The Seattle Mariners have finally landed the right-handed middle of the order hitter.

Reports early Monday from ESPN had Seattle and free agent slugger Nelson Cruz agreeing to a 4-year, $57 million contract.

A baseball source confirmed those early reports.

Like any contract, the agreement is based on Cruz passing an extensive physical. That could take place sometime later this week with an official announcement soon to follow. Because Cruz turned down a qualifying-offer from the Orioles, the Mariners will also forfeit their first-round draft pick (No. 19 overall) for the 2015 draft.

Cruz, 34, had a bounce back season in 2014, leading the American League in homers with 40. He hit .271 with an .859 OPS and driving in 108 runs for the Baltimore Orioles. That production was key for Cruz, who signed a 1-year $8 million contract with Baltimore last offseason. Cruz had turned down a 1-year, $13.2 million from the Rangers and opted for free agency in search of a multiyear deal. He never found one. The combination of his age, injury history and suspension for being linked to the BioGenesis performance enhancing drug scandal in Miami scared some teams off.

The Mariners showed some interested in Cruz last offseason, but also only on a short term contract. Cruz made the wise choice of signing with the Orioles and benefited from hitter-friendly Camden Yards and other AL East parks.

Cruz is no stranger to the pitchers paradise that is Safeco Field, having spent most of his career with the Texas Rangers.

Cruz has played in 52 games at Safeco, hitting .234 (43-for-184) with 11 doubles, nine homers and 19 RBIs with a .749 OPS. Most of those at-bats came before the changes to the outfield wall dimensions in Safeco. Though, those changes were perceived to make a more dramatic impact, they may have benefited Cruz marginally in the past.

Cruz should provide some punch to an offense in desperate need of it. He will likely bat in between Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager. While he is capable of playing outfield, it is likely the Mariners will feature him more at DH to keep his legs healthy.

The Mariners are likely to still be active in the search for adding a right fielder and at least another starting pitcher to provide depth. The outfielder could via the trade market as the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp, Boston’s Yoenis Cespedes and Atlanta’s Justin Upton have been rumored targets. Seattle has long valued Kemp and is leery of giving up too much for Upton and Cespedes, who will be free agents next season.

The real issue is whether the team is willing to depart with top pitching prospect Taijuan Walker. Teams have coveted Walker and lefty James Paxton. The Mariners would prefer not to deal either, but Paxton has been considered by some in the organization as off the table in any discussion.