Mariners get Washburn to shore up pitching

SEATTLE – Jarrod Washburn and the Mariners agreed to a four-year, $37.5 million contract Monday, giving Seattle the proven starting pitcher it’s looked for this off-season.

“There’s no question in my mind this team is going to be good,” Washburn said at a Monday evening news conference at Safeco Field. He cited Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson, entering their second seasons with the A.L. club, and Ichiro Suzuki as reasons he expects the club to rebound from two consecutive 90-loss seasons.

This is the first multi-year contract of Washburn’s career.

Asked about the high price the Mariners are paying for a pitcher who has won more than 11 games just once – when he went 18-6 during the Angels’ 2002 World Series championship season – Seattle GM Bill Bavasi said: “The market is what it is.

“Jarrod is a proven major-league winner who immediately makes us better in the starting rotation.”

The left-hander was 8-8 with a 3.20 ERA in 29 starts for the Los Angeles Angels last season. He is 75-57 with a 3.93 ERA during his eight-year major league career, all with the Angels.

Washburn fills Seattle’s primary off-season need – another starter to help anchor a staff led by 43-year-old Jamie Moyer, who re-signed with the team earlier this month.

The Mariners also have 19-year-old phenom Felix Hernandez, 4-4 with a 2.67 ERA as a rookie last season.

Seattle must decide by tonight’s deadline whether to offer contracts to Gil Meche and Ryan Franklin, two other starters eligible for arbitration.