Mariners in Lower Depths

The Mariners signed free-agent journeyman and former Mariner, John Mabry, to a one-year contract (plus an option for 2004), ESPN reports.

The 32-year-old had a breakthrough year in 2002 with the A's, but has been languishing as a free agent in this year's chilly market. Mabry's .826 OPS with Oakland was 17% better than the adjusted league average, not too shabby. However, nothing in his previous 8+ seasons would indicate that he can repeat 2002's performance.

The M's seem to be proceeding with their offseason plan to buttress the frontline players with experienced bench players (i.e., Greg Colbrunn though they did get Randy Winn as door price for losing Lou Piniella). It's too bad for the left-handed batting Mabry that the men he will back up are also lefties (John Olerud at first, Ichiro Suzuki in right, and Winn--switch-hitter--in left). He also has competition for the left-handed DH in Luis Ugueto, Mark McLemore, Chris Snelling, and Ben Davis (all switch-hitters but Snelling).