M’s avoid arbitration by signing Hernandez

The Mariners have avoided the potentially ugly arbitration process with pitcher Felix Hernandez, igning the 22-year-old right-hander to a one-year contract. The deal, worth a reporoted $3.8 million, came together Sunday night.

While it’s not the longterm contract that M’s fans would love to see, it allows both sides to avoid the always difficult and often contentious arbitration process. That’s the last thing the Mariners wanted, knowing that the young and emotional Hernandez might be distracted by the negative aspect of arbitration.

Hernandez made $540,000 last year when the team renewed his contract after talks on a longterm deal went nowhere. He went 9-11 with a team-best 3.45 earned run average in 2009. He also led the team with 175 strikeouts and 200 innings.

The Mariners have two other unsigned arbitration-eligible players, left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard and right-hander Aaron Heilman. Bedard made $7 million last year, when he went 6-4 with a 3.67 ERA in 15 starts before a shoulder injury in early July ended his season. Heilman, 3-8, 5.21 in 78 relief appearances with the Mets, made $1.2 million.

Tuesday is the deadline for teams and unsigned arbitration-eligible players to file salary numbers.