The Mariners signed their final arbitration eligible player Saturday when the club agreed to a deal with 1B Justin Smoak for 2014 with a vesting option for the club in 2015 if he reaches 525 plate appearances. Smoak will get $2.64 million and a $150,000 buyout on a $3.65 million option for 2015, according to Sportsnet.ca.
Smoak filed for $3.25 million in arbitration. The Mariners countered with $2.025 million.
Smoak, 27, started 124 of 131 games at first base. He hit a career-high 20 home runs with 50 RBI, hitting .238/.334/.412. Smoak led the team with 30 two-out RBIs. His fielding percentage ranked fifth among AL first basemen. He has a career. 228 average.
Smoak probably will be joined in a 1B/DH rotation by new acquisitions Logan Morrison and Corey Hart, who also will play the corner outfield spots.
4 Comments
The M’s held all the cards on this. If Smoak was still with the Rangers and performed like he has here he’d still be at AAA level. I believe he can turn into another Tino but the time for that is now.
Smoak will never amount to anything with the M’s and should have been cut loose. As a baseball player he is a complete and utter disappointment and a testament to the losing attitude of the entire organization.
I’m not as down on Smoak as Joe Fan, but he has been mostly a disappointment after having been the centerpiece of the Cliff Lee trade. Justin will tease everyone into thinking he’s finally turned the corner, but there’s no escaping that career .228 batting average at age 27. I’ve said “the clock is ticking” on a lot of guys but in Smoak’s case, it’s like listening to the intro of Pink Floyd’s “Time” on headphones.
Smoak hasn’t produced at the plate however he has a good glove. His defense is much, much better than any of the DH hopefuls. So, we have a crap shoot at 1st base. Personally I’m rooting for Smoak.