Mariners to increase payroll in 2015
After spending over $260 million last offseason on free agency, the Seattle Mariners will once again open their wallets in an effort to improve their roster for 2015.
“The payroll is going to rise,” Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik told the News Tribune. “What the exact number is, I don’t know yet because we haven’t had that meeting. I’m sure within the next few weeks, that will take place, but I’m encouraged that our payroll will increase.”
The Mariners are planning to aggressively pursue offense to complement their pitching staff during the offseason - with a focus of finding a middle of the order bat.
"We all know from time to time we were challenged offensively so to add pieces to that offense is very important," McClendon said. "Jack and I have talked about that and I would really like to have a right-handed bat to hit behind (Robinson Cano)."
The Mariners made a huge splash last season by inking Robinson Cano (10 years, $240 million), Fernando Rodney (two years, $14 million), and Corey Hart (one-year, $6 million) - with Cano and Rodney making a significant impact on a Seattle team that showed a 16-win improvement and finished one-game back of the wild card.
Seattle ranked 16th in the majors last season with a payroll of $100,745,156