Mariners look to add complementary pieces

The Mariners aren’t done this off season, but it’s unlikely they’ll land another ‘big fish.’

After inking free agent second baseman Robinson Cano to a record 10-year, $240 million contract, there was some speculation that the Mariners’ payroll had been exhausted. New team president Kevin Mather has assured Mariners fans and General Manager Jack Zduriencik that there is more available to get the necessary pieces for 2014. Greg Johns was at the Mariners’ FanFest and heard Zduriencik speak on the issue of further moves this winter.

"[Kevin Mather] and I will sit down in the next couple days and kind of hash out some things in terms of what his vision is and where we’re at and maybe where we need to go. But we’re not going to do anything foolish. If the right scenario is there and it makes economic sense and talent sense, then that’s something you engage in."

The GM was quoted as saying he’d like to add another decent starter to come in behind ‘King’ Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma and slot in front of prospect Taijuan Walker, but unless the demands of starters like Ubaldo Jimenez and Ervin Santana come down, Zduriencik will probably look elsewhere. With the $240 million committed to Cano and $150 million committed over the next six years to Hernandez, the Mariners could go out and sign a veteran pitcher at a lower price; they have been known to be in on former Twins and Cubs starter Scott Baker.

Zduriencik said he’d love to sign another big free agent bat, but that with prices of players like Nelson Cruz still being sky high, along with how to handle the Draft Pick compensation, Jack has a lot of factors to consider before making any additional moves.