Richie Sexson Signs with Mariners

Steven Hanson reports on the Seattle Mariners big signing.

On December 15, 2004 the Seattle Mariners signed free-agent first baseman Richie Sexson. Seattle will be Sexson’s third team in two years, after being traded prior to last season from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Sexson, a Portland native, signed a four year deal worth approximately $48 million. He was injured for most of last year, so the big question is whether he can stay healthy and bring the Mariners back into the playoffs.

In 1997, Sexson belted 31 homers and drove in 88 runs for the AAA Buffalo Bisons (farm club of Cleveland Indians), and provided a final footnote for the American Association that year when he hit a three-run homer to give the Bisons a 5-4 win in the clinching game of the AAA Championship Series. That moment led to Sexson's first Major League call-up on September 14th, 1997 when he immediately contributed to the Cleveland Indians offense with a pinch-hit single in an 8-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Sexson hit 31 homeruns in 1999, 30 in 2000, 45 in 2001, 29 in 2002, and another 45 in 2003. Not only was his homerun total intriguing to Seattle, his .270/.346/.540 translated lifetime batting line was a contribution also.

Sexson hit 9 homeruns in 29 games in 2004, before missing the remainder of the season due to injury.

The right-hander should add some pop at the beginning of Seattle's lineup, most likely hitting third in the order unless third baseman Adrian Beltre is signed.

A side-issue of this story is Sexson’s number. He's been wearing number 11 since his pro debut, but so has Edgar Martinez. Martinez played his entire 18-year career in Seattle wearing that same number, which surely will be retired. Whether Sexson will ask Martinez to use his number or find another is up to him, only time can answer that.

Steven Hanson

If you have any question, comments, concerns, or suggestions specific to this article please do not hesitate to email Steven at bravest2@yahoo.com.

If you have any question, comments, concerns, or suggestions please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.