Nelson Cruz To Seattle Probably Wasn’t That Close After All

Recently, we followed up on a story by Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune that Seattle backed out of a pending deal with free agent outfielder Nelson Cruz this past offseason.

According to the report, the Mariners had a deal in place with Cruz for 2014 at $7.5 million with a $9 million option for 2015, before Mariners ownership nixed the deal.

Now, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, a deal probably wasn’t even as close as was first reported, because ownership made it clear prior to the offseason that they didn’t want any guys connected with PED’s.

From Heyman:

"It’s possible, too, there may well have been some sort of contingent deal. However, people familiar with the situation say ownership’s position could not have been a surprise to the Mariners’ baseball people as they were told from the start there would be no Cruz coming.It is, of course, quite possible Seattle’s baseball people were holding out hope they could convince ownership such a deal for Cruz would be worthwhile, as it’s possible ownership’s unwillingness to do a deal with Cruz might have been more about concerns he’d perform to his usual level in the year after his PED suspension more than any moral objection."

Of course, we all know the story by now. The Mariners missed the playoffs by one game and the Baltimore Orioles signed Cruz, he went on to hit 40 homers for the O’s and helped lead them to the American League Championship Series.

Cruz is a free agent again this offseason and the Mariners have been linked to rumors involving him yet again.

Though with the recent report by Dutton and now this from Heyman, it seems highly unlikely that the Mariners will be serious in their pursuit of the slugger.