Ibanez, Seattle reach two-year deal

Raul Ibanez and the Seattle Mariners finalized an $11 million, two-year contract extension Wednesday that runs through 2008, the team announced from Peoria, Ariz.

Ibanez had 20 homers and 89 runs batted in while hitting .280 last season. He has a $4.25 million salary this season in the final year of his previous contract and gets $5.5 million in each of the following two seasons.

Seattle hopes to bat the left-handed hitter fifth behind Richie Sexson. Ibanez was one of the few bright spots last season for the Mariners, who lost 93 games and finished last in the American League with a .256 batting average.

Boone retires after quick fall

Former Mariner Bret Boone, 36, retired at New York Mets camp in Port St. Lucie, Fla., the culmination of a swift decline for a player who was one of baseball’s best second basemen only a few years ago.

Boone’s production had plummeted dramatically since the 2003 season. The three-time All-Star was cut by Seattle last July 3, dealt to Minnesota eight days later, then released by the Twins on Aug 1. He batted .221 with seven homers and 37 RBIs in 326 plate appearances last season.

Clearing the bases

Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez arrived at spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., with his agents and others in a pair of luxury vehicles. He sported dark orange dreadlocks and was on the field for only an hour. He showed up, with the team’s approval, one day after the mandatory reporting date. … New York Mets closer Billy Wagner and Cleveland pitcher C.C. Sabathia withdrew from the U.S. roster for the World Baseball Classic and were replaced by Washington’s Gary Majewski and the New York Yankees’ Al Leiter. … Vladimir Guerrero of the Los Angeles Angels also pulled out of the WBC, saying he will not play for the Dominican Republic because of the recent deaths of his three cousins in a car accident. … Barry Bonds’ reality TV show, “Bonds on Bonds,” chronicling the slugger during his pursuit of Hank Aaron’s career home run record will debut April 4 on ESPN2, the network announced. … Pittsburgh pitcher Kip Wells said he will have surgery next week to replace a vein in his right arm, near where he has a blood clot.