The Seattle Mariners missed out on free-agent shortstop Hanley Ramirez, but they managed to lock up their young and talented third baseman. Kyle Seager agreed to a seven-year extension that will pay him nicely.
The 27-year-old Seager signed with the Mariners for $100 million and the two sides avoided arbitration. In his first three full MLB seasons, Seager made $484,300 in 2012, $510,400 in 2013 and $540,100 last year, which was a bargain for the Mariners because he smacked 67 home runs and 251 RBIs over that span.
Seattle missed the playoffs by only one game when the Oakland Athletics snuck in front of them. Seager is part of the core they'd like to keep for the future as he joins Robinson Cano and Felix Hernandez. They also acquired center fielder Austin Jackson from the Detroit Tigers in 2014 and they're hoping to be active in free agency and/or the trade market to land a corner outfielder, shortstop, first baseman or designated hitter.
Nelson Cruz, Melky Cabrera, Michael Morse, Nori Aoki, Yasmany Tomas are among the desirable free-agent outfielders. The Mariners were reportedly looking to pursue DH Victor Martinez and shortstop Hanley Ramirez, but Martinez re-signed with the Detroit Tigers and Ramirez joined the Boston Red Sox.
Also in the AL West, the Oakland Athletics executed a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The A's acquired first baseman Ike Davis and international bonus slot 86 for their international bonus slot 27. Davis is arbitration-eligible this offseason and is expected to earn more than his $3.5 million salary in 2014.
Although the Athletics already have a plethora of players who are first baseman, including Brandon Moss, Billy Butler, Stephen Vogt, Nate Freiman and Kyle Blanks, the team may feel that the competition can motivate Davis to produce another season like his 2012 campaign (32 home runs and 90 RBIs in 156 games).
Pittsburgh designated Davis for assignment last week after he batted .235 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs in 131 games for them. The A's hopped on the opportunity to acquire him and only had to surrender international slot money.
