Seattle Mariners Offseason Prediction–Realistic Version
Feb 18, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik speaks to the media during MLB media day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Seattle Mariners will go into the offseason looking for the same thing they have been looking for since… well, forever, it seems like.
A consistent power bat is still missing from the middle of the order. But the difference this year is that this is just about the only serious hole on the roster. There’s A+ starting pitching, an A+ bullpen, A+ defense, and a C- lineup. But if you put a 30+ HR bat in between Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager, you shoot up to A- territory.
So on that note, let’s start our Seattle Mariners offseason predictions by going out and getting our DH/clean-up hitter right off the bat.
Oct 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter
Nelson Cruz(23) in game two of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Seattle Mariners Offseason Prediction: DH
Nelson Cruz: 4 years, $55 million
With Victor Martinez off the market, Nelson Cruz becomes the most attractive option for teams looking to add a power hitter.
And coming off a career-best 40 home runs, he might have been the Mariners’ first choice to begin with. He also had his best slash line since 2010 in all three categories with a .333/.525/.858, and a career-best 4.7 WAR.
If Dustin Ackley can hit at the .270, 24 HR pace in the two-hole that he hit after the all-star break and Logan Morrison can keep hitting anywhere close to the .321/.364/.888 that he hit the last two months of the season in the six-hole, and throw in Cruz at the clean-up spot, the Mariners will have one of the scariest middles of the order in baseball.
Next up: Outfield