The Washington Nationals are officially losing their director of hitting, CJ Gillman, and guess where he’s headed? Right here to the Emerald City! Gillman is set to be the Mariners’ new hitting coach, a significant grab for our club as the offseason starts heating up.
The Mariners’ New Hitting Guru
The Washington Nationals are officially losing their director of hitting, CJ Gillman, and he’s heading straight to Seattle to be the Mariners’ new hitting coach. This is a significant move for our club as the offseason gets underway. Bringing in Gillman, who led the Nationals’ hitting department, shows the M’s are focused on making key personnel additions. A hitting coach can shape an entire offense, and securing Gillman’s expertise is a clear signal of intent as we look toward building out next season’s squad.
Free Agent Buzz and League-Wide Shifts
Meanwhile, the rest of the league is getting busy with their own offseason chess moves. We’re seeing a bunch of player options either getting picked up or declined, which means the free agent market is about to get wild. The Mets, for example, are reportedly eyeing some interesting trade targets and have Teruaki Sato on their radar as a free agent. He’s a guy other teams are looking at too, so expect a battle there. Out of Japan, Kaima Taira, who led the NPB in ERA for 2026 with the Saitama Seibu Lions, is now getting posted and will be a seriously interesting pitching option for clubs looking to bolster their rotation.
Down in the NL East, the Braves just signed Anthony Calderon, a 17-year-old catcher from Cuba. The Phillies are apparently trying to learn from the champs, while the Marlins did the totally expected thing and picked up Sandy Alcántara’s 2027 option.
Beyond the player moves, front office shake-ups are happening too. The Astros just tapped Randy Flores, a longtime Cardinals assistant GM, to be their new general manager. The Diamondbacks have a new pitching coach in Ben Fritz, who used to be with the Padres. And after two decades in Colorado, Clint Hurdle is departing the Rockies organization. Lots of movement everywhere you look, and the Mariners are clearly in the mix by grabbing Gillman.
Milwaukee’s Moment
And let’s not forget the big one: The Milwaukee Brewers took to the streets of Milwaukee for their 2026 World Series Victory Parade. The Brew Crew finally got their World Series victory, and you gotta wonder, is this just the start for their core? It’s always something to see a city get to celebrate a championship, and it reminds us all what every team is fighting for come October.
So, with CJ Gillman now part of the Mariners’ coaching staff, the offseason is officially ON for our boys. There are still free agents to consider, potential trades to explore, and the blueprint for next season needs to be drawn up. Every single move counts, and bringing in a dedicated hitting coach like Gillman right away is a promising start. What other big moves will the Mariners make as we push forward? We’re on the edge of our seats, ready for what comes next as our team builds towards its own championship moment.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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