The Seattle Mariners and second baseman Rickie Weeks have come to terms on a one-year deal worth $2 million, as first reported by ESPN’s Jim Bowden.
The 32-year-old middle infielder is hardly the same player he was for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2010-2012, but he won’t be expected to do as much anymore with Robinson Cano in front of him on the Mariners’ depth chart. Weeks offers value off the bench and will be helpful to spell Cano occasion, as Bowden noted. The All-Star second baseman has not appeared in less than 157 games since 2006. Cano’s durability is a blessing for Seattle, but they should definitely find ways to lessen his load as he enters into his mid-30s.
According to a club source the #Mariners have agreed to terms with Rickie Weeks on 1yr Major League deal at approx $2m w/ $2m inc..LF/RF/2B
— Jim Bowden⚾️🏈 (@JimBowdenGM) February 12, 2015
Weeks is also expected to be used at both corner outfield spots. Though he’s never done so in his 11-year Major League career, he is a capable enough athlete to make the adjustment and be effective when called upon.
The majority of his use in the outfield could come as a platoon with Dustin Ackley. MLBTradeRumors.com’s Steve Adams pointed out that Ackley is especially awful against left-handed pitching, batting a “woeful” .212/.255/.298 last season.
Weeks, meanwhile, is a career .261/.385/.448 against lefties with 41 home runs and 97 runs batted in through 1,053 plate appearances. With the Mariners boasting a highly populated left-handed hitting lineup, Weeks is an asset off the bench at the plate. He’ll be a key player on days when the Mariners are slated to face a left-handed starter or in late-game situations where a lefty specialist might be brought in to shut down one of the Mariners’ left-handed bats.
Weeks likely won’t be blasting 20 home runs into the seats at Safeco Field for the Mariners or batting close to .300, but he should be a vital role player in the team’s run towards its first playoff berth since 2001. Seattle is built to win right now with one of the best core of players they’ve featured since the mid 90s. A piece like Weeks merely strengthens their chances in a wide-open AL West that should come down to the wire between the Mariners, Angels and Athletics.