The Seattle Mariners are "motivated" to add to their roster before the lockout, per The Seattle Times' Adam Jude, but they have clear limits as to what they are willing to do.
They are reportedly not going to pursue Tarik Skubal.
"What we do know is the Mariners won’t be active in the sweepstakes for two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, the headliner in what might be the weakest free-agent class of the last decade," reported Jude.
Skubal is expected to sign the largest deal for a free-agent pitcher ever, and will either become the highest-paid pitcher ever in terms of average annual value or total value.
"Even if the Mariners needed a starting pitcher — and they don’t — it’s not a number they would be comfortable with," wrote Jude.
The Mariners may not need him, but Seattle could have checked one big box. According to MLB insider Jim Bowden, he prefers the West Coast. Skubal pitching in a pitcher-friendly ballpark would have been great, but it sounds like the Mariners won't be making a push.
It's not just Skubal that the Mariners may be out on. Per Jude, the Mariners may not even want to spend more than $100 million on an individual free agent this winter. They could make most of their moves in the trade market.