Smoak agrees to new deal

PEORIA, Ariz. – Justin Smoak and the Seattle Mariners have avoided arbitration by agreeing on a contract that guarantees the first baseman $2,787,500 and could be worth up to $8,287,500 over two years.

Smoak will earn $2,637,500 this season under Saturday’s agreement, and Seattle has a $3.65 million option for 2015 with a $150,000 buyout. The deal contains several bonuses and escalators. He was Seattle’s last player in arbitration.

With the moves to acquire Corey Hart and Logan Morrison in the offseason, Smoak’s time at first base could be significantly reduced if he isn’t a consistent performer at the plate.

Smoak, 27, hit a career-high 20 homers last season but batted just .238. He raised his average to .274 in early August before a six-week slump at end of season.