Mariners ‘pitch’ working plan to land Kikuchi

While many fans wondered why the Mariners would pursue big-time Japanese free agent Yusei Kikuchi after unloading many of their former standouts this offseason, or why the 27-year-old lefty would cast his lot with a rebuilding club, it turns out Seattle’s step-back posture actually played into what Kikuchi and agent Scott Boras see as a perfect landing spot.