Nelson Cruz signing 4-year, $57 million deal with Mariners

The Mariners didn’t make the playoffs in 2014 because they just couldn’t hit, but they might have already helped themselves out in that regard in 2015. El Caribe is reporting free agent Nelson Cruz has agreed to a four-year, $57 million deal with the Mariners, pending the results of a physical. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick confirmed both details.

Cruz is a power threat, as he led the majors with 40 home runs in 2014 and has hit 175 since becoming a full-time player with the Rangers in 2009. However, he has also always played in parks that emphasize this skill of his: the Mariners’ home field, Safeco, is a pitcher-friendly stadium that will likely reduce Cruz’s production. With that being said, though, that’s the case for everyone who plays there and the Mariners need to roster nine every-day players regardless. Cruz just might have the thump to keep putting 20-25 balls over the wall each year, and that’s something the Mariners desperately need in their lineup.

He’ll likely be the Mariners’ designated hitter given he’ll be 34 and his range in the outfield wasn’t the best even when he was younger. Seattle designated hitters batted .190/.266/.301 in 2014 and a collective .218/.295/.347 since 2010, and no, you didn’t read the date on that incorrectly. The Mariners have produced absolutely nothing but failure out of a spot dedicated entirely to offense for the last five years.

At over $14 million per season, Cruz isn’t cheap, but it’s a salary the Mariners can handle easily if they don’t mind keeping their wallets open as wide as they can be. That’s always the question with them, though, so it’s unclear if this is it for offensive upgrades in Seattle this winter, or if this is just the first or a few acquisitions meant to give Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager some help.