”

Gilbert has kept in contact with the coaching staff throughout the winter, with pitching coach Pete Woodworth set to watch him throw a bullpen Thursday. In addition to consulting with his coaches, Gilbert has talked with his fellow starters throughout the winter.

The Hot Stove airing live from Mariners FanFest on Saturday

“I feel like everybody’s really on the same page here for the team plan, for my plan what I need to work on,” he said. “I’ve tried to check in with different pitchers and text them or call them. Even guys younger than me, they’ve helped me a ton. So that’s part of it too is just bouncing ideas off them, seeing where they’re at.”

After spending the previous eight months with his teammates, Gilbert found the experience of the season coming to an abrupt end and players going their separate ways jarring. They are a close knit group and he missed the camaraderie and pitching conversations they had on a daily basis.

“Every day we kind of get our feel for that stuff, whoever’s throwing that day, and then just talking about it,” he said. “Grips, shapes, ideas, attack plan, all that kind of stuff. And then all of a sudden, it’s just weird – you play your last game and everybody’s gone the next day.”

The pitching conversations have been maintained through the winter on texts, calls and Facetimes. When asked for a sneak peek at perhaps something new we could see from a starter in Peoria, Gilbert gave up the goods on a teammate.

“(Bryan) Woo told me he was working on a changeup again, tweaking it the other day,” Gilbert revealed. “He said Cal (Raleigh) was catching him in Arizona and said one of them was good, which is a huge deal because if you’re ever trying something new, Cal’s going to tell you – at least from my experience, every time I try something new, he’s like that’s not it, don’t throw that. I was a little jealous to begin with, but just the fact that Woo said one of them he said was good, I’m like, man, that means it’s really good.”

For his part, Gilbert said he is not making any big changes with his arsenal this winter, rather focusing on fine-tuning the pitches he does have. He did however admit to playing around with a cutter and changeup to give him an option when behind in the count or perhaps something that he could use against lefties. He has made his catcher aware of the potential additions and got the anticipated response.

“Yeah, I talked to (Raleigh) a week or two ago, and I don’t think he’s super excited about certain things, but usually he steers me back straight,” he said. “I can have crazy ideas, and then he kind of gets me back online.”

Gilbert is looking forward to what he hopes is a fully healthy season not just for himself but the entire rotation. While he credits those who came up and filled in for the regulars for playing a big part in what the Mariners were able to do in 2025, he agreed that there was just a little something extra when all five of the usual rotation are in place and starting every fifth day.

“It’s almost like a friendly competition,” he said. “I remember times when George (Kirby) was at his very best, Bryce (Miller) was at his very best, Woo last year – having those guys go out there, it’s fun for me, it’s fun for the other guys because you have got to go out there and top it the next day or try to find a way to motivate yourself with the way other guys are pitching. I think other people being at their best, me being at my best brings out the best in each other so I think just a snowball. It keeps going.”

For more from Gilbert, including his new dad tales, a look at Josh Naylor as a teammate and a story about a unique friendship with a hitter not named Cal, the full conversation can be found in the podcast from The Hot Stove at this link or in the players near the top of this post.

The Hot Stove airs from 7-9 p.m. each Tuesday night on Seattle Sports leading up to Seattle Mariners spring training. You can also catch a special episode live from Mariners FanFest from 12:30-2:30 p.m. this Saturday, Jan. 31.

Seattle Mariners offseason coverage

• Coach’s Insight: Why this could be Julio’s big year
• Rick Rizzs reflects on his career as he heads into retirement
• Mariners acquire catcher from Twins, DFA reliever Kowar
• Drayer: This is an opportunity for M’s fans to celebrate Rick Rizzs
• Seattle Mariners land top international prospect for 2027

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