Person familiar with negotiations: Hernandez, Mariners closing in on $78 million, 5-year deal

AP source: Hernandez, M’s closing in on $78M deal

SEATTLE — Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners are closing in on a five-year contract worth about $78 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the deal was not yet finished.

The agreement would avoid arbitration and prevent Hernandez from becoming a free agent after the 2011 season. He is due in Seattle on Thursday for a physical needed to finalize the contract, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been completed.

Seattle and representatives for the 23-year-old right-hander exchange proposed arbitration figures Tuesday, with Hernandez asking for $11.5 million and the Mariners offering $7.2 million.

ESPN.com had reported late Monday night that an agreement of unknown length had been reached.

Seattle also agreed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract with closer David Aardsma and a $1.15 million, one-year deal with setup reliever Mark Lowe, avoiding salary arbitration with each.

Hernandez’s agents started talks with the Mariners soon after the pitcher finished second in voting for last year’s AL Cy Young Award. Hernandez was 19-5 last season, tied for the most wins in the major leagues, made his first All-Star team and had a career-high 217 strikeouts with a career-low 2.49 ERA.

Hernandez went 15-2 with a 1.98 ERA after Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu called him out for not stepping up during a sloppy loss to the Angels on May 19.

Surging Seattle has made several major moves in an effort to return to the postseason for the first time since 2001: acquiring former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee from Philadelphia, signing All-Star third baseman Chone Figgins, trading for outfielder and designated hitter Milton Bradley and re-signing Ken Griffey Jr.

A long-term agreement with Hernandez was the Mariners’ top priority. Hernandez and Lee, signed through 2010, give Seattle one of baseball’s best pairs atop a rotation.

A five-year deal would leave Hernandez just 28 when he would be eligible for free agency.

The native of Valencia, Venezuela, dubbed “King Felix” soon after he arrived in the major leagues, is 58-41 in 4½ seasons. He has averaged 14 wins and 183 strikeouts in his four full seasons in the big leagues.

Aardsma, 28, seized his first closer job in the major leagues after the 2009 season began. He had the first 38 saves of his big league career, in 42 opportunities, with a 2.52 ERA, after arriving from Boston last January in an overlooked trade for a minor leaguer. He ranked third among American League closers in saves.

The 26-year-old Lowe set career-highs in appearances (75), innings (80) and strikeouts (69) while solidifying his role as Aardsma’s primary setup man in 2009. Lowe ranked third in appearances among AL relievers.

“It was an important process to get to this point and avoid any distraction as we prepare for the upcoming season,” Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said.

AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.