Mariners actively pursuing right fielder at winter meetings
(TNS) - A year ago, the Mariners were the talk of Major League Baseball's winter meetings.
Just days before, Seattle stunned the baseball world by signing Robinson Cano to a $240 million, 10-year contract. It was a brash and unexpected move from an organization that simply didn't land free agents like Cano.
Fast-forward a year and once again the Mariners figure to be the topic of many discussions at baseball's annual four-day gathering of executives, scouts and media.
This time it will be for different reasons.
When the meetings open Monday morning at the Grand Hyatt in San Diego, the Mariners will be busy trying to acquire an everyday right fielder to finish their lineup. The Mariners have a need and motivation and they have the money and prospects to fill it. That's a recipe for a busy four days.
"We are probably going to a club that's talked about a lot at the meetings with some of the information I've gotten from people calling me and wanting to get together when we get there," general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "We hope to fill a need or two."
The need is evident and Zduriencik isn't trying to hide it. In the days leading up to the meetings, Seattle signed Nelson Cruz to a $58 million, 4-year contract and traded outfielder Michael Saunders to the Blue Jays for veteran left-hander J.A. Happ.
With Cruz expected to be the designated hitter the bulk of the games, the Mariners are lacking outfield depth. Austin Jackson is slated to start in center field, while Dustin Ackley's strong second half in 2014 has likely earned him the left-field spot. But right field?
The in-house candidates are youngsters James Jones and Stefen Romero. They have some talent and potential. But after winning 87 games last season and missing out on the postseason by one game, the Mariners are clearly in "go for it" mode as evidenced by the Cruz signing. They need a proven productive player for a spot that is usually reserved for a premium offensive player.
Seattle had already been looking at right-field candidates before the Saunders trade. Zduriencik expects to hear from more teams now.
"I think so," he said. "It may also deepen the dialogue we have going," he said. "I think there's always that domino effect. When something happens, you get a phone call immediately. The day the word got out that we were going to sign Nelson Cruz, right away I got a phone call about some things."
The winter meetings can be a controlled chaos of face-to-face time with other GMs, agents and players as well as internal meetings to discuss possible moves. Zduriencik hopes to have some traction toward addressing the needs.
So what are the viable targets for them?
The Mariners have already been linked to Matt Kemp of the Dodgers and Justin Upton of the Braves.
Kemp is an interesting scenario. He's under contract for the next five seasons. But that contract will pay him more than $100 million. The Mariners have increased payroll, but they can't take on the enormity of that deal, particularly after signing Cruz and giving Kyle Seager a $100 million extension.
They would have to ask the Dodgers to eat some of the contract. But that means the asking price for prospects goes up. Top pitching prospect Taijuan Walker would certainly have to be part of the deal and possibly shortstop Brad Miller and a few minor-league prospects.
Upton is only under contract for 2015 and then becomes a free agent. He has no intention of signing an extension. The Mariners traded for Upton two years ago when he was with the Diamondbacks. The deal would have sent Walker, Nick Franklin and two other players to Arizona. Upton nixed the deal since the Mariners were one of four teams in his no-trade clause. Upton changed his no-trade list and Seattle is no longer on there. He would be a productive fit. But sources have said the Mariners will not give up Walker for a one-year rental player.
There was a rumor the Red Sox would be willing to swap outfielder Yoenis Cespedes for Hisashi Iwakuma. Both players are free agents after 2015. But Zduriencik shot that premise down. Even with a poor last month of 2014, Iwakuma is still one of the 20 best starting pitchers in the AL.
"He's not going anywhere," Zduriencik said. "Any general manager will tell you to never say never, but it's about as close to never as I would say. It's not going to happen this year. It's just not going to happen."
An outside possibility might be Colorado outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. The Rockies are pitching starved and are willing to listen to offers on Gonzalez, who is under contract for more three seasons for $53 million. Walker would be an immediate cost in that scenario.
If Seattle eschews the trade route and looks at free agents, the best candidate is Melky Cabrera, who hit .301 with an .808 OPS last season for the Blue Jays