Major League Baseball

Mariners, Kotchman agree to deal

Published Feb. 3, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Casey Kotchman and the Mariners have agreed to a one-year contract worth $3,517,500, settling Seattle last salary arbitration case this year.

Seattle announced the deal for the 26-year-old first baseman on Wednesday, less than a month after Seattle acquired him from Boston for outfielder Bill Hall.

Kotchman is a defensive standout who is expected to replace Russell Branyan in the Mariners' lineup. Kotchman spent his first 5 1/2 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, who drafted him 13th overall in 2001.

He had asked for $3.9 million and had been offered $3,135,000 after making $2,885,000 last year.