Wilson returns to M’s camp to help guide catchers

Dan Wilson is putting the hectic life of retirement on hold this week to work with the Seattle Mariners’ catchers at spring training in Peoria, Ariz.

“They say you’re busier after you retire than when you were working, and that’s certainly been the case,” he said.

Wilson retired in 2005 after 11 seasons with the Mariners, and his days are as filled with personal activities as they were with baseball.

He’s a family guy, living in New Hampshire with wife, Annie, and their four children. He’s taking online classes from the University of Minnesota and is a few credits shy of his master’s degree. To stay in shape, Wilson plays hockey once a week.

Wilson’s swath this week spreads from Kenji Johjima to the minor leaguers in camp.

“He’s here for just about anybody, but mainly for our catchers, talking about technique,” McLaren said. “Joh sets up the way Dan set up. He gets ready late and throws the target up. They were talking this morning about some of the things I saw last year. He will work with Kenji on different types of pitches. Dan is a very positive person and he’s here to help all the catchers.”

Hernandez works four innings

Felix Hernandez was so good, the Mariners sent him out for a fourth inning against Milwaukee when he was scheduled to pitch only three.

“I asked them if I could go out for the fifth and they said, ‘Maybe not,’ ” Hernandez said.

Still, it was an impressive outing not only for the 21-year-old right-hander but also the entire M’s staff. Solo homers to Ryan Braun and Rickie Weeks off Hernandez were the Brewers’ only hits in a 5-2 Seattle victory. Ryan Feierabend hit a batter in two hitless innings, and Jake Woods, Sean White and Cesar Jimenez each pitched an inning without allowing a baserunner.

Clearing the bases

The Boston Red Sox and closer Jonathan Papelbon agreed to a $775,000, one-year contract, nearly doubling his salary. Papelbon was among 18 Red Sox players who agreed to one-year deals, putting Boston’s entire 40-man major league roster under contract. Among the other players who agreed to contracts were A.L. Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia, center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and pitcher Jon Lester. … At Tempe, Ariz., Los Angeles Angels ace John Lackey (sore throwing shoulder) threw in the bullpen. … San Francisco pitcher Noah Lowry needs surgery after a recent bout of wildness and is probably out until the end of April.