Robinson Cano has put up tremendous numbers over the course of his nine-year Major League career, but one number in question this week was what digits he’d wear on his jersey once he joined the Mariners.

Flanked by GM Jack Zduriencik and manager Lloyd McClendon, Robinson Cano was officially introduced on Thursday afternoon at Safeco Field, and the All-Star second baseman opened his news conference by saying, “You can’t be more happy than this.”

Flanked by GM Jack Zduriencik and manager Lloyd McClendon, Robinson Cano was officially introduced on Thursday afternoon at Safeco Field, and the All-Star second baseman opened his news conference by saying, “You can’t be more happy than this.”

General manager Jack Zduriencik has tried for a few offseasons now to add a star player, and he officially accomplished that on Thursday when the Mariners introduced Robinson Cano, the top free agent on the market who instantly raises Seattle’s profile.

Entering the offseason, right-hander Ivan Nova represented one of the Yankees’ few guarantees when it came to returning starters in 2014. So it’s without much surprise that, while Nova has gone about working on his own game over the past two months, his team has undergone quite the makeover.

The Mets have had themselves a fine few days. Sure, it begins with making the baseball team better on the field. Curtis Granderson and Bartolo Colon do that on a couple of levels. Both are productive players and consummate professionals. Also significant is that their signings is a message to Mets fans that their team is aggressively attempting to improve, and that the first phase of the rebuilding project could be nearing an end.

A flurry of smaller moves brought the 2013 Winter Meetings to a close, while the yearly Rule 5 Draft gave teams hope for bright futures.

Patrick Schuster created a lot of buzz as a senior at Mitchell High in New Port Richey, Fla., in 2009. He threw four straight no-hitters, and ESPN News broadcast his next start to a national audience. Schuster was in the news again Thursday at the Winter Meetings, as the Astros made him the No. 1 overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft, and traded him to the Padres.

The Red Sox made official what was agreed to nearly a week ago, signing first baseman Mike Napoli on Thursday to a two-year, $32 million contract through the 2015 season.

The Orioles received Minor League catcher David Freitas from the A’s on Thursday, completing the Dec. 2 deal that sent closer Jim Johnson to Oakland for second baseman Jemile Weeks.

For all the hours the Winter Meetings consume, the actual transaction tally they net is often underwhelming. And that was certainly the prevailing notion coming out of this year’s event at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort.

Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said earlier this week the organization would be willing to go multiple years on a free-agent pitcher in the right scenario.

When Braves general manager Frank Wren exited the Winter Meetings on Thursday, he had the same needs he possessed at the start of this four-day event. But Wren seems confident that some of the conversations he had with agents and other executives this week could soon allow him to satisfy his desire to add depth to his starting rotation, bench and bullpen.

Before the Winter Meetings began, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman used a football analogy to describe the current state of the team, saying that he was “on the 1-yard line” in reaching agreements with a variety of players.

Over the span of four days at the Winter Meetings, public perception of the Mets underwent a complete metamorphosis. Gone was the team that spent most of the early winter serving as daily tabloid fodder, replaced by a sleeker version with a clear and concise message: The Mets are trying to win.

General manager Jack Zduriencik’s shopping list this winter has grown considerably shorter after some interesting maneuvering both before and during the Winter Meetings, with Seattle’s offense adding significant thump through free agency and a trade.

The Pirates have reportedly re-signed veteran shortstop Clint Barmes to a one-year deal.