Seattle Mariners to sign Baltimore Orioles slugger Nelson Cruz for four years at $57 million
Free-agent outfielder Nelson Cruz is bringing his big bat to the Seattle Mariners.
A report broke Monday from El Caribe in the Dominican Republic that the two sides reached agreement on a four-year deal for $57 million. The newspaper cited a source “close to the negotiations.”
Sources subsequently contacted by the Tacoma News Tribune confirmed the report is essentially correct, although the Mariners declined official comment. Such silence is typical until a player passes a routine physical examination.
Cruz’s deal is believed to contain a $1 million signing bonus, which would boost its value to $58 million.
El Caribe reported Cruz, 34, was traveling to Seattle to undergo that examination. That suggests the deal could become official later this week.
Mariners All-Star third baseman Kyle Seager is also expected to undergo his physical this week in Seattle as the final step in his new seven-year contract for $100 million.
Cruz led the major leagues last season with 40 homers while playing for the Baltimore Orioles. He also finished third in the American League with 108 RBIs while batting .271 and making the All-Star team.
The signing addresses the Mariners’ prioritized off-season quest to acquire a right-handed power hitter to bat cleanup in their lineup. El Caribe reported the deal could contain an option for a fifth year.
The signing means the Mariners will surrender their first-round pick – currently No. 19 overall – in next June’s new-player draft because Cruz received a qualifying offer of $15.3 million from the Orioles.
Cruz received a three-year offer from Baltimore, believed to be in the $40 million range, but the Orioles balked at extending the deal to four years.
While Cruz could fill the Mariners’ hole in right field, his defensive shortcomings make him a far better fit as a designated hitter. Accordingly, the club’s next priority is to find a right fielder.
Possibilities include two other free agents: Torii Hunter and Alex Rios.
The Mariners also continue to discuss a possible trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers to acquire outfielder Matt Kemp, who is under contract for five more years at $107 million.
The sticking point in such a deal appears to be Los Angeles’ insistence that either right-hander Taijuan Walker or lefty James Paxton be included in any deal.
The Mariners believe they have sufficient payroll flexibility to add Kemp even after signing Cruz and reaching a new deal with Seager, but the Dodgers are now drawing increased interest in Kemp from the Orioles.