While the Mariners continue their quest for a home-run threat, preferably an oufielder, this morning they announced they’ve nabbed a guy who won two games with the long ball this year. They’ve signed Ryan Langerhans to a major league contract.
While this isn’t of the Jason Bay/Johnny Damon/Milton Bradley (oh, please) realm that’s been rumored, Langerhans is what general manager Jack Zduriencik might call a nice piece to the puzzle. He certanly worked out well for the Mariners this year after they got him from the Washington Nationals on June 28 in a trade for Mike Morse.
Langerhans hit game-ending homers (and absorbed the obligatory pounding from teammates when he reached home plate) on Aug. 5 against the Rays and Aug. 25 against the A’s.
The Mariners didn’t offer Langerhans a contract at the Dec. 12 tender deadline but it seemed evident all along that they wanted to bring him back. Zduriencik said after the Chone Figgins news conference on Tuesday that he expected to have a signing announcement on Langerhans in a few days. His signing puts the big-league roster at 39 players.
Langerhans, 29, made $410 last year. He played 38 games after coming to the Mariners and batted .235 with six doubles, three homers and 10 RBI. And, keeping with the Mariners’ quest for quality defense, he didn’t make an error in the 29 games he played in the outfield.
Oh, and let’s also never forget that Langerhans is one of the guys who hoisted Ken Griffey Jr. on his shoulders and carried him off the field after the season finale.
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