As expected the Mariners didn't tender (offer) a contract to catcher Jamie Burke for the 2009 season. This was not a surprising move with Kenji Johjima and Jeff Clement expected to share the catching duties and Rob Johnson and Adam Moore waiting in the wings.

Burke is a solid defensive catcher, a prototypical back-up who calls a good game, handles a pitching staff, can handle the bat and doesn't make waves. He is one of the most genuine professional athletes that I've ever met and a guy that has such a great perspective on baseball and life after toiling in the minor leagues.

Anyway, Burke should be able to find a job as a back-up with another major league team, and I hope he does.

MARINERS NON-TENDER CATCHER JAMIE BURKE

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik today announced that the Mariners did not tender a 2009 contract to catcher Jamie Burke.

Major League clubs must make contract offers ("tender") to every player on their 40-man roster who is not already signed for the 2009 season by Dec. 12 at 9 pm (PDT). Players who are arbitration eligible for the 2009 season (in Seattle's case: LHP Erik Bedard, RHP Aaron Heilman and RHP Felix Hernandez) who are tendered contracts may either agree to a contract or advance to arbitration proceedings with the club.

Burke is now a free agent and may negotiate with any of the 30 Major League teams, including Seattle.

Burke, 37, appeared in 48 games with the Mariners last season, hitting .261 (24x92) with 3 doubles and a home run. He hit .341 (14x41) vs. left-handed pitching and threw out over 29% (5 of 17) of opponents attempting to steal a base. He made his Major League pitching debut July 6 vs. Detroit in the 15th inning and took the loss (1.0 IP, 1 ER).

Burke was originally signed by Seattle as a minor league free agent on Nov. 16, 2006. He appeared in 98 games with Seattle over the past two seasons.

Raul Ibanez has reached agreement with Philadelphia on a three-year, $30 million contract, pending a physical - and done it in typical Ibanez fashion.

The deal will be announced in Philadelphia, probably on Tuesday, a Phillies source said.

Ibanez didn't want his agent playing one team against another, didn't try to break the bank.

What he wanted was a third year, and got it, from a team that just won the World Series.

The Seattle Mariners couldn't have done much better. They'll get two picks in the June draft - and won't have to face Ibanez any time soon.

That's no small thing.

As a visiting player, Ibanez dominated Safeco Field. As an opponent, he hit Mariners pitching like he knew what was coming.

Like J.J. Putz, Ibanez will be missed in Seattle as much for the man he is as the Mariner he was.