AL West

At first glance the numbers seem preposterous; $400 million for a single player? 

Not even Alex Rodriguez's gaudy $275 million figure comes close. Not a single player in Major League Baseball history has ever even cracked the $300 million mark.

In fact, Rodriguez ranks both first and second when it comes to all-time record salaries. His previous 10-year, $250 million contract comes in second.

The Seattle Mariners have already made plenty of noise this winter, and if early signs are any indication, they'll continue to be busy until spring training.

The moves have not only been unexpected, but monumental as well and heavily focused on hitting. A new skipper is at the helm and a new superstar in town. 

The following moves are the biggest ones made by the Mariners so far, with their grades reflecting the quality of player/coach and value of their contracts.

That sound you didn't hear following the four-day wheeling and dealing fest known as the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings is what made the Los Angles Angels so intriguing.

It was the cricket’s chirp, disguised as a collective thumbs up, instead of the disapproving roar.

There are a number of clichés to characterize what the Seattle Mariners must do at the Winter Meetings. Strike while the iron is hot...Get while the getting's good...

Alright, maybe that's it. But the point stands: The Mariners need to do something. Preferably something worthy of headlines, as the one headline-grabbing move they have made this winter isn't enough.

The Seattle Mariners are back. That's the main message that one can take away from their signing of Robinson Cano. The deal was first reported by ESPN Deportes' Enrique Rojas. 

After coming up short in the sweepstakes for Prince Fielder and Josh Hamilton in each of the last two offseasons, respectively, the Seattle Mariners were determined to land one of the few elite hitters in this year’s free-agent class.

Well, they got one Friday.

Despite the acquisition of first baseman Prince Fielder, the Texas Rangers are still a team with flaws. A number of good free agents remain on the market and should Texas sign them, it may fix some of the areas that need improvement.  

Seattle Mariners trade rumors have been abundant so far this offseason, but the club has yet to pull any triggers.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers faced off in a classic World Series in 2011, but now they can come together for their mutual benefit. The Cards’ pursuit of a shortstop and the Rangers’ apparent willingness to deal from a middle-infield surplus have emerged as prominent story lines early in this offseason.

Here's a deal I think works for both sides:

Though Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell appears to be a runaway for AL Manager of the Year, Oakland A's manager Bob Melvin has a strong case to pull off the upset.