Mariners Reach Agreement With Davis On Two-Year Deal

The Seattle Mariners have avoided arbitration with third baseman Russ Davis, signing him to a two-year contract through 1999, the club announced Sunday.

Davis, 28, hit .271 with a career-high 20 home runs and 63 RBIs in 119 games last year. His season was cut short when he suffered a severely sprained right ankle in a homeplate collision against the New York Yankees Aug. 24.

He had four bottom-of-the-ninth, game-ending hits for the Mariners last season, including home runs against Los Angeles June 14 and Baltimore Aug. 5.

In his 214-game major league career, Davis has 27 homers and 94 RBIs while hitting .260.

With Davis’ signing, the Mariners are down to three players, all pitchers, who are eligible for arbitration; Bobby Ayala, Felipe Lira and Bob Wells.