THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEATTLE — Casey Kotchman and the Mariners have agreed to a one-year contract worth US$3,517,500, settling Seattle last salary arbitration case this year.
Seattle announced the deal for the 26-year-old first baseman on Wednesday, less than a month after Seattle acquired him from Boston for outfielder Bill Hall.
Kotchman is a defensive standout who is expected to replace Russell Branyan in the Mariners’ lineup.
Kotchman spent his first 5{ seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, who drafted him 13th overall in 2001.
He had asked for US$3.9 million and had been offered $3,135,000 after making $2,885,000 last year.
