Kendrys Morales Is Open To Signing New Deal With Seattle

Kendrys Morales says he is interested in signing a deal to stay with the Seattle Mariners this offseason, without testing the free agent waters.

Of course he is. He’s had an abysmal season and wouldn’t get much on the open market.

According to Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune, Morales wants a multi-year deal, though how multi is not yet known. Nor is how much money he would ask for.

Morales rejected the Mariners qualifying offer this past offseason that would have paid him $14.1 million this year. Instead, he sat unsigned until after the June amateur draft, which removed the draft pick an opposing team would have to give up to sign him.

Morales signed with the Minnesota Twins and was traded to the Mariners in late July.

His deal for 2014 was for approximately $7.6 million.

The numbers have not been there for Morales, who hit .277 with 23 HR and 80 RBI last year for Seattle. This year, his slash line is .219/.268/.332 with 7 HR and 41 RBI. Since joining Seattle, his slash is .207/.274/.338 with 6 HR and 23 RBI.

According to Dutton’s article, Morales feels like next year would be a different story.

"“Losing at-bats and getting my timing down has been a little difficult,” he admitted. “I’m swinging at pitches I normally don’t swing at. But next year will be a different thing. I’ll have a full season going forward.”"

Dear God NO! But of course, Seattle will more than likely re-sign him. Somewhere in the ballpark of 2-3 years at $10-$12 million per year.

But the Mariners are in need of offense. And with a fairly thin free agent market this year, Morales may be the best option the M’s have.

It may be asking for a miracle, but if he can return to how he was even in 2013 (forget about 2009), it would be an improvement in the offense for sure. Let’s just hope that if Seattle does intend on signing him, they also intend on getting others as well.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/09/23/3395360_mariners-notebook-morales-says.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy