Infield options for next year

[Big_Maple]

The hot stove is heating up, and for a team like the Mariners, the infield configuration for 2026 is the biggest puzzle on the board. We have a massive fork in the road: do we spend big on a proven international star like Kazuma Okamoto, or do we trust the kids, Ben Williamson and Cole Young, to lock down the 2B and 3B spots?

Here’s a breakdown of the options currently on the table.

1. The External Splash: Kazuma Okamoto (3B/1B)
Okamoto is the "safe" high-floor slugger coming over from the Yomiuri Giants. Unlike some other international targets, he isn't just a "swing and miss" power hitter; he brings a very disciplined approach.
    •    Expected Cost: Projections sit around 4 years, $64 million (approx. $16M AAV).
    •    2025 NPB Stats (Shortened by injury): .327/.416/.598 with 15 HR in 69 games.
The Pros:
    ◦    Elite Bat-to-Ball: Boasted a 11.3% K rate and 11.3% BB rate in 2025.
    ◦    Proven Power: Has 248 career HRs in Japan; projects as a .800+ OPS middle-of-the-order bat.
    ◦    High Floor: Scouts view him as a more stable adjustment to MLB velocity compared to other high-risk power hitters.
The Cons:
    ◦    Defensive Questions: While he has NPB Gold Gloves at 3B, some MLB scouts see him as a liability there and think he's better suited for 1B or DH.
    ◦    Speed: Near-zero threat on the bases.

2. The Internal Glue: Ben Williamson (3B)
After debuting in April 2025, Williamson showed he belongs in the big leagues—at least with the glove. He’s the "Matt Duffy" type who provides stability.
    •    Expected Cost: Pre-Arb (League minimum, approx. $780k - $800k).
    •    2025 MLB Stats: .253/.294/.310, 1 HR, 5 SB (1.3 WAR in ~85 games).
The Pros:
    ◦    Elite Defense: 60-grade fielding and arm. He is a vacuum at the hot corner.
    ◦    Contact Specialist: Very low chase rate and high contact percentage.
The Cons:
    ◦    Lack of Power: Only 1 HR in nearly 300 PAs last year. He needs to find a way to lift the ball to be a true everyday corner infielder.
    ◦    Low Ceiling: Currently profiles more as a high-end utility man or bottom-of-the-order starter.

3. The Future: Cole Young (2B/SS)
The organization’s crown jewel in the middle infield. He got his feet wet in 2025 and is expected to be the long-term solution at second base.
    •    Expected Cost: Pre-Arb (League minimum).
    •    2025 MLB Stats: .211/.302/.305, 4 HR, 1 SB.
The Pros:
    ◦    Advanced Hit Tool: 60-grade potential; known for one of the "prettiest swings" in his draft class.
    ◦    OBP Potential: Even while struggling with the average last year, he maintained a decent walk rate (4 walks in a single game vs. Tampa).
    ◦    Age: Just 22 years old; massive room for physical growth.
The Cons:
    ◦    Growing Pains: His .211 average shows he’s still adjusting to MLB pitching.
    ◦    Limited Power/Speed: Not an explosive athlete; relies on "playing the game the right way" rather than raw tools.

The Big Question
If you’re the front office, do you commit $60M+ to Okamoto to secure a proven bat at 3B, potentially pushing Williamson to a bench/utility role and letting Cole Young sink or swim at 2B? Or do you keep the money for the rotation/bullpen and let the "Young & Williamson" era begin in earnest?
Would you rather have:

    1    Okamoto (3B) & Young (2B) — Big power, but higher payroll and defensive risk at 3B.
    2    Williamson (3B) & Young (2B) — Elite defense and cheap, but a very "light" bottom of the order.

What do you think? Would you pull the trigger on the Japan-to-Seattle pipeline again?

[harmony]

Perhaps overly optimistic video profiles of Ben Williamson and Cole Young:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh6VBkk3ynA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcM_1ll_RDg

[D-train]

The hot stove is heating up, and for a team like the Mariners, the infield configuration for 2026 is the biggest puzzle on the board. We have a massive fork in the road: do we spend big on a proven international star like Kazuma Okamoto, or do we trust the kids, Ben Williamson and Cole Young, to lock down the 2B and 3B spots?

Here’s a breakdown of the options currently on the table.

1. The External Splash: Kazuma Okamoto (3B/1B)
Okamoto is the "safe" high-floor slugger coming over from the Yomiuri Giants. Unlike some other international targets, he isn't just a "swing and miss" power hitter; he brings a very disciplined approach.
    •    Expected Cost: Projections sit around 4 years, $64 million (approx. $16M AAV).
    •    2025 NPB Stats (Shortened by injury): .327/.416/.598 with 15 HR in 69 games.
The Pros:
    ◦    Elite Bat-to-Ball: Boasted a 11.3% K rate and 11.3% BB rate in 2025.
    ◦    Proven Power: Has 248 career HRs in Japan; projects as a .800+ OPS middle-of-the-order bat.
    ◦    High Floor: Scouts view him as a more stable adjustment to MLB velocity compared to other high-risk power hitters.
The Cons:
    ◦    Defensive Questions: While he has NPB Gold Gloves at 3B, some MLB scouts see him as a liability there and think he's better suited for 1B or DH.
    ◦    Speed: Near-zero threat on the bases.

2. The Internal Glue: Ben Williamson (3B)
After debuting in April 2025, Williamson showed he belongs in the big leagues—at least with the glove. He’s the "Matt Duffy" type who provides stability.
    •    Expected Cost: Pre-Arb (League minimum, approx. $780k - $800k).
    •    2025 MLB Stats: .253/.294/.310, 1 HR, 5 SB (1.3 WAR in ~85 games).
The Pros:
    ◦    Elite Defense: 60-grade fielding and arm. He is a vacuum at the hot corner.
    ◦    Contact Specialist: Very low chase rate and high contact percentage.
The Cons:
    ◦    Lack of Power: Only 1 HR in nearly 300 PAs last year. He needs to find a way to lift the ball to be a true everyday corner infielder.
    ◦    Low Ceiling: Currently profiles more as a high-end utility man or bottom-of-the-order starter.

3. The Future: Cole Young (2B/SS)
The organization’s crown jewel in the middle infield. He got his feet wet in 2025 and is expected to be the long-term solution at second base.
    •    Expected Cost: Pre-Arb (League minimum).
    •    2025 MLB Stats: .211/.302/.305, 4 HR, 1 SB.
The Pros:
    ◦    Advanced Hit Tool: 60-grade potential; known for one of the "prettiest swings" in his draft class.
    ◦    OBP Potential: Even while struggling with the average last year, he maintained a decent walk rate (4 walks in a single game vs. Tampa).
    ◦    Age: Just 22 years old; massive room for physical growth.
The Cons:
    ◦    Growing Pains: His .211 average shows he’s still adjusting to MLB pitching.
    ◦    Limited Power/Speed: Not an explosive athlete; relies on "playing the game the right way" rather than raw tools.

The Big Question
If you’re the front office, do you commit $60M+ to Okamoto to secure a proven bat at 3B, potentially pushing Williamson to a bench/utility role and letting Cole Young sink or swim at 2B? Or do you keep the money for the rotation/bullpen and let the "Young & Williamson" era begin in earnest?
Would you rather have:

    1    Okamoto (3B) & Young (2B) — Big power, but higher payroll and defensive risk at 3B.
    2    Williamson (3B) & Young (2B) — Elite defense and cheap, but a very "light" bottom of the order.

What do you think? Would you pull the trigger on the Japan-to-Seattle pipeline again?

Nice write up, BM. Looking more and more like they will just play the kids and maybe add a worthless Willi Castro type stop gap to serve as there training wheels.

[harmony]

The 2025 video highlights for Cole Young and Ben Williamson omit the low lights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LDEdNF-Qj4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkEzi7wR7b8

... but are entertaining nonetheless.

[Seattle or Bust]

I mean... this pretty sincerely omits other options at the position lol... I do appreciate the organization in the post.

Okamoto hasn't even been linked to the Mariners. What makes you think he's "on the table?"

The only other names to infielders they have been linked to are Marte and Donovan.

[D-train]

So 4 people prefer Ben over Okamoto. .600 OPS in MLB vs. almost 1.000 OPS in Japan. Do you believe his late summer PCL stats will translate? I am skeptical.

[harmony]

FWIW FanGraphs projects Ben Williamson with a 2026 wRC+ of 94. In 2001 the Mariners won 116 games when third baseman David Bell posted a wRC+ of 90.

Defense has value.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

I went with option C which is Jack Perconte coming out of retirement and Cole Young with a Mark Twain mustache.

[D-train]

FWIW FanGraphs projects Ben Williamson with a 2026 wRC+ of 94. In 2001 the Mariners won 116 games when third baseman David Bell posted a wRC+ of 90.

Defense has value.

Ben Williamson posted a wRC+ of 76 last season. Defense has value and it has nothing to do with real or pretend wRC+ actuals or projections especially when it projects a guy with a .33% HR rate and a 5.1% walk rate with a nearly average wRC+.

[Big_Maple]

So 4 people prefer Ben over Okamoto. .600 OPS in MLB vs. almost 1.000 OPS in Japan. Do you believe his late summer PCL stats will translate? I am skeptical.

I’m with you. We have an option to get a guy who has defensive value (in Japan, but still…) and he can hit.

Yes, defense has value, and Ben Williamson plays elite defense at third base. But the Mariners need offense, especially in the infield. We’ve had elite defenders who can’t hit before, and it didn’t pan out (where is Evan White now?)

If the Mariners can sign Okamoto to a 4 year deal, that makes Williamson somewhat redundant. Package him into a trade deal for another MOR starter.

Okamoto, Young, JP and Naylor looks like a pretty decent infield to me.