The Mariners Friday agreed to terms with first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales and shortstop Brendan Ryan on one-year contracts for the 2013 season. No contract terms were disclosed. The Mariners now have one remaining arbitration-eligible player (RHP Shawn Kelley). The Mariners and Kelley have exchanged arbitration salary figures in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.
The Mariners acquired Morales, 29, from the Los Angeles Angels Dec. 19, 2012 in exchange for LHP Jason Vargas. Morales is a career .281 (455×1620) hitter with 79 home runs and 265 RBI across six major league seasons (2006-2010, 2012) with the Angels. In 2012, the Cuban batted .273 (132×484) with 26 doubles, 22 home runs and 73 RBI in 134 games.
Morales had a career year in 2009 in which he recorded 43 doubles, 34 home runs, 108 RBI, and finished fifth in the American League MVP voting. He was limited to 51 games in 2010 and missed the entire 2011 season after suffering a fractured lower left leg following his walk-off grand slam May 29, 2010 vs. the Mariners.
At the time of his season-ending surgery, Morales ranked among the American League leaders in batting average at .290 with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs.
Ryan, 30, has started 254 of the Mariners 324 games over the last two seasons at shortstop. Over that span he leads all major league players with 45 defensive runs saved. Ryan was named the winner of the 2012 Fielding Bible Award as the majors’ best defensive shortstop and was a finalist for the American League Gold Glove Award.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2145288 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2145288">1 Comment
Ha, ha, ha. Nothing ventured nothing gained. At least the M’s aren’t tied to long term contracts to a lite hitting shortstop and a 1st baseman/designated hitter on the mend (?). I would say competion is open in the latter area given the number of signed players who fit this role. Glad to see we are building with a bunch of one and done players. Z must believe!