One day after signing ace Felix Hernandez, the Seattle Mariners agreed to contracts with their two remaining arbitration-eligible players - pitchers Erik Bedard and Aaron Heilman - then traded for another reliever.
That done, general manager Jack Zduriencik can turn his attention to his stated goal of adding another bat to the club's roster. In avoiding arbitration, the Mariners and left-hander Bedard agreed to a one-year, $7.75 million contract - a $750,000 raise over 2008 - with incentives and bonuses that could add another $650,000 to the deal.
With Heilman, the right-hander obtained in the 12-player J.J. Putz deal last month, the Mariners agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.625 million, a raise from the $1.2 million he made as a reliever with the New York Mets last season.
No sooner had the Mariners announced those signings than Zduriencik traded Class A left-hander Fabian Williamson to Boston for journeyman right-hander David Aardsma.
"Adding David to our roster gives us another quality bullpen arm," Zduriencik said. "He has over three years of major league experience and is a former first-round draft pick. We are excited to give him the opportunity to help bolster our bullpen."
That Seattle bullpen is one crowded place as spring training approaches.
The Mariners have on their 40-man roster experienced relievers Tyler Walker, Mark Lowe, Mark Messenger, Cesar Jimenez, Roy Corcoran, Jose Lugo, Miguel Batista, Aardsma and perhaps Heilman, who wants to start but could pitch in relief.
Aardsma, 27, has pitched with the Giants, Cubs, White Sox and Red Sox, compiling a 10-3 record with a career earned-run average of 5.29. Last season with Boston, he appeared in 47 games and went 4-2 with a 5.29 ERA.
Aardsma was the 22nd player picked in the 2003 draft, selected by San Francisco. The man he was traded for, 20-year-old left-hander Williamson, was the Mariners 22nd-round pick in the 2006 draft.
As for those arbitration-eligible pitchers, Bedard figures to be the No. 2 starter in the rotation behind Hernandez, and Heilman could be in that rotation or pitching in relief as a set-up man.
Last year, in 15 starts before shoulder problems shut him down, Bedard went 6-4 with a 3.67 ERA.
"Erik's a very important pitcher for our club in 2009," Zduriencik said. "All our reports this winter are that his rehabilitation is going very well. We are excited to see a healthy pitcher take the hill this season."
Heilman, 30, was 3-8 with a 5.21 ERA with New York in 78 relief appearances last year. Since 2006, Heilman has worked 249 innings out of the bullpen - the second highest total in Baseball. He has a career record of 22-33.
"Aaron is a very versatile pitcher and is an important part of our pitching staff," Zduriencik said. "It is good to settle all these negotiations and head into spring training focused on working hard and getting prepared for the season."
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