Logan Gilbert’s goal could keep him with Mariners a long time

When the Seattle Mariners and catcher Cal Raleigh agreed to a long-term contract extension, there was a pretty natural question to ask: Who’s next?

And for those trying to predict the answer, there was a pretty natural choice: Logan Gilbert.

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Gilbert has established himself as the No. 1 in Seattle’s stellar starting rotation that also includes fellow All-Stars Luis Castillo and George Kirby, and a pair of potential All-Stars in Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo. The 27-year-old Gilbert is also close with Raleigh, having pitched to Seattle’s switch-hitting backstop since his pro debut in the minor leagues in 2019.

If you think Raleigh’s six-year, $105 million extension playing a role in a potential long-term deal with Gilbert is just wishful thinking, you might want to think again after Gilbert sat down with Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Friday in Edgar’s Cantina at T-Mobile Park.

When co-host Bob Stelton asked Gilbert if Raleigh’s extension, combined with the megadeal Julio Rodríguez signed with the organization in 2022, sends a message to players like Gilbert and Seattle’s other rotation standouts, the lanky right-hander revealed a goal that can only happen if he stays on the same team as Raleigh.

“There’s a lot that goes into it,” Gilbert responded, “but as far as one person signing with the team that’s going to have the most influence on you, (it’s) Cal being here, and that’s what happened with him locking up however many years it was. It definitely factors in. It’s a big deal. That’s the guy I’ve thrown to pretty much 90-something percent of my career, including the minors too. You know, there is risk with if you ever go somewhere else and you have a new catcher and a lot of things change.

“Cal knows me so well that I kind of dream up the perfect scenario, you think of like (former St. Louis Cardinals battery) Adam Wainwright and Yadi (Molina), how they had 300 starts together or whatever it is. One day, breaking that record would be pretty cool. I mean, a lot of things have to go right, but if I could throw to Cal the rest of my career, I would do it.”

That sure sounds promising.

Wainwright, a starting pitcher, and Molina, a catcher, played together on the Cardinals from 2005-22, and they hold the record for most MLB starts together as a battery with 328. Now in his fifth season, Gilbert has started 125 career games, and not all of them have been with Raleigh behind the plate. So yes, there’s some catching up to do. But it’s doubtful any Mariners fans would have a problem if the two 2018 Mariners MLB Draft picks stayed together as long as possible to make a run at the record.

Logan Gilbert discussed throwing to #Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh “for the rest of my career” with @WymanAndBob live at T-Mobile Park.

FULL VIDEO 📺: https://t.co/eecEpbQkkm https://t.co/bub9CRyiOU pic.twitter.com/fYGsIKiSm3

— Seattle Sports (@SeattleSports) April 12, 2025

While we’re at it

That wasn’t the only positive sign Gilbert gave about a potential extension with the Mariners before he’s set to hit free agency after the 2027 season. He also said he agreed with some important things Raleigh pointed to in a press conference about why he signed a new deal with Seattle.

“(Raleigh) nailed some of it in his presser there, but he was talking about the culture that was built here and that we’ve kind of been a part of building since we got drafted and the rebuild and all that stuff,” Gilbert said. “I feel like everybody’s on the same page here. The players, the front office, the support staff – which by the way it’s gotta be the best in the game with the trainers and the behind the scenes, the analytics people, the pitching coaches ‘Woody’ (Pete Woodworth) and Trent (Blank).

“Like, so many good people that are just bought in to making our careers better, where we get to be kind of selfish and they pour into our career and want us to do well. I go back to the culture, what we’ve built here, the way guys care about each other, it seems like a very unique thing that I’m guessing that’s not the case everywhere.”

There’s one more thing Gilbert talked about that could make him eager to sign an extension: Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, which is the best for pitchers and worst for hitters in MLB based on Statcast’s Park Factor statistic.

“Being in a pitcher’s park, there’s nowhere else you’d rather be or go to, right? So I think that’s a big advantage for us… This truly is one of the places that pitchers thrive the most, so I want to pitch here as much as I can. Makes sense.”

Gilbert’s doing his part if there’s any need to convince the Mariners they should lock him up long-term. He had a 3.23 ERA and led MLB in both WHIP (0.89) and innings (208 2/3) in 2024, and is off to a great start this year with a 2.38 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and .138 opponent batting average in four starts. He also is tied for second in MLB entering Monday with 32 strikeouts.

Hear the full Wyman and Bob conversation with Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert in the podcast at this link or in the player near the top of this post. Catch Wyman and Bob from 2-7 p.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports.

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