The year was 2005 and the Seattle Mariners wanted to show fans a commitment to winning here and now. So the M’s made not one, but two big-splash free agent signings, inking both power hitting first baseman Richie Sexson and 2004’s all-around sensation in third baseman Adrian Beltre. Sexson would earn $50 million across four seasons in his megadeal, while Beltre inked a deal good for five years and $64 million.

So here it is, the start of the 2008 season. Just who has been the better signing?

It would certainly appear at first glance that Beltre is the majority “no-brainer” amongst Seattle fans. And while there’s no arguing that Beltre is a better defender and was a better player last year all-around, Beltre continues to be the bigger bust. As with most economic venues, it has nothing to do with overall contract and everything to do with value.

When Sexson signed his monster deal with the M’s, he was 31 years old and in his prime, having averaged just a shade under 40 homers from the 2001-03 seasons, spending most of 2004 hurt.

Beltre came in younger at 26, but both began their pro careers during the 1998 season (Sexson played in just five games in 1997).

While Sexson was coming off injury, expectations were still high thanks to his best years in Milwaukee. Beltre on the other hand was coming off a career year, cashing in when his stock was highest following a monster.334, 48 homer, 121-RBI season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

So with those figures in mind, here’s why Sexson quite simply has remained the better signing.

When we offered Richie the house, we knew we would get three things: Lots of home runs, lots of RBI and lots and lots of strikeouts. When we offered Beltre even more, we did so with the expectation that he was just blossoming offensively and would continue to inject those kinds of offensive numbers into the M’s lineup.

That said, take a peak at both players’ time here.

In his three seasons with the M’s (even including his horrendous 2007 season, which was probably the worst by any Mariner in recent memory), Sexson has averaged about 32 homers, 97 RBI and yes, 140 strikeouts per season. In other words, he’s given us exactly what we payed for (and think of what those averages would be if he didn’t completely suck last year).

Beltre by comparison has averaged 23 homers, 92 RBI and a batting average of .266. Those numbers a huge falloff from his payday season, dropping 25 homers, 30 RBI and a Sexson-esque 70-point drop in his batting average. What’s most concerning is those averages are eerily similar to what he averaged in six seasons before his breakout with the Dodgers.

While most M’s fans would jump on Beltre’s glove at this point, I’ll point out there’s no question Beltre’s defense has proven essential for the Mariners at times. However, is a Gold Glove worth $64 million? As a team that’s familiar with Gold Gloves thanks to the likes of Ken Griffey Jr., Omar Vizquel and the like, the answer is no.

While those same fans would point to Sexson’s astronomical strikeout counts, again, we knew that was what we were paying for. Beltre is no angel in the box as well, himself striking out more than 104 times in each of his first three seasons with the M’s.

While Beltre has a higher potential upside still, a factor of the age difference between him and Richie, it’s hard to imagine Sexson doing much worse this season.

What makes Sexson the popular whipping boy is the same reason the Seattle SuperSonics are leaving, and the same reason the Mariners almost did. Think we’d have a beautiful ballpark like Safeco Field if Luis Sojo was called out sliding into home in 1995 against the Angels? Perhaps not. Likewise, think the Sonics would be an afterthought at this point if they were 59-18 right now instead of 18-59? Not only would they still be here, but we’d probably already have torn down the Key.

Sexson is caught in a similar predicament.

In what-have-you-done-for-me-lately Seattle, an unfortunate byproduct of the Mariners’, Sonics’ and Seahawks’ simultaneous successes since the mid-90s, history is forgotten. That’s why Shaun Alexander will be (unfortunately) gone after just one poor season (no one remembers the back who became the seventh in NFL history to rush for 100 touchdowns, each and every one with the Hawks). It’s also why Sexson will likely be remembered as a bust even if he does return to 30-homer, 100-RBI form.

But before you join the boo birds on a Sexson strikeout this season, just remember he’s gonna do it 150 more times, and we knew it when we gave him the money.

So the question then becomes, Mr. Beltre, what’s your excuse?