The Seattle Mariners have offered Melky Cabrera a three-year contract on the free agent market according to ESPN Deportes reporter Enrique Rojas and now the outfielder is considering the offer while waiting for a possible four-year deal and this comes as the Baltimore Orioles are also interested in signing Cabrera.
The Mariners have already signed Nelson Cruz this offseason and at the winter meetings reports came out that Seattle was interested in Cabrera. According to Hardball Talk, ESPN Deportes reports that the Mariners have offered Cabrera a three year contract, which is one less year than the team signed Cruz for. Hardball Talk reports that the Orioles are also interested in Cabrera, but one a two or three year deal and not on the four year deal that he is seeking.
The Mariners could go for four years, as they have some payroll flexibility, but they would rather keep it at three years and about $40 million based on their current totals. Cabrera is a solid offensive players and he comes in after hitting .301 on the season with 16 home runs in 139 games. Cabrera has emerged as a consistent hitter and he would cost the Mariners a draft pick like Cruz did, as he turned down a one-year qualifying offer from the Blue Jays.
The Mariners need another outfielder and also more offense in the lineup and Cabrera would serve both of those needs. Seattle ranked 18th in runs scored this past season and finished one game out of the wild card race behind the Oakland Athletics. Robinson Cano led the team in batting average last season and he finished in the top 20 along with Felix Hernandez and Kyle Seager in the MVP voting in the AL.
