Report: Mariners, Nelson Cruz had deal in place before ownership backed away

Nelson Cruz was reportedly on the verge of signing a deal with the Seattle Mariners last offseason before ownership got cold feet over the slugger's role in the Biogenesis drug scandal, according to the News Tribune's Bob Dutton.

The Mariners and Cruz were apparently close to agreeing on a one-year deal worth $7.5 million, with a club option for $9 million in 2015. Cruz eventually signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles for $8 million.

From Dutton's report:

The primary concern, which all clubs shared, was how Cruz, then 33, would respond after being caught and suspended as part of the Biogenesis drug scandal.

Still, officials with several clubs say they stopped viewing Cruz as a potential target because they expected he would bridge any differences with the Mariners.

“I still don’t know what happened there,” an official with a rival club said. “We were told it was done. And it seemed such an obvious fit for both sides. There was risk, certainly, but…”

The Mariners' loss was Baltimore's gain. Cruz hit a career-high 40 homers with 108 RBIs for the AL East champs, producing his best slash line (.271/.333/.525) since 2010.