Kikuchi is being billed as one of the pieces the M’s hope to rally around if and when they transition into contention. Kikuchi is just 27, so that is a feasible plan if the transition occurs in two or three years, less so if it takes longer.
For the Mariners, this offseason has been all about a tearing down – of their roster, and of short-term hope.
And now, after a steady stream of key departures, each one a dagger to the hearts of their fans, finally comes a moment for them to embrace an arrival, with no strings attached.