Bret Boone signed a three-year, $25M contract with the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. Although Boone was a free agent this year, he accepted Seattle's offer of arbitration, and the two parties were able to work out a long-term deal before a hearing. In addition to the three years at $8 million apiece, the Mariners also have a $9M club option that will automatically kick in if Boone reaches a reported 400 plate appearances in 2004.

I have no real quarrels with this signing, though I find it odd that Seattle should pick now to begin re-signing their free agents. A-Rod would have cost three times as much, but also likely provided three times the production over the next several years. The Mariners do have two second base prospects in Jermaine Clark and Willie Bloomquist; however, while both demonstrate good speed skills, neither projects to have any power potential. The 25-year-old Clark spent last season at AAA following his return to Seattle after Detroit selected him in the 2000 Rule 5 draft, and he appears ready to break into the majors. Although Bloomquist seems to have become the organizational favorite, the 24-year-old spent last season in AA and needs at least a full year of AAA to work on his plate discipline. Boone should merit his salary as long as he can repeat at least 85% of the performance he put on last season during his career year.

The Oakland A's signed Jermaine Dye to a three-year contract on Wednesday, with a mutual option for a 2005. Dye, who the A's acquired in a three-way trade with the Royals and Rockies mid-way through last-season, will receive $6.5M in 2002, $11M in 2003, and $11M in 2004, as well as a $2M signing bonus; the 2005 option is worth $14M with a $1.5M buyout.

While the team did need to hold onto Dye to contend this season after losing Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon to free agency, I'm a bit surprised to see them pay out in this particular case. Dye did have better numbers across the board than Damon and although the team may lack a true lead-off hitter for a few months, prospect Esteban German should be able to fill that hole from second base. I was one of the strongest proponents of Oakland re-signing Jason Giambi, as I felt it was important for the team to pay out for his history with the fans. However, they have replaced him with the younger and currently inexpensive Carlos Pena, who Oakland will control for at least another six years and has the potential to equal Giambi's production almost immediately.

When you start to look at the club and the amount and type of talent they have signed for the next several years, the decision to hold on to Dye becomes less surprising. The infield is set for several years with Ramon Hernandez at C, Pena at 1B, German at 2B, Miguel Tejada at SS, and Eric Chavez at 3B. Tejada is the closest to free agency, though I fully expect him to sign an extension to his current contract, which expires when he reaches free agency after the 2003 season. Along with Dye in the outfield, they have Jeremy Giambi, Terrance Long, and Adam Piatt, all young players with several years before they reach free agency.

The team may have some concerns about rising salaries as a result of arbitration, but Billy Beane has been fairly good about avoiding arbitration by signing players to multi-year deals. Long already has a contract that will take him through 2005; Chavez is signed through 2004; Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson, the leaders of the A's promising pitching staff, also have long term deals carrying them through at least 2005 and 2004 respectively.

On Thursday Oakland signed Cory Lidle, picked up before last season from the Devil Rays, to a two-year deal worth $7.6M. Lidle will receive $2.3M in 2002 and $4.8M in 2003, with a $500,000 signing bonus. The right-handed starter pitched much better than expected last season and should be a very good bargain for the Athletics.

Given that Oakland has been so diligent about developing and signing good young talent, I think signing Dye to solidify their lineup the next few years is a luxury they can afford. Right now the team is set to succeed for the next two to four years, and as long as they restock their minor league system, they should continue to emerge as a force to be reckoned with in the American League. The extra six first round picks that they will receive this season due to the loss of Giambi, Damon, and Isringhausen will greatly enhance the restocking.

On Wednesday, the Tigers signed Danny Patterson to a three-year, $7M deal. This contract makes little to no sense. Some closers barely merit three-year contracts, and Detroit doesn't exactly have huge piles of extra cash lying around to throw at an average right-handed reliever. Their hang-up with Pokey Reese has been adding a second year to the contract, and while he's not nearly the shortstop everyone thought he would be a couple years ago, you'd think a starting shortstop would take precedence over a setup man who has barely 2 K/BB and only 4 K/9 IP.

Carlos Lee avoided arbitration by signing a two-year deal, $6.9M with the White Sox on Thursday. While I don't think Lee should be in the Sox long-term plans as he's inadequate in the field and blocked at 1B/DH by the superior Paul Konerko and Frank Thomas, signing him to a multi-year deal at this price makes him even better trade bait.

Jason Johnson and the Orioles also avoided arbitration by agreeing to terms on a two-year, $4.7M contract on Friday. Johnson will receive $1.8M in 2002 and $2.9M in 2003. He should be a free agent when the contract expires. This is a good signing for the Orioles as Johnson pitched well for them last season and should be a quality middle of the rotation guy to help reduce the workload of the young Baltimore pitchers.