Baseball News - Mariners sign Sexson, Beltre



Richie Sexson and the Seattle Mariners finalized a 4 year/$50 million deal Wednesday night. The right-handed slugger will receive a $6 million signing bonus, $4.5 million in 2005, $11.5 million in '06 and $14 million in each of the final two seasons of the contract.

Sexson has averaged 32 home runs and 94 RBIs the past four seasons -- despite missing all but 23 games in 2004 in Arizona because of a left shoulder injury. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on June 4 and missed the remainder of the season, finishing with nine home runs and 23 RBIs in 23 games.

"We're thrilled to have Richie here as hopefully the first component to adding more offense to this club," general manager Bill Bavasi said Wednesday at a press conference at Safeco Field in Seattle. "We have stated from the outset that our primary goal this offseason was to add offense."

"This is, first and foremost, where I wanted to play," the Vancouver, Wash., resident said. "Baltimore and New York [Mets] were involved, but in the back of my mind and my family's, they knew this was my spot. Ever since I started playing baseball professionally, this is an organization I was very fond of and wanted to be a part of," said Sexson. "I want to help get it back to the way it was."

The Mariners are going to rely on Sexson to drive in many runs. Seattle scored the fewest runs (698) and hit the fewest home runs (136) en route to a 63-99 record and a last place finish in the AL West.

Safeco Field is regarded as a difficult place for right-handed batters, but Sexson has the strength to hit balls out of any ballpark.

The deal reunites Sexson with his first Major League manager, Mike Hargrove, who coached Sexson when he was a rookie with the Indians.

"Any time you add a hitter with numbers like Richie has produced over his career, it helps to legitimize your lineup," Hargrove said in a statement. "Richie is a proven middle-of-your-order hitter and one of the better power and production hitters of the last four years. He is the first big piece of what we are trying to do here, and I am extremely happy to have him signed and in Seattle."
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One day after signing a right-handed hitter with two 45-home runs seasons on his resume, the Mariners completeed a deal that will send the home run champion to Seattle.

The M's have sealed the deal on their second marquee signing of the year. Free agent Adrian Beltre and the Mariners have agreed on a five-year deal worth $65 million as of Thursday afternoon.

The Mariners, who have rarely tampered with free agency in the past, now will have the two biggest signings in club history. They promised going into the offseason that they had money to spend and would spend it, and Sexson and Beltre are living proof.

In Beltre, the Mariners get a versatile third baseman who, aside from being young enough to be just entering the prime of his career (25), will help them both offensively and defensively.

Coming off of a career year in which he finished second to Barry Bonds in the National League Most Valuable Player voting. Beltre batted .334 with 48 home runs, 121 RBIs and a .388 on-base percentage while leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to their first NL West championship since 1995.

In the end, the Mariners clearly outbid the Dodgers for Beltre, leaving Los Angeles to either look for a third baseman elsewhere or pplace Jeff Kent at the hot corner.

After four consecutive 90-plus win seasons and sell-out crowds at Safeco Field, the Mariners realized with last year's dramatic drop that they were in danger of losing fans. Now that the M's have signed superstars Beltre and Sexson, the future is looking very bright in Seattle.




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