MLB Rumors: Seattle Mariners still interested in Kendrys Morales
By Bryan Rose
Despite rejecting a $30 million dollar contract from the Seattle Mariners during the past offseason, it seems as if they and first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales simply can’t quit each other.
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Morales and fellow Scott Boras client, Stephen Drew, both out-priced themselves during free agency this previous Winter which lead to both players going unsigned, despite their talents.
Drew eventually bit the bullet and re-signed with the Boston Red Sox last week, though Morales remains a free agent.
So why hasn’t he been signed? After the Mariners offered Morales a one-year, $14 million dollar qualifying offer, it attached draft pick compensation to him. That would force any team (other than the Mariners, obviously) to forfeit a draft pick if they were to sign him.
Thankfully for Morales, after the June amateur draft (which will take place in just a handful of days), the draft pick compensation expires as Morales will be free to sign anywhere he chooses and his new team won’t have to give up a draft pick to do it.
Of course, he may just return to the Mariners according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports who hints the team could use him.
“*The Mariners remain an obvious fit for free-agent first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales — the team ranks next-to-last in OPS at DH, and Corey Hart is expected to be out until mid-June with a left hamstring strain.”
Bringing Morales back wouldn’t only help the Mariners, but also hurt fellow American League West rivals, the Texas Rangers, who are said to have interested in the first baseman after losing Prince Fielder for the season.