Corey Hart Headed to the Mariners On One-Year Deal

Sept 1, 2012; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Corey Hart (1) reacts after hitting a game-winning home run in the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park. The Brewers beat the Pirates 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners have added another competent batsman to go with superstar free agent Robinson Cano, inking former Brewers outfielder Corey Hart to a reported one-year deal.

Hart spent 9 years in Milwaukee, slugging 154 homers and becoming a scruffy-bearded fan favorite. He missed the entire 2013 season after undergoing surgery on both his knees.

The Brewers expressed interest in bringing him back but lost out to big-spending Seattle. Hart hit 30 homers and amassed an .840 OPS in 2012, his last season of action. Seattle hopes he can get back to that form and provide some protection in the line-up behind Cano.

The former outfielder will likely play first base and DH in Seattle. He is expected to be ready for opening day, but even if he suffers a recurrence of the knee problems, Seattle doesn’t stand to lose much on this one-year dice-roll.

The Mariners will still have plenty of money to spend if they want to bring in some more bats. Maybe they’ll call Nelson Cruz again and up their offer. Cruz doesn’t get out of bed for less than $100 million.

The Brewers meanwhile will have to continue scrounging around for hitting. Poor Brewers.

Like Call to the Pen on Facebook.
Follow Call to the Pen on Twitter.
Subsribe to the Fansided Daily Newsletter. Sports news all up in your inbox.