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SEATTLE -- The building blocks toward improving the Mariners' offense are falling into place. Another productive bat was added to the middle of the lineup Wednesday when the Mariners signed free agent outfielder Raul Ibaņez to a three-year, $13.25 million deal. It comes on the heels of re-signing designated hitter Edgar Martinez two weeks earlier. The Mariners finished next-to-last in home runs last season with 139 and have made it a priority this offseason to add a run producer in the middle of the lineup, preferably a left-handed hitter that can take advantage of the reachable right-field seats at Safeco Field. "Each time we make a move and sign a guy, it gives us a little more clarity on what the lineup will look like," manager Bob Melvin said. "We wanted to get Edgar re-signed, and signing (Ibaņez) has been a priority. We feel he is a great fit in our ballpark because of the way the ball carries (to right field)." Melvin said the left-handed hitting Ibaņez probably would play left field and bat either fifth or sixth. The 31-year-old Ibaņez spent the past three seasons with the Kansas City Royals and became a major run producer. He batted .280 in 2001 and .294 each of the last two seasons with the Royals, hitting 55 home runs and driving in 247 runs in 1,384 at-bats over the three seasons. He batted .319 against right-handed pitchers and .287 (51-for-178) with runners in scoring position.
Approximate Word count = 973
Approximate Pages = 3.9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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