Mariners agree to terms with Heilman

Published 2:34 pm Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The Seattle Mariners have agreed to contract terms with right-handed pitcher Aaron Heilman, the team announced Tuesday.

Heilman was Seattle’s lone remaining arbitration eligible player. The Mariners previously agreed to 2009 contracts with pitchers Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard.

“Aaron is a very versatile pitcher and is an important part of our pitching staff in 2009,” Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “It is good to settle all these negotiations and head into spring training focused on working hard and getting prepared for the 2009 season.”

Heilman, 30, went 3-8 with a 5.21 earned-run average in 78 relief appearances with the New York Mets last season. He was acquired by Seattle on Dec. 10 in a three-team, 12-player trade that sent J.J. Putz , Jeremy Reed and Sean Green to the Mets.

Since 2006, Heilman has the second-most innings (249.0), fourth-most appearances (233) and fifth-most holds (64) among major-league relievers.