The Seattle Mariners are coming out of another disappointing season and with management getting another year to get things right, the team is expecting to spend money and two players they like are Nelson Cruz and Mike Napoli, while reports have the Yankees as the frontrunners for Carlos Beltran right now.
According to Hardball Talk, the Mariners were previously interested in Napoli last offseason before stopping due to his injuries, but after a very solid year with the Red Sox, the team is now interested in him. Ken Rosenthal writes that the team likes what Napoli did last season and while they could use a catcher, he likely would be more of a DH or first baseman and the Mariners are so "desperate" writes Kenny that they have to sign someone. The team has whiffed in recent years on Prince Fielder and Josh Hamilton and now with names like Nelson Cruz, Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury and Shin-Soo Choo out there, the team likely will try and sign one of those guys.
To get someone to come to Seattle the team may have to overpay, but after the way Napoli played last season, that might be a smart move. The team is also looking at starting pitching and after having some of their young players take a step back last season apart from Kyle Seager, the team needs to get things going somehow and Ellsbury looks like a solid play at least by the chances, as he grew up in the Pacific Northwest and went to school up there as well. The team has catcher Mike Zunino, but he is coming off of an injury and with Justin Smoak not living up to expectations at first base, Napoli could fit there as well.
The Yankees, according to Hardball Talk, are going after Carlos Beltran and right now the team looks like the frontrunners even after they signed Brian McCann. The team would like a two year deal while Beltran wants three, but if the team is serious about signing him, they may just do it anyway. The team could use him as DH on days when he needs off, something he couldn't do with the Cardinals, while the Yankees are also worried about what will happen with Alex Rodriguez.
The 36-year-old is a switch hitter that likely would fit well in Yankee Stadium and now it just depends on years and money. The team paid McCann, now it might be time to pay Beltran as well.