Mariners Bring Blowers Home

Mike Blowers rejoined the Seattle Mariners Friday, in large part because he finally convinced the team he was willing to take less money to play major league baseball without leaving home.

Blowers, who grew up in Tacoma, signed a one-year, minor-league contract that included an invitation to spring training - and the promise of manager Lou Piniella that, if he’s healthy, Blowers will be on the opening-day roster.

As little as 24 hours earlier, the resigning of Blowers looked unlikely. Coming off knee surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Blowers had been paid $2 million last season by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Seattle didn’t have even a third of that to offer the player they wanted to platoon at first base with Paul Sorrento - and give them insurance for Russ Davis at third base.

Late Thursday, Blowers told the front office and Piniella what he and his family had decided weeks earlier: He’d take considerably less money to stay at home this year.

“I’d had talks with a Japanese team and could have made a lot more money, but how much is it worth to stay home? My wife and kids can see me play here. My parents can see me play,” Blowers said. “I talked to Lou for a few minutes and told him how I felt.

“There’s some uncertainty with the contract, because they needed insurance that my knee is fine. I’ll take my chances with Lou.”

Blowers, 31, played only 92 games with the Dodgers last season before an injury ended his season, and rather than renew his contract at $1.8 million this season, the Dodgers waived him. He hit .265 with six home runs and 38 RBI last season.

But in 1995, Blowers had a break-through year in Seattle, batting .257 with 23 home runs and 95 RBI, helping the Mariners win the first division championship in franchise history.

On Friday, he signed a contract that guaranteed him about $400,000 with incentives that could boost his 1997 salary to $700,000.

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