M’s close in on new catcher

Move over Ichiro, you could soon have company.

The Seattle Mariners are said to be on the verge of landing Japanese catcher Kenji Jojima. A source said Friday that the Mariners are close to signing Jojima to a two-year contract worth about $8 million with an option for a third season.

The 29-year-old Jojima was in Seattle on Friday, although he wasn’t accompanied by his agent, Alan Nero.

Jojima – who is attempting to become the first Japanese-born catcher in the major leagues – was said to be looking for a three-year contract worth between $16-18 million.

The source said the Mariners – who are grooming 2005 first-round draft pick Jeff Clement as their catcher of the future – wouldn’t guarantee Jojima a third season.

Jojima (pronounced Joe-geema) is a right-handed hitter with good power and strong defensive skills. He averaged a .299 batting average and 30 home runs and 100 RBIs over the past seven seasons for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.

Nero said earlier this week at the general managers meetings in Indian Wells, Calif., that the Mariners were among a half-dozen teams who had expressed interest in the catcher.

The other teams thought to be seriously interested in Jojima are the New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jojima is reportedly eager to sign with the Mariners, so much so that he took a visit to Seattle on his own after the general managers meetings earlier this week.

Should the Mariners sign Jojima they’ll get a player with a limited grasp of the English language, which could prove troublesome.

In September, Jojima broke his left shin. He is scheduled to be ready to play again by the start of spring training in February.

Seattle hopes that signing Jojima would give them stability at a position where seven different players – Dan Wilson, Rene Rivera, Pat Borders, Yorvit Torrealba, Miguel Ojeda, Wiki Gonzalez and Miguel Olivo – played last season.

The Mariners were prepared to head to spring training with Torrealba and Rivera as the front-runners to win the starting job.

Clement – the No. 3 overall pick in the June draft – started his professional career with short-season Class A Everett and finished the season with Class A Wisconsin.

Clement hit a combined .315 with six home runs and 21 RBIs in 124 at-bats. He also played well in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .269 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 67 at-bats.

But Clement, 22, isn’t expected to be ready for the major leagues until 2007.

Landing a catcher is not atop the Mariners’ off-season wish list. Their highest priorities are signing a left-handed power hitter and a frontline starting pitcher.

Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi met with the agent for Florida pitcher A.J. Burnett at the general managers’ meetings.

“I would deem it significant interest,” said Burnett’s agent, Darek Braunecker. “The meeting went well. I think they have some quality people in that organization … people you believe you can do business with.”

Braunecker said that there are “nine or 10 teams that we deem a good fit for him.” The Mariners extended an invitation for Burnett to visit, Braunecker said.

Braunecker had yet to speak with Burnett, who was away on vacation. Burnett is seeking a five-year contract which could run near $50 million, which might be more money than the Mariners are willing to part with for a pitcher who has a 49-50 career record and is two years removed from Tommy John (elbow) surgery.

A more realistic option might be St. Louis right-handed pitcher Matt Morris or Esteban Loaiza, both of whom the Mariners are said to be very interested in.

Morris, who has an off-season home in Montana, slumped badly in the second half (4-8, 5.32 ERA after the All-Star break) in his first season back from elbow surgery.

Loaiza, who pitched for Washington last season, is said to be looking for a three-year contract worth $20 million. Loaiza was 12-10 with a 3.77 ERA for the Nationals and proved durable, pitching 219 innings.