SEATTLE (AP) - Jamie Burke has returned to the Seattle Mariners after becoming a free agent, agreeing Tuesday to a minor league contract.
The 37-year-old backup catcher, trying to make the Mariners for a third season, was invited to major league spring training.A native of Roseburg, Ore., Burke appeared in 48 games with Seattle last season and batted .261. He was originally signed as a minor league free agent in November 2006 and the following year made a major league, opening-day roster for the first time in 15 professional seasons.
He became a free agent after he was not tendered a contract by the Dec. 11 deadline.
Seattle has four catchers on its 40-man roster: Kenji Johjima, Jeff Clement, Rob Johnson and Burke. Clement or Johjima could be Seattle's designated hitter next season.
