Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) – The Seattle Mariners signed outfielder
Nelson Cruz to a four-year contract on Thursday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it was reported on Monday that the
contract is worth $57 million with an added $1 million signing bonus.
Cruz spent the 2014 season in Baltimore, signing a one-year deal last February
in the wake of his 50-game suspension that stemmed from the Biogenesis scandal
in August 2013.
The 34-year-old Dominican native helped the Orioles to the American League
East title in 2014. He led the majors with 40 home runs and finished third in
the American League with a career-high 108 runs batted in while batting .271
in 159 games.
“I am excited to join the Mariners,” Cruz said. “Watching Seattle play from
the other side of the field, I know how close this team is to the postseason,
and I am hopeful that I can help to get us there.”
Cruz spent eight seasons with Texas from 2006-13 and also played eight games
for Milwaukee in 2005. He has 197 career home runs with 597 RBI, a .268
average and a .501 slugging percentage in 963 games.
“Our number one goal this offseason was to improve our offense, ideally by
adding right-handed power, and with the addition of Nelson Cruz we think we’ve
accomplished that goal,” Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “He is
an impact hitter that will bat in the middle of our lineup. Nelson has a track
record as a middle of the order hitter on pennant contending clubs. He will be
an asset on the field and in the clubhouse. Nelson’s presence in our clubhouse
and as a teammate will continue to help our club advance to the next level. We
see him as an ideal fit as we strive toward our goal of winning a world
championship.”
A three-time All-Star, including last year, Cruz was also the 2011 ALCS MVP
for the Rangers when he slugged six homers and drove in 13 runs in a six-game
victory over Detroit.
