Closer Kazuhiro Sasaki told the Seattle Mariners Monday he will not pitch for them in 2004, deciding to forfeit the final year of his contract and remain with his family in Japan.
The Mariners’ career saves leader (129 in four seasons), who turns 36 on Feb. 22, is walking away from up to $9.5 million by not playing next season.
“It’s a personal situation,” agent Tony Attanasio said. “He wanted to stay home with his kids.”
Attanasio said Sasaki may pitch in Japan next season but “will not pitch again in the United States.”
– Seattle right-handed starter Joel Pineiro got a $14.5 million, three-year deal as 16 players settled with their teams a day before the annual exchange of salary arbitration figures. Houston agreed to one-year deals with its three pitchers in arbitration: Wade Miller ($3.4 million), Roy Oswalt ($3.25 million) and Octavio Dotel ($2.8 million).
Among others signing one-year deals were Dodgers third baseman Adrian Beltre ($5 million), Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal ($3.7 million) and Pittsburgh right-hander Kip Wells ($2.575 million).
