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The Seattle Mariners have agreed to sign infielder Willie Bloomquist to a two-year contract worth $5.8 million, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. The deal, which was first reported as close by Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, is pending a physical.
Bloomquist, 36, hit .317 with 14 RBI in 48 games off the bench for the Diamondbacks in 2013. He appeared at second base, shortstop and left field, serving as a valuable replacement option for Arizona throughout the year.
Bloomquist returns to Seattle, where he spent the first seven years of his career from 2002 and 2008. In 540 games over those seven seasons, he hit .236 with 6 HR and 98 RBI while playing almost every position on the diamond. Bloomquist is a Washington native, and could end his career with the team that originally drafted him in 1999.
While the addition of Bloomquist is likely nothing more than a small signing to provide depth on the bench, the Mariners have their sights set on a busy offseason. The team is pursuing outfield help, and has been linked to Carlos Beltran, Nelson Cruz and Jacoby Ellsbury as well as starting pitchers Ervin Santana, Ubaldo Jimenez and Matt Garza.
