Published: Friday, November 2, 2012, 9:16 p.m.
Mariners, Iwakuma agree
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Associated Press
Hisashi Iwakuma was 8-4 with a 2.65 ERA for the Mariners last season.
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With Friday's deadline for a deal approaching, the Seattle Mariners agreed to a contract extension with right-handed pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma to keep him as a part of the team for the next two seasons.
The organization announced late Friday evening that Iwakuma agreed on a two-year contract extension through the 2014 season. The extension also features a club option for the 2015 season. Monetary details of the contract were not released.
"Hisashi did a very nice job for us at the end of last season as a starting pitcher and we are happy that we have come to a mutual agreement," general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a press release. "We look forward to his veteran presence and to his contributions for the next few seasons."
Had the two sides not reached an agreement, the 31-year-old Iwakuma would have become a free agent.
Iwakuma posted a 9-5 record with two saves and a 3.16 earned-run average overall in 30 appearances as both a starter and a reliever. He moved into the starting rotation late in the season, and went 8-4 with a 2.65 ERA in 16 starts. The ERA as a starter set a rookie club record, which was previously held by Felix Hernandez, who had a 2.67 ERA in 2005.
Prior to joining the Mariners last season, Iwakuma compiled a 107-69 record in 226 career games with Kintetsu (2001-04) and Rakuten (2005-2011) in the Japan League. In 2008, he was named the Pacific League MVP and winner of the Eiji Sawamura Award -- Japan's equivalent of the Cy Young award -- after going 21-4 with a 1.87 ERA in 28 starts.
The organization announced late Friday evening that Iwakuma agreed on a two-year contract extension through the 2014 season. The extension also features a club option for the 2015 season. Monetary details of the contract were not released.
"Hisashi did a very nice job for us at the end of last season as a starting pitcher and we are happy that we have come to a mutual agreement," general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a press release. "We look forward to his veteran presence and to his contributions for the next few seasons."
Had the two sides not reached an agreement, the 31-year-old Iwakuma would have become a free agent.
Iwakuma posted a 9-5 record with two saves and a 3.16 earned-run average overall in 30 appearances as both a starter and a reliever. He moved into the starting rotation late in the season, and went 8-4 with a 2.65 ERA in 16 starts. The ERA as a starter set a rookie club record, which was previously held by Felix Hernandez, who had a 2.67 ERA in 2005.
Prior to joining the Mariners last season, Iwakuma compiled a 107-69 record in 226 career games with Kintetsu (2001-04) and Rakuten (2005-2011) in the Japan League. In 2008, he was named the Pacific League MVP and winner of the Eiji Sawamura Award -- Japan's equivalent of the Cy Young award -- after going 21-4 with a 1.87 ERA in 28 starts.
Story tags » • Mariners
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