The Seattle Mariners seem to have an idea of how to approach the future with their aging but still productive slugger Nelson Cruz.
According to a report by Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times on Sunday, the Mariners have approached Cruz about the possibility of a contract setup similar to what retired Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz got in his final years with the team. Ortiz essentially played out his career on a one-year contract with vesting options for the next season.
Cruz, who is about to be 38, remains one of Seattle’s better hitters nonetheless with 16 home runs and 38 RBIs through 58 games (albeit on a .248 batting average). His current deal with the team will expire after the season.
Much like Ortiz, Cruz is now playing exclusively as a designated hitter as his career winds down, which will obviously limit his market come the winter. But he has more than demonstrated his worth during his time with the Mariners, and it’s remarkable how far the two sides have come in just the last few years.
