Chris Young wants to return to Seattle Mariners in 2015

After amassing his most innings pitched since 2007, lanky right-hander Chris Young recently told MLB.com that he “loves it” in Seattle and would like to return to Lloyd McClendon‘s club in 2015 if things work out between the two sides in free agency – where he will likely draw interest from multiple suitors.

"“I absolutely love it here,” Young said. “This has been one of my most favorite baseball experiences. I love the team, love the staff, love the organization, love the city and my favorite Major League ballpark. There’s not a negative here. This place is unbelievable.”"

The 35-year-old Young, who turns 36 next May, made just $1.25 million with Seattle this season as a last-minute addition by the front office late in Spring Training after injuries to key pieces left gaping holes in the pitching staff. He did not disappoint, exceeding virtually every expectation the team – and those around the league – had for him, similar to the organization itself, which improved its record by 16 games after signing former New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano in the offseason.

Totaling 165 innings of work, the right-hander went 12-9 with a respectable 3.65 ERA, despite a dismal final month of the season, in which he struggled due to what the Mariners’ skipper believed to be Young simply running out of gas after coming off his third shoulder surgery that sidelined him for all of the 2013 campaign.

His dozen wins tied a career high that came back in 2005, his sophomore season with the Texas Rangers, and his overall numbers were reminiscent of his back-to-back campaigns in 2006 and 2007 with the San Diego Padres, which was capped with his first – and only – All-Star selection. In 2006, the right-hander notched 164 punch outs to go along with a 3.46 ERA, and followed that up with 167 strikeouts in 173 innings of work en route to his Midsummer Classic appearance.

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Looking ahead, Young will no-doubt be a viable back-end option for teams looking to add cost-controlled pitching depth this offseason. Given he’s heading into his age 36 season, anything more than a two-year deal would be risky, especially given his extensive shoulder issues in the past. He could also see offers of one year with an option for a second – somewhat lessening the risk in signing the veteran.

Seattle, meanwhile, will have a rotation that is once-again headlined by perennial American League Cy Young candidate Felix Hernandez, who is coming off another dominant campaign. Joining the ranks will be Hisashi Iwakuma, who finished third in the American League Cy Young balloting just one year ago, Taijuan Walker, James Paxton and Roenis Elias.

Despite the somewhat crowded look of the team’s prospective rotation, Young said he liked everything about his time in Seattle – and regardless of whether or not he returns, he said he was appreciative of the playoff chase with the M’s.

"“The character in the clubhouse, I said it early on, but it reminded me of the successful teams that I was on before. This team was as good as any I’ve been on and I just felt if we could find a way in, you never know what might have happened. We had the talent to get it done and we played good teams pretty well. But that’s baseball. I’m just so thankful for the experience.”"