SEATTLE (AP) - Felix Hernandez agreed Monday to a $3.8 million, one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners, more than seven times his $540,000 salary last season.
Hernandez, who will be 23 on April 8, was 9-11 with a 3.45 ERA in 200 2-3 innings and 31 starts last season, leading the Mariners in victories, starts, innings, strikeouts (175) and ERA. He has a 39-36 career record and a 3.80 ERA."We are pleased to have Felix signed for 2009 and to avoid the arbitration process," new Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a statement. "It was important to the club to get this done quickly and fairly to avoid any distraction as we prepare for the season."
Hernandez's agreement left the Mariners with two players in arbitration: left-hander Erik Bedard and right-hander Aaron Heilman.
In 2008, Hernandez became the first Mariners pitcher to hit a home run when he connected for a grand slam off the New York Mets' Johan Santana on June 23 at Shea Stadium. It was the first grand slam by a pitcher in interleague play.
