The Mariners, one of the teams that led the charge for adding pitching and defense this winter, went against the grain Friday by signing outfielder Eric Byrnes to a one-year deal.
Byrnes was added for his potential offense, pure and simple. He’s not a great defensive player, thanks in part to injuries that have sidelined him for much of the past two seasons.
He is, however, a right-handed hitter with some power, which is an asset the Mariners badly need. He has hit only 14 homers the past two years, but he had 21 in his breakout 2007 season, when he was healthy all year for the Diamondbacks, hit .286 and stole 50 bases as the catalyst for a Diamondbacks team that made it to the National League Championship Series.
The 34-year-old probably will not be starting regularly for Seattle, but there’s a reasonable likelihood of his starting some in left field against left-handed pitchers, with manager Don Wakamatsu perhaps moving left fielder Milton Bradley to designated hitter in the process.
“I have not talked to Don yet,” Byrnes said after signing. “After speaking with (general manager) Jack (Zduriencik), the role wasn’t necessarily specified, except that he said he believed I would contribute. And that’s all I needed to hear.”
Zduriencik, who spent his Friday flying to Kansas City, Mo., to receive the Negro Baseball League Museum’s Rube Foster Award for American League executive of the year, wasn’t available to comment.
But in a statement released by the team, he was effusive over his perceptions of what Byrnes brings to the team.
“We think Eric is a great fit for our team,” Zduriencik said. “He is a high-energy player with a veteran presence. We look forward to him competing for a spot on our roster when spring training starts.”
Byrnes has played for the A’s, the Rockies, the Orioles and for the past four years the Diamondbacks in a career that stretches back a decade. He’s been limited the past two seasons by injuries, including a two-month absence caused by a fracture of his left hand and getting into only 52 games in 2008 because of hamstring problems in both legs.
“I am healthy for the first time in two years,” Byrnes said. “I just needed a team that believed in me half as much as I believe in myself.
“It’s about me getting back on the baseball field and proving that I can play this game at a high level. In talking to Jack, I felt I would get that opportunity.”
Byrnes hit .226 in 2009 for Arizona with 14 doubles and eight home runs in 52 games.
The Mariners opened a spot on the 40-man roster by moving first baseman Tommy Everidge to the designated-for-assignment list. The club has 10 days to trade, release or move Everidge to the minor league roster, should he clear waivers.
John Hickey is a National Baseball Writer for AOL FanHouse ( www.fanhouse.com ).
