Jack Zduriencik made good on his promise. And it took the Seattle Mariners general manager just 24 hours to do so.
Sitting in the press room of Safeco Field on Thursday in front the assembled local media for the Mariners’ annual pre-spring training luncheon, Zduriencik made it clear that it was a priority to sign a right-handed hitter, and that the team would make such a move soon.
Such a statement from Zduriencik, who keeps all transactions and possible transactions close to the vest, was somewhat unexpected.
Perhaps it was because that right-handed hitter was already on his way to Seattle.
A day after making that announcement, Zduriencik and the Mariners signed right-handed-hitting outfielder Eric Byrnes to a one-year contract. Byrnes was in Seattle on Friday and took a physical before signing the deal.
“We think Eric is a great fit for our team,” Zduriencik said in the news release. “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, who will turn 34 on Feb. 16, was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks this offseason. Zduriencik was one of the first general managers to contact Byrnes after he was released.
“Once I talked to Jack, I knew this was the right fit, it was just a matter of figuring out what other opportunities I had out there,” Byrnes said during a conference call. “That took a few days. But right away, I just kind of felt that this was the place I felt like I could contribute.”
Byrnes has played 10 major leagues seasons with the A’s, Rockies, Orioles and Diamondbacks. He is a career .260 hitter with 189 doubles, 30 triples, 109 home runs, 396 RBI and 128 stolen bases.
Byrnes has been riddled with injuries the past two seasons with the Diamondbacks. In 2008, he played just 52 games because of hamstring injuries to both legs. He went on the disabled list for the first time in his career in May 2008 because of tears in both hamstrings. After coming off the disabled list, he tore his left hamstring completely while trying to steal third base. That injury required surgery and ended his season.
“In a lot of ways, it was disheartening, but it was self-imposed,” he said. “I should have shut it down before, but that’s not in my nature. It ended up biting me in the butt.”
He returned in 2009 still trying to get the hamstring strong and hoping to contribute. In June, just about the time the leg started feeling better, he was hit by a pitch thrown by the Rangers’ Scott Feldman. It broke the fifth metatarsal in his left hand and he missed the next two months.
At that point, the gregarious Byrnes became disillusioned.
“I lost my passion for the game. I really did,” he said. “When you’re dealing with the media, the fans, obviously injuries and lack of production, and you go through all of that, baseball no longer becomes fun.”
Byrnes regained that passion during a 20-game rehab stint with Triple-A Reno. Byrnes appeared in 16 games and hit .279 with seven doubles, two homers and nine RBI.
“I really rediscovered my passion for baseball,” he said. “It all kind of made sense why I’ve been playing this game since I was 9 years old.”
Byrnes returned to the Diamondbacks in September and played in a handful of games. However, because he was scheduled to make $11 million this season, Arizona designated him for assignment.
Byrnes signed with the Mariners with nothing guaranteed from Zduriencik or manager Don Wakamatsu except an opportunity to compete for a job.
“I haven’t talked to Don yet,” Byrnes said. “Speaking to Jack, the role wasn’t necessarily specified, other than the fact he believed I would contribute,” Byrnes said. “That’s all I needed to hear. Being in the position I’m in now, I’m healthy for the first time in two years. I just needed a team to believe in me half as much as I believe in myself.”
Byrnes isn’t above being part of a platoon situation. It isn’t ideal to him, but he’d understand if the Mariners decided to do it.
“I’m perfectly fine with that,” Byrnes said. “Obviously, I’m a competitor and I want to play as much as possible. But my play will dictate the amount of playing time I’m warranted.”
If he comes off the bench or is platooned with Milton Bradley or Michael Saunders in left field, he said he won’t complain.
“I’ve spent plenty of time on the bench,” he said. “I know how to deal with that role. It’s not a big deal to me. It’s about taking advantage of whatever opportunity I have. There’s not one thing I want given to me, nor do I expect anything given to me. At this point, in my career I have to earn it.”
Byrnes likened his situation to the beginning of his career with Oakland, when he was fighting to get on the field in any capacity.
“My career has kind of come full circle and I’m back to what I was doing in Oakland, fighting for my next opportunity and my next chance,” he said. “I will accept whatever role I have. Any great team I’ve ever been on has depth.”
And Byrnes said he thinks that the Mariners could be a great team.
“It was a team I felt had a great chance of winning the American League West and potentially the American League, if not the World Series,” Byrnes said. “For me, at this point in my career, that’s really important. I wasn’t even going to consider signing with a team I didn’t feel would have a real good chance of winning. What Jack and Don have put together here, it’s impressive.”
ryan.divish@thenewstribune.com
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