M’S, Segui Close To A Deal

The Seattle Mariners have made a two-year contract offer to David Segui, and his agent said the veteran first baseman is leaning toward accepting it.

“We’re pretty far along,” Tommy Tanzer told Bloomberg News. “All we have to do is decide and say yes.”

Segui visited Seattle on Tuesday with Tanzer. He met with club officials and underwent a physical examination; Segui had surgery in early June to repair a slightly torn meniscus in his left knee.

The Mariners have earmarked $4-5 million over two years for Segui. Seattle needs a first baseman to replace Paul Sorrento, who signed a two-year, $5.25 million contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Monday.

Segui’s former employers, the Montreal Expos, didn’t offer him salary arbitration, so Seattle could sign him and avoid giving up any draft picks as compensation.

Segui, 31, is a switch-hitter. He hit .307 with 21 homers and 68 RBIs in 125 games with Montreal in 1997.

“He has good defensive ability at first base, and he doesn’t strike out very much,” said Seattle manager Lou Piniella. “We’ve needed a little more contact hitting.”