Report: Nelson Cruz headed to Seattle

Published January 08, 2015

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Seattle Mariners are apparently set to make yet another splash in the free agent market, as reports indicate that slugger Nelson Cruz has agreed to a multi-year contract.

The Mariners signed the top free agent position player available last December when Robinson Cano left the New York Yankees for a reported 10-year, $240 million contract.

ESPN and the Dominican Republic publication El Caribe each reported that Cruz has agreed to a four-year deal worth $57 million with the Mariners. The ESPN report added that the veteran outfielder also will receive a $1 million signing bonus.

Cruz spent the 2014 season in Baltimore, signing a one-year deal last February in the wake of his 50-game suspension that stemmed from the Biogenesis scandal in August 2013.

The 34-year-old Dominican native helped the Orioles to the American League East title in 2014. He led the majors with 40 home runs and finished third in the American League with a career-high 108 runs batted in while batting .271 in 159 games.

Cruz spent eight seasons with Texas from 2006-13 and also played eight games for Milwaukee in 2005. He has 197 career home runs with 597 RBI, a .268 average and a .501 slugging percentage in 963 games.

A three-time All-Star, including last year, Cruz was also the 2011 ALCS MVP for the Rangers when he slugged six homers and drove in 13 runs in a six-game victory over Detroit.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/report-nelson-cruz-headed-to-seattle