SEATTLE (AP) -Raul Ibanez was offered salary arbitration Monday by the Mariners, a move that means Seattle would receive an extra pair of draft picks next year if the free-agent outfielder signs with another team.
Seattle did not offer arbitration to its other former players who became free agents: utilitymen Willie Bloomquist and Miguel Cairo.
Ibanez has until Sunday to accept the offer. Under a change in baseball’s rules that began in 2006, free agents can re-sign with their former clubs at any time.
The 36-year-old was fifth in the AL with 110 RBIs while playing in all 162 games last season. He said at the end of the season he liked Seattle but wanted to win and was likely to explore offers from other teams.
Seattle lost 101 games this year.
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