Mariners hook Moyer for 2006

12/07/2005
DALLAS -- Jamie Moyer is still going strong at 43 years of age, and as of Wednesday night he's still going strong in a Mariners uniform.
Moyer, the veteran left-hander who last year became Seattle's all-time victory leader, avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract.
The deal is worth $5.5 million and possibly up to $1 million more in incentives, according to The Associated Press. Moyer will get $200,000 each for 160, 170, 180, 190 and 200 innings, the AP wrote.
"I'm happy that it's done and over with and that I can continue my workouts and not take away from my workouts," Moyer said on a conference call.
"I was a part of some pretty special years here in Seattle. I've been part of some pretty great teams, some pretty great seasons, and our fan base has really supported the ballclub, and that's been great to see."
Moyer continued his consistent career last season with a 13-7 record and a 4.28 ERA, reversing an uncharacteristic 2004 in which he went 7-13. Most impressive about Moyer's 2005 campaign was his 10-0 record and 2.95 ERA at Safeco Field.
He led the club in wins, ERA and innings pitched (200). Moyer has pitched 200 or more innings in each of the last five seasons and in seven of the last eight. The southpaw has a career record of 51-26 (.662) in Safeco Field, and Seattle had a 15-2 record in his 17 home starts last season.
"I'm glad to know I will have Jamie back in the rotation next season," Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said. "Jamie does a great job giving us a chance to win every time he goes out there."
Moyer represented himself in the negotiations and admitted that it was an arduous process that came down to the final hours. If Moyer had not been offered arbitration by the Mariners by 9 p.m. PT on Wednesday, he would have not been allowed to return to the club until May 1.
But it wouldn't have come to that anyway, according to Moyer, because he had additional interest from "a couple of teams" and would not have considered retirement if he couldn't work out a deal with the Mariners.
"Not a chance," Moyer said. "I would have played somewhere this year. I haven't been working out for the last month and a half, two months, to retire."
So at 5:30 p.m. PT, 3 1/2 hours before the deadline, a deal was struck.
"I don't know if it went down completely to the wire, but it got fairly close," Moyer said.
Moyer said he thought about trying to work a longer-term deal early in the negotiation process but realized it wasn't likely because of his age, even if he is a rare case.
"There aren't too many guys who pitch into their 40s," Moyer said. "Being the style of pitcher that I am, I think it's a little bit different from the power-type pitchers out there today, and I feel that's allowed my longevity to be what it's been."
Moyer added that he's not thinking about what he'll do after this season.
"I don't have any interest in looking at if this is the final year or not," Moyer said. "I'll decide in September and October and maybe in the offseason if it's my final year or not."
Moyer's signing gives the Mariners three solid starters, along with 19-year-old phenom Felix Hernandez and Joel Pineiro. As of Moyer's signing Wednesday night, the team hadn't revealed its plans for arbitration-eligible Gil Meche and Ryan Franklin. They are still seeking starting pitching on the free agent market and in trades at these Winter Meetings.
Moyer originally joined the Mariners on July 30, 1996, in a trade from the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Darren Bragg. In his career in a Seattle uniform he is 139-75 with a 3.94 ERA in 299 games (298 starts). He is the Mariners' all-time leader in wins, starts and innings (1,933), and is second in strikeouts (1,157). No player on the current roster has been with Seattle longer than Moyer's 10-year tenure.
And he reiterated Wednesday how much he, his wife, Karen, and his six children love to be in Seattle, where they started the charitable Moyer Foundation.
"We had the fortune of moving into a new ballpark, and it's been a special place to work every day," Moyer said.
"During that time, we became very entrenched in the community. ... We really feel like we've been able to make a difference for children in this community and families in this community."

Source: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/