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Re-Signing Coleman, Benes Not A Priority For Mariners

Associated Press

The Mariners apparently aren’t interested in resigning outfielder Vince Coleman and pitcher Andy Benes, two free agents who helped the team win the 1995 American League West title.

Woody Woodward, vice president of baseball operations, on Wednesday confirmed speculation that neither player is in the team’s plans for 1996.

Coleman, 33, gave Seattle a bona fide leadoff hitter and had several key hits. Benes went 7-2 in the Mariners’ late-season surge to their first playoff appearance in franchise history.

Woodward said the Mariners were concerned about Coleman’s age. The fleet veteran is expected to demand much more than the $236,000 he got last year after being passed up last spring on the free-agent market. He made $3 million in 1994. Benes was paid $3.4 million last year.

Woodward said owners will increase the team’s salary budget to $34 million next season, $4 million above the figure for the strike-shortened 1995 season.

Woodward said no deal is on the table to trade first baseman Tino Martinez to the Yankees, as reports out of New York suggested last week.

Martinez had an All-Star season in 1995, batting .293 with 31 home runs and 111 RBIs. He may be too expensive for the Mariners to keep.

Martinez made $1 million last season, and is likely to make at least $3 million next season.

Woodward said the M’s will peruse the list of 138 free agents, once they figure out which of their own free agents and salary arbitration-eligible players they can sign.

His main target this winter is to improve the team’s starting pitching.

“If we get involved in the free-agent market, it will probably be later than earlier,” Woodward said. “We’ll be looking to fill specific needs.”

While accountants are still adding the numbers, club president Chuck Armstrong said he expects losses from last season to be in excess of $20 million.

Armstrong said the team expects to lose about $15 million each year for the next three seasons, until the M’s move to a new, retractable-roof stadium in 1999.