The Seattle Mariners have been one of the most underperforming in baseball the last few years. They have not been the team fans are used to seeing. The glory days of Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson are a distant memory. The good memories of Ichiro Suzuki in Seattle seem like a distant memory as well.
The Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, and Oakland Athletics made outstanding moves the last two years to bolster their rosters. The Rangers and Athletics seized power the last two years in the American League West. The Mariners were headed in the opposite direction along with the Houston Astros who joined the A.L. West last year.
The signing of Second Baseman Robinson Cano will change both the perception and expectation level for the Mariners. Cano is an elite player who can hit for power. Hitting home runs at Safeco Field, a pitchers ballpark, will be a challenge. Cano hit 27 home runs and drove in 107 runs last year with the New York Yankees.
The Mariners are expected to bolster their starting pitching rotation. They are one of teams tied to the David Price trade talks along with the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds.
Seattle could look at the free agent market for starting pitching. Ervin Santana, Matt Garza, and Ubaldo Jimenez could be in the discussion for the Mariners.