Heading into the offseason, the Mariners made no secret of the fact that they needed to add a couple more bats, and preferably a right-handed power hitter to plug into the middle of the lineup with Robinson Cano, and now it appears they are close to landing one of the top free agents available.
According to Dominican newspaper ElCaribe, the Mariners and outfielder Nelson Cruz have agreed to a four-year deal worth $57 million, and ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick subsequently confirmed the deal.
Cruz, a three-time All Star, was also on the Mariners’ radar last offseason as well, but ended up signing a one-year contract with Baltimore, where he hit .271 with a league-leading 40 home runs, 32 doubles, 108 RBI, and an .859 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.
The 34-year-old Cruz does come with some baggage having been suspend 50 games in 2013 for performance-enhancing drugs, but he is a proven power bat, and a right-handed one at that, which was the Mariners’ biggest need after a season in which they finished just a game out of the playoffs. Landing a player of Cruz’s caliber is also no small feat for a team that plays in a pitcher-friendly park, and as a result has had a hard time attracting free-agent bats.
Cruz did not accept a $15.3 million qualifying offer from the Orioles. Seattle would forfeit its first-round draft pick, the 19th overall selection. Baltimore would get an additional pick between the first and second rounds.
Seattle also has a $100 million, seven-year deal with third baseman Kyle Seager that awaits completion.
The Mariners have among the top pitching staffs in the AL but missed the postseason by one game last season due to offensive shortcomings.
Cruz would fit the need, even if Seattle is taking a risk with such a significant commitment to a 34-year-old who has never posted big numbers at Safeco Field. Cruz has hit at least 22 homers in every season since 2009 and has been an All-Star three times. Cruz’s .271 batting average and .525 slugging percentage last season with Baltimore was his highest since 2010 with Texas.
Cruz has hit .240 with nine homers and 19 RBIs in 52 games in Seattle — better than his .185 career average in Oakland and .218 in Anaheim.
Seattle hoped last season that Corey Hart could return from knee troubles and add right-handed pop to an overwhelmingly left-handed batting order but he hit .203 with six homers and 21 RBIs in 68 games. Seattle also brought back switch-hitting designated hitter Kendrys Morales at midseason, but he could not match his 2013 production.
According to STATS, Inc., the Mariners’ .332 slugging percentage by right-handed batters this year was the lowest for an AL team in a non-shortened season since the 1979 Oakland Athletics.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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