"The Seattle Mariners were a team woefully lacking in power and run production in 2010. On Wednesday at the Major League Baseball winter meetings, they made a move to address the situation.

Seattle has agreed in principle on a 1-year, $2.75 million contract with free agent designated hitter/outfielder Jack Cust.

"I'm really excited," he said over the phone. "Seattle is a place that I've wanted to go to. They've shown interest in me the in past and they were interested in bringing me in last year. I'm just glad the interest is still there."

A source in the Mariners organization said the deal is basically done, but that the final logistics and details, including a physical, need to be completed.

It's likely an announcement won't come until Friday at the earliest. Cust figured he would be in Seattle in "a few days" for an announcement.

Complicating matters somewhat is the situation with the Mariners 40-man roster. Right now, they have 39 players on the 40-man and the one open spot has been reserved for Thursday's Rule V draft, where the Mariners have the No. 2 pick.

When Seattle officially signs Cust, they will have to make a corresponding roster move and designate for assignment a player on the 40-man roster.

Cust said expects to be the every day designated hitter.

"Yeah, I think mostly DH is what they want," he said. "I can play some outfield. Every year, it seemed like I played a lot of games in the outfield for Oakland. I know I will be ready to do both."

Last year he appeared in 15 games in the outfield and in 2009, he played 50 games in left field. Cust isn't known for his defensive ability. Some would consider him a defensive liability. He has a career -22.3 ultimate zone rating as an outfielder, meaning he costs his team 22.3 runs per season."