The Seattle Mariners made the biggest splash of the 2013 offseason when they inked second baseman Robinson Cano to a 10-year, $250 million contract. They are expected to be active again, and targeting outfield help according to Fox Sports.
Early rumors linked the Mariners to a chase for free agent shortstop Hanley Ramirez, but new reports are indicating they're more interested in power-hitting outfielders Nelson Cruz and Matt Kemp.
The M's flirted with Cruz last year before he signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles and rewarded them with a monster season. Cruz was seventh in MVP voting, led the major leagues with 40 home runs, and slashed .271/.333/.525.
Cruz could be a dangerous buy for the Mariners though, despite their need for power. He played 159 games in 2013, but has displayed a propensity for missing time in the past. Cruz is a big negative in the field, costing Baltimore more than 11 runs in the outfield, and has spent his entire career in hitter-friendly parks.
Kemp, however, doesn't represent decreased risk. Like Cruz, he is a good bet to miss time due to injury. He made 106 and 70 starts, respectively, in the previous two seasons before starting 150 games last year.
After nearly posting a 40/40 campaign in 2011, falling short by a single home run, Kemp's stolen base numbers have dropped off a cliff. He has not swiped more than nine bags since that 2011 season, and has become a defensive atrocity; last season he cost the Dodgers a whopping 26.5 runs with his glove.
With the Mariners Kemp could slot in primarily as a designated hitter, and if he could duplicate his .287, 25-home run production without playing bad defense, he becomes an incredibly valuable player. The DH spot also shields him from opportunities to get injured.
Kemp is also not a free agent, so he would likely cost the Mariners one or two highly-rated prospects.
If the M's pass on Ramirez at shortstop, they'll likely turn the spot over to 25-year-old Brad Miller again. Miller hit a woeful .221 in 2014, but showed a good glove at shortstop and had excellent hitting numbers in the minor leagues.
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