Mariners Sign Ryan Garko

by ~ February 1st, 2010 at 9:47 am

The M’s have reached an agreement with Ryan Garko on a 1 year, $550,000 deal. Garko, a right-handed 1st baseman, can make up to $1,075,000 if he reaches 600 plate appearances (he won’t.) Garko figures to help out against lefties at 1B and DH and be able spell Kotchman when needed.

Garko crushes lefties at a career .887 OPS clip. While Garko isn’t an impact bat playing every day, he comes surprisingly cheap and offers virtually no risk at that cost. Jon already broke down Garko and his potential impact here, here, and here.

Here are the details of his contract/playing time breakdown.

Garko would earn up to an additional $25,000 each for 325, 350 and 375 plate appearances this season. The former Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants player would get $50,000 apiece for 425, 450 and 475 plate appearances, and $100,000 each for 500, 550 and 600 plate appearances.

Update (Jon): Gaby Hernandez has been DFA’d to make room for Garko.

«
»

  • ernier

    This is great news!! I can’t believe how cheap they got him for, even if he reaches his incentives. I really like this signing at that price.

  • Keith

    So what does this mean for Langerhans?

    • http://proballnw.com Jon

      Look back a couple posts. We’ll revisit it in a bit.

  • http://proballnw.com Jon

    For that price, I am very happy to log in and see this news.

  • http://www.sodomojo.com gregrabble

    Good stuff, pretty content with this deal. Hate oversleeping & missing news though.

    • http://proballnw.com Jon

      In the same boat. I was up all night sick and slept through it as well.

  • maqman

    Garko actually doesn’t look as bad as I initially believed. He’s only 28 years old and has some decent career batting numbers in the AL (despite a not impressive short stay with the Giants in the last part of 2009) but his first base glove should be taken away from him, he’s bad on the bag. Eliminate his negative fielding numbers and his WAR is more respectable. I think he’s attractive as a righty DH at a good price.