MLB Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners Should Sign Melky Cabrera this Offseason

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Getty Images

With the Seattle Mariners expected to shop outfielder Michael Saunders at the GM meetings in Phoenix next week it stands to reason that the Mariners might be interested in a couple free agent outfielders. One free agent makes a ton of sense for the Mariners and that is Melky Cabrera.

Cabrera, 30, is coming off of one of his best seasons as a pro slashing .301/.351/.458 with 16 home runs, 73 RBI, 81 runs, 35 doubles and three triples in 139 games with the Toronto Blue Jays. He makes contact and doesn’t strike out, owning just a 12 percent strikeout ratio for his career.

Adding Cabrera would be a nice boost to a Mariners lineup that ranked 23rd last year in baseball with a .244 average and 18th in runs scored with 634. More importantly, as a line drive/groundball hitter, Cabrera is tailor-made for Safeco Field and would be a great number two hitter to help set the table for Robinson Cano, who happens to be Cabrera’s best friend in the game from their time with the New York Yankees.

The Mariners need offensive help and Cabrera is one of the best free agents available. Yes, he does have the PED issue hanging over his head but he has been clean since serving his suspension when he was with the San Francisco Giants in 2012. The team was so desperate last season that they brought in Kendrys Morales as a free agent in the middle of the season. That didn’t work out very well. The Mariners also picked up Chris Denorfia at the trade deadline but he was not very good for the Mariners.

Whether they want to admit it or not, the Mariners have a small window in which to take advantage of Felix Hernandez and Cano being in their primes. There is young pitching coming in the form of Taijuan Walker and Danny Hultzen among others but the offensive prospects like Justin Smoak, Dustin Ackley and Jesus Montero have largely been a flop. The Mariners have shown a willingness to spend recently and Cabrera is the perfect fit for this team.

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