Back in the fold

Seattle Mariners closer David Aardsma has one important issue off his mind after agreeing Tuesday to a one-year contract with the team. Now he will continue to work on getting himself healthy for the 2011 season.

Aardsma, relief pitcher Brandon League and starter Jason Vargas all agreed to one-year deals that avoided the sometimes-contentious process of arbitration. Tuesday was the deadline for teams and their arbitration-eligible players to exchange salary figures in advance of hearings that would take place next month.

“Fortunately, we found an agreement before we started going down that road,” Aardsma said from his home in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The 29-year-old Aardsma will get $4.5 million. Vargas and League will get $2.45 million and $2.25 million, respectively.

Aardsma made $2.75 million in 2010, League $1.0875 million and Vargas $412,500.

All three go into spring training, which begins Feb. 13 when pitchers and catchers report, as important factors to the team’s success this year.

Aardsma had surgery Jan. 3 to repair torn labrum in his left hip and may miss the first two weeks of the season. League figures to step into the closer role until Aardsma is ready, although general manager Jack Zduriencik said nothing will be determined until the end of spring training.

Vargas, who went 9-12 with a 3.78 ERA in 2010, will be an important part of a starting rotation that will need solid pitching behind staff ace Felix Hernandez.

Aardsma is working daily at a facility in Tempe, Ariz., to rehab his surgically repaired left hip. Monday, he passed the two-week mark since surgery and, while still on crutches, said he remains on schedule to begin throwing a baseball at the four-week mark.

“I’ll be on crutches for a little while,” he said. “I’m happy. My leg’s doing all right. I’m doing leg strengthening stuff every day — light curls, light squats, some glute stuff. At this point, I’m on the same timetable as before.”

Considering the surgery to repair torn labrum in the hip was more involved than expected, the Mariners believe Aardsma may miss the first two weeks of the season. He’s still hoping for opening day April 1 but also knows he must be smart about his recovery.

“In my mind, absolutely that’s my goal,” he said. “But I want to be healthy. That’s the most important goal.”

Read Kirby Arnold’s blog on the Mariners at www.heraldnet.com/marinersblog and follow his updates on Twitter at @kirbyarnold.