Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners were awarded a franchise by the American League in 1976 as an expansion team. The brought Major League Baseball back to Seattle for the first time since the departure of the Seattle Pilots to Milwaukee in 1970. The franchise is based in Seattle , Washington . The Mariners are in the West Division of the American League. The team ha won three West Division titles, and Wild card berths which were acquired in 2000. Seattle has produced some of baseball's greatest individual's players of the last decade. Notable players such as Randy Johnson, Ichiro Suzuki, and Ken Griffey are some of the big names to play for the Mariners. The team uniform colors are Navy Blue, Northwest Green and Metallic Silver. The team logo has a baseball on a rose compass. Nintendo of America, majority shareholder who is represented by Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln is the current ownership. The club plays at Safeco field since 1999-present.

The Mariners begin the 2005-2006 off-season by signing Japan 's top catcher, Kenji Johjima. Johjima has signed a 3 year deal and left-handed starter Jarrod Washburn to a 4 year deal. Seattle will play against Los Angeles Angels on April 3 Monday, this will be the first time catcher from Japan has started in the major leagues. Last season saw the emergence of the 19 years old Venezuela pitching genius ‘'king'' Felix Hernandez. He became the youngest major Leaguer debutant in 2005 since Jose Rijo in 1987. Since its establishment in 1977 as American League expansion, Seattle Mariners have never won a World Series. The Mariners finished at the bottom of the divisional standings in 2005 season, these despite many changes and larger players signings by Mariners in 2004 season. The franchise had the most suspended players under the new drugs policy, players such as Ryan Franklin and Morse. This resulted in fan attendance to decline. Now the Seattle Mariners is reviving its respectability and avoid financial loss, by bringing in new blood to the team such as Johjima, starter Jarrod Washburn and Hitter Everett.

The Mariners introduced a fresh roster in the 2000 season. Even though the team featured Alex Rodriguez the team needed fresh talent to return to the top of the division. Led by Aaron Sele and Kazuhiro Sasaki, outfielder Mike Cameron and first baseman John Olerud the Mariners returned to the playoffs, captured a wild card berth and in the division series bested the Chicago White Sox. Kazuhiro Sasaki was named the AL rookie of the year for registering 37 saves. In the ALCS the Mariners fell to the Yankees. Before the 2001 season Rodriguez joined the Texas Rangers under a $252-million contract.