While no agreement is close, Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik tells Jon Heyman of CBS Sports that his team has maintained a dialogue with Kendrys Morales and agent Scott Boras.
While some believe that Mariners ownership isn't happy with Morales and Boras for turning down their $14.1MM qualifying offer earlier in the offseason, Zduriencik says there are no grudges held. "It strictly has to do with where they're at (in negotiations) and where we're at," Zduriencik told Heyman.
Morales has been connected to his former team all offseason, but the most recent report on him prior to tonight's piece from Heyman stated that the Mariners have "little or no" money left to spend on another free agent. Robinson Cano, he of a ten-year, $240MM contract, has gone on record as stating that the he'd like to see his new club sign Morales and Ervin Santana. However, Santana has since agreed to a deal with the Braves. Morales, for the time being, is working out at the Scott Boras Training Institute in Miami as he waits to find a home for the 2014 campaign.
Between LoMo, Hart, and Smoak, where will they play him? It just doesn’t make sense to have four 1B/DH types on the roster.
They need to trade Smoak and Franklin for a decent center fielder. Desmond Jennings?
What would the Rays do with either considering Loney and Escobar are both better (Zobrist too of you put Franklin at 2B)?
Zobrist can play an outfield corner. But it’s more likely Franklin would stay in AAA for a while. The Rays have 2015 options on Escobar and Zobrist, but this is a team that values depth much like the A’s. They have Kiermaier on his way up who will likely take center from Jennings, so moving Jennings is feasible. At least I hope it is.
I’ve been harping for Jennings for months. But there’s zero reason to think the Rays would want Smoak. Franklin with Almonte might get their attention.
It shouldn’t. I saw Almonte play when he was with the Yankees organization. He’s not that good. He’s a spare part, nothing more.
He was in AA with the Yankees, he’s come a long way since. Check out his line on minorleague central. He figured out how to hit. Still has to tame his throws, but he’s showing some promise. The M’s don’t need another lefty, though.
The Seattle First Basemen / DH’s.
Looks like Ken Rosenthal was right all along when he wrote that column back in December saying the Ms were out of money.
Was that before or after the signed Rodney? I’m not sure money is the #1 factor they haven’t re-signed Morales. It’s the amount he’s asking for as well as current roster construction.
Yeah, that was before Rodney (and Buck, Wolf, and Baker), and also before the Mariners president said they still had financial flexibility. Nothing would piss off fans more than to say you have money to spend and then not spend it. Clearly Rosenthal was grasping. You could even tell from his own article. He built in “out” clauses to his assumption, hinting that this may be a negotiating tactic or they may be playing it close to the chest.
Unless the M’s can trade Smoak (possibly as part of package with Franklin) to fill another need I don’t see anyway Morales can help the team. Any offensive benefit the M’s receive from Morales will be offset by having one the worst OF defenses in the MLB.