ESPN.com's Buster Olney is reporting that the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox are nearing a deal which will send 1B Casey Kotchman to Seattle in exchange for at least one minor league player.
Kotchman, a career .269 hitter, has spent parts of six seasons in the Major Leagues with the Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox. His best year came with the Los Angeles Angels in 2007, when he hit .296 in 443 at bats, clubbing 11 home runs for 68 RBI.
The Mariners hope that Kotchman can provide a consistent bat in their lineup. While Russell Branyan provided power at first base last year, he did so with a batting average near .250. Kotchman is a power downgrade, but could bring a more consistent bat to the lineup.
Had Seattle retained 3B Adrian Beltre, who recently signed with Boston, 3B Chone Figgins may have moved to second base, shifting 2B Jose Lopez to first base. Beltre's departure, however, all but assured that Figgins would play the hot corner in Seattle, which prompted Seattle to move quickly to find a first baseman.
If the deal is completed, Kotchman will most likely be named the Mariners starting first baseman.
The minor leaguer involved is expected to be announced once the deal is finalized.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
- Login to post comments