Sexson signs contract with M’s

SEATTLE – Richie Sexson didn’t use an exploding pen Wednesday to sign his new contract with the Seattle Mariners.

That’s sure to come later.

“Beware, Seattle,” said former Mariner Tom Lampkin, one of Sexson’s good friends in their hometown of Vancouver, Wash. “Richie likes the practical jokes.”

If that’s the darkest side of Sexson that the Mariners will see the next four years, they will be happy. The M’s signed the 6-foot-8, 237-pound right-handed hitter to a four-year contract with high hopes that he delivers much of the home-run power they are seeking this off-season.

The Associated Press put the value of his contract at $50 million. He gets a $6 million signing bonus, $4.5 million next season, $11.5 million in 2006 and $14 million in each of the final two seasons.

“We’re thrilled to have Richie here as hopefully the first component to add more offense to this club,” Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said.

Who’s next?

The Mariners have made an offer to left-handed slugger Carlos Delgado, who is known to be seriously considering Seattle but also has suitors in Boston, Baltimore and, possibly, the New York Yankees.

Besides waiting to see if an opening develops at first base for the Yankees (if they can rid themselves of Jason Giambi’s contract), the Delgado camp also wants to land with a team that is serious about winning in 2005. If not the Yankees or Red Sox, the Mariners could be the next best thing.

The M’s also are believed to be interested in free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre, although the Los Angeles Dodgers are making a strong push to retain him.

Sexson said he had no reservations about signing with a Mariners team that lost 99 games and finished last in the American League West Division in 2004.

“They want to fight their way out of that, and I want to be a huge part of that,” said Sexson, who will turn 30 on Dec. 29. “Every organization goes through rough times, but you want to play for an organization that wants to win and wants to win now. They’re one or two moves away from being really, really good here,” he said. “That’s the way you have to attack it as a player on the free agent market.”

Sexson is considered a solid defensive first baseman, but he would move to left field if the Mariners sign another first baseman such as Delgado.

“If I’m playing left field, that means we’ve got a pretty good first baseman over there,” he said. “If I’m not playing left field, I’m very, very comfortable at first base.”

If the Mariners wind up with both Sexson and Delgado, they would likely shop switch-hitting outfielder Randy Winn in trade talks, possibly to get pitching in return.

Sexson brings a legitimate power threat – he has hit 200 home runs in his career and averaged 32 homers and 94 runs batted in the last four seasons – but also a concern over the strength of his left (non-throwing) shoulder.

He injured the shoulder last April with the Arizona Diamondbacks while trying to check his swing and rehabbed it for nearly a month, then re-injured it on another check swing. He had arthroscopic surgery on June 4 to repair a torn labrum and missed the rest of the season.

It concerned the Diamondbacks so much this off-season that their contract offer contained clauses in the event he injured the shoulder again. Sexson turned it down.

The Mariners put Sexson through some strenuous tests on the shoulder in their physical exam this week and were satisfied that he is healthy.

Lampkin, who has seen Sexson frequently this off-season in Vancouver, agrees that he looks healthy.

“I know he feels strong,” Lampkin said. “But you can’t replicate what it’s like to check your swing until you’re in a game situation. I remember what Edgar (Martinez) went through a few years ago when he swung and missed a ball and hyper-extended his elbow. When you get fooled on a changeup in a game, there’s a tendency to put a little more pressure on it than you do in batting practice. That’s when he’ll really know how strong it is.”

Otherwise, Lampkin said Sexson should provide an immediate boost to the Mariners offense and fit well with his new teammates.

“He looks imposing and intimidating because he is so big,” Lampkin said. “And with a bat in his hands, he is.

“As a person, he’s a quality guy. He’ll bend over backwards for his friends and his teammates. He’s very grateful for what he has and what he can do for you. He’ll do everything he can to accommodate his teammates.”

Those guys should watch out, however, for exploding pens and shaving cream pies.