Eric Byrnes Is Seattle-Bound

Free agent outfielder Eric Byrnes, who was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks earlier this month, has been snapped up by the Seattle Mariners.

Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik didn't wait long to fulfill his promise to add a right-handed bat to the roster, signing veteran outfielder Eric Byrnes to a one-year deal Friday.
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"We think Eric is a great fit for our team," said Zduriencik. "He is a high-energy player with a veteran presence. We look forward to him competing for a spot on our roster when spring training starts."

Byrnes was a disappointment in Arizona, batting just .218 over parts of two seasons and getting derailed by injuries to his hamstrings and hand after signing a $30m/3yr contract in August 2007. Seattle, though, was in the market for a right-handed outfielder to platoon with Ryan Langerhans or Michael Saunders, and apparently sees in Byrnes a potential cheap, short-term solution. Byrnes is a career .284/.345/.511 hitter against lefties, and he plays the kind of strong, rangy defense around which the current Mariner roster has been built.

To make room for Byrnes on the 40-man roster, first baseman Tommy Everidge has been DFA'd. There's no word yet on the magnitude of Byrnes' contract, although it isn't likely to be much more than the league minimum, as whatever the Mariners are giving him will simply be subtracted from the money already guaranteed by his contract with Arizona.

It should be noted that, despite the pickup, Byrnes is not guaranteed a spot on the team. He will compete with other options in Spring Training and break camp only if he shows that he's healthy and capable of making a contribution. Because the M's won't be on the hook for much money, they have no reason to hang on to Byrnes if , when they see him, they determine that he's a lost cause.

Follow the story at Mariners blog Lookout Landing.