On Friday the Mariners and GM Jack Zduriencik went back to his "buy low, end up high" mentality when the team came to an agreement on a one year contract with free agent outfielder Eric Byrnes.Byrnes, who turns 34 in February of this year, will be entering his tenth year in the majors, with his third team in his career.
The signing of Byrnes gives the Mariners a much needed right-handed bat to most likely come off the bench this season.
In 2009 Byrnes played in only 84 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks with eight homeruns, 26 runs, 54 hits and 31 RBI's.
Byrnes has a career .321 OBP, .442 slugging percentage and a .763 OPS.
Eric Byrnes is out to prove to the Mariners and the rest of the league that he is once again healthy, something he hasn't been in two years since he signed a three year $30 million dollar contract with the Diamondbacks.
Byrnes said in a conference call with Seattle reporters that he was "I just needed a team to believe in me half as much as I believe in myself".
With the Seattle Mariners Brynes he feels like he has that belief.
The addition of Byrnes adds another notable name to the list of top off season acquisitions with the likes of Chone Figgins, Cliff Lee, Milton Bradley, Casey Kotchman as well as the extensions of Felix Hernandez and Franklin Gutierrez.
With this "believe big" motto for 2010 it's clear that Don Wakamatsu and Jack Zduriencik are doing more than aiming for a division title in 2010.
NOTE: The Mariners designated Tommy Everidge for assignment to make room for Byrnes on the roster.
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