Baseball: Mariners sign Pokey Reese

The Seattle Mariners will continue retooling today, when they’ll likely announce the signing of free agent Pokey Reese as their opening night shortstop – a deal with significant consequences.
To make room in their 2005 budget for Reese, Seattle has sold the contract of veteran utilityman Jolbert Cabrera to a Japanese team that approached the Mariners last month. And rookie infielder Jose Lopez, the 22-year-old who played 57 games in Seattle last season, almost certainly will begin the season in Class AAA Tacoma.

Rushed into service last year after just 74 games with the Rainiers, Lopez played shortstop and batted .232 in Seattle – and while the Mariners were impressed with his abilities, they didn’t think he was a natural shortstop. Reese, 31, has played the position 293 games in the majors and last season was the Boston shortstop for 71 games. A career .248 hitter, Reese is a “small ball” candidate in the lineup, a player who can bunt and put the ball in play.

After making $1 million last year with the Red Sox, Reese will sign a one-year contract with the Mariners today that will nearly double that, pending the results of a physical.

Link...New Tribune

themariners will certainly have a new look infield this year, beltre at third, reese at short, boone back at second and richie sexson at first.....will be worth watching to see how these new guys jell together this year :party-smiley-018:

is it april yet?

A nice pick-up for Seattle. Good guy. Good attitude.

Although fairly weak with the stick, his defense will deduct some runs from opponents totals, which, in effect, is an offensive stat not added to his batting average.