SEATTLE – Their pockets are $114 million lighter, but the Seattle Mariners now have the heavy hitters they believe will restore their ability to score runs.
Third baseman Adrian Beltre, the major league home run champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004, passed his physical exam and signed a five-year, $64 million contract with the Mariners on Friday. Two days earlier, the Mariners signed free agent first baseman Richie Sexson, who has hit 45 homers twice in his career, to a four-year, $50 million deal.
In the process of adding all that offensive hope, the Mariners also went a long way toward straightening out another weakness in their game. Defense.
Sexson and Beltre, both right-handed hitters, became the preferred option on the corners of the infield to left-handed slugger Carlos Delgado, who the Mariners also targeted at first base.
The Mariners had wanted to sign a left-handed power hitter this offseason and Delgado was the best available, but he would have upset the defensive balance they had sought. Sexson would have moved to left field and squeezed out Randy Winn – who is not on the trading block, Bavasi said – and there wouldn’t have been enough money to sign a bona-fide third baseman.
“I know we’re talking about offense in the two players we got,” Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said after announcing the Beltre signing. “But the more we all talked about it, the more this looked like the right move. This is the right fit for us position-wise.”
The Mariners still have offseason work to accomplish – Bavasi would like to add a starting pitcher and re-sign left-handed reliever Ron Villone, and he’d prefer a veteran shortstop in lieu of 21-year-old prospect Jose Lopez.
With the signings of Beltre and Sexson, Bavasi likes this lineup, which has a better mix of speed, power and defense.
“That’s a pretty good defense and that makes a big difference for us,” Bavasi said.
Raul Ibanez, the only left-hander capable of consistent power, is the likely designated hitter although the Mariners are aware he isn’t keen on giving up his spot in left field.
Scott Spiezio, a switch hitter who was a bust at third last year after he batted just .215, probably will come off the bench at third and first. Spiezio and Jolbert Cabrera, also a versatile defender who can switch hit, would give the Mariners two veterans on their bench.
“If you can force good players to the bench, you’ve got a pretty good club,” Bavasi said.
It’s up-front that counts, though, and the Mariners weren’t bashful in how they went after it this week.
Two days after spending $50 million on Sexson, they landed Beltre with a $64 million deal. The Los Angeles Times reported that Beltre’s contract is weighed more heavily its first year, when he’ll get $17 million in 2005. Sexson’s deal is back-loaded with a $6 million signing bonus and $4.5 million in 2005, $11.5 million in 2006 and $14 million each of the last two years.
“I couldn’t be any happier, because I’m going to be in the same organization as my favorite player, Edgar Martinez,” Beltre said.
Despite Beltre’s accomplishments in 2004 – 48 home runs, 121 runs batted in and a .334 average at just 25 years old – there are concerns.
Bavasi admitted Beltre may struggle early as he adjusts to American League pitching, but he’s confident it won’t last long. The Mariners can only hope so, after experiencing the failures of Jeff Cirillo and Rich Aurilia.
“I think that’s an issue for guys who have been around for awhile,” Bavasi said. “This guy is a masher. He’s a talented guy and talent usually wins.”
Beltre also is coming off left ankle surgery last month, when two large bone spurs were removed. A stress test Thursday night, when Beltre ran on a treadmill, erased any doubts, Bavasi said.
Then there’s that big season in 2004, by far the best numbers he has produced in the majors.
“We talked to a lot of people who know him better than I do,” said Bavasi, who worked in the Dodgers’ player development department before coming to the Mariners last year. “The idea that (last year) was just a focused, free-agent year didn’t mean much to them. Most people who know him well said he turned the corner.”
Beltre agreed.
“I think it was because of many little things,” he said. “It was experience, the fact that I had 6 years in the big leagues. It was the fact that I was a father for the first time and I was learning things other than baseball. I wasn’t thinking about baseball 24 hours a day.
“I’m hoping to do that every year. I put everything together and I’m looking forward to doing it consistently.”
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