The Seattle Mariners are in talks with outfielder Nelson Cruz and targeting closer Fernando Rodney, according to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman.
The Mariners had been linked as a front-runner to Cruz throughout the offseason. Discussions may have heated up in the past few days, according to Heyman, and the Mariners reportedly are willing to hand out a multi-year deal for the 33-year-old slugger.
Cruz is one of five remaining free agents with a draft choice attached to his signing by virtue of his being extended the qualifying offer by his old Texas Rangers team.
Cruz had 27 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .266 batting average for the Rangers last year before accepting a 50-game PED suspension tied to the Biogenesis scandal.
Rodney, 37, was 5-4 with a 3.38 ERA and 37 saves in 66 2/3 innings last season for the Tampa Bay Rays. In 2012, he had a 0.60 ERA and finished fifth in Cy Young voting.