The Mariners and Kyle Seager are nearing completion on seven-year, $100 million contract, according to multiple reports, including this one by Yahoo Sports. The 27-year-old Seager has developed into one of baseball’s most consistent third basemen since joining the club in 2011. Last year, Seager slashed .268/.334/.454, made his first American League All-Star team and won his first Gold Glove.
When the signing is official, it will mark the third consecutive year that the Mariners have signed a nine-figure player in an attempt to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2001.
Seager’s new deal reportedly includes an eighth-year club option that could be worth up to $20 million if Seager meets certain performances clauses.
The Mariners selected Seager in the third round of the 2009 draft out of the University of North Carolina. He made his major league debut July 7, 2011 and bounced throughout the Seattle infield in his first half season.
In 2012, Seager hit 20 home runs for the first time and has since added 47 more, including 22 in 2013 and 25 last year. Twenty-nine of Seager’s career home runs have come at Safeco Field. Seager hit 16 of those last season, when he also batted .300, making him one of the few major league players not intimidated by Safeco’s reputation as a poor hitters’ park.
When Seager signs, presumably after passing an obligatory physical, he will join Mike Trout, Buster Posey and Freddie Freeman as the only players in their first arbitration-eligible season or before to sign a deal worth $100 million or more.
Last offseason, the Mariners signed free agent Robinson Cano to a 10-year, $240 million contract. Felix Hernandez signed a seven-year, $175 million contract prior to the 2013 season.
3 Comments
Ridiculous money – exactly on of the reasons I quit attending M’s games – and the M’s raise their ticket prices. I congratulate Seager, as he has now rung the brass bell.
That’s surprising. I don’t consider Seager a $100 million dollar player but if they’re willing to give it to him, more power. This would be like giving Jose Lopez the same contract after he went to the All Star game, IMO. But he had a solid season and I’m looking forward to continued growth from him in an M’s uniform.
$100 million for seven years is pretty cheap for a guy who has had three consecutive solid seasons and is ranked 10th in WAR in the American League. He showed improvement at the plate, and considerable development in the field. His contract is much less than players whose numbers at the plate and in the field weren’t nearly as good-Miguel Cabrera ( 20,) Albert Pujols (30,) Jacoby Ellsbury (39,) and Joe Mauer (63.) Assuming he continues on his arc of development, this is a great deal for the Mariners and locks up a key member for the team.