Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners reportedly agree to four year deal
By Aaron Somers
All along the Seattle Mariners were considered a favorite to land free agent slugger Nelson Cruz and it would appear as though the two sides are nearing a deal. Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes passed along a report from a Dominican Republic newspaper, citing that Cruz and the Mariners have reached an agreement on a four year, $57 million deal.
Nelson Cruz and #Mariners agree 4 years/$57 million, report dominican newsspaper @ElCaribeRD > http://t.co/6eKuGcUumQ
— Enrique Rojas/ESPN (@Enrique_Rojas1) December 1, 2014
A baseball source confirms Nelson Cruz has agreed to multiyear deal with #mariners pending a physical exam.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) December 1, 2014
The 34 year old Cruz is coming off one of the best seasons of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. In 678 plate appearances he hit .271/.333/.525 with a league leading 40 home runs and a career high 108 RBI. He’s a .268/.328/.501 hitter over his career, but Cruz also carries the weight of having been suspended for PED use during the 2013 season. That offence directly affected his free agency last winter – coupled with the qualifying offer from the Texas Rangers that he’d declined – and Cruz ultimately had to settle for a one year, $10 million deal that he didn’t sign until Spring Training had begun.
While the Orioles maintained an interest in retaining him, the Mariners were long viewed as a likely landing spot for Cruz. Seattle struggled to get production from their right fielders and the DH spot this past season. Finding a right-handed bat with power – one that could be slotted into the lineup between Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager – was atop the club’s offseason priority list.
Cruz’s deal works out to $14.25 million a year, less than what the qualifying offer would have paid him but still a reasonable rate to allow the Mariners to continue building what they hope will be a playoff contender.