Mariners extend C Johjima

Apr 26, 2008 - 6:25 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners on Friday secured a piece of their future by signing catcher Kenji Johjima to a three-year contract extension worth $24 million, according to a report on the Seattle Times' web site.

The Japanese catcher, who is struggling with .195 average and just three extra-base hits thus far this year, is a career .283 hitter with 32 home runs and 142 RBI in two-plus seasons with the Mariners.

"As an organization, we view quality major league catching as a scarce commodity," Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi told the Times. "This extension allows us to feel very comfortable with our catching depth for the foreseeable future."

"Joh is a durable, intelligent catcher," Mariners manager John McLaren told the newspaper. "And he's still improving his game. It is a very tough adjustment to switch leagues from Japan, and he has done an outstanding job adapting his game to the U.S."

Seattle boasts the top catching prospect in the game in Jeff Clement, who is hitting .368 with five homers for Class AAA Tacoma. The 24-year-old, who was the third overall pick in 2005, could be in for a position change, possibly to first base or designated hitter.

"I would guess that at some point along the way, because of Jeff's bat - and assuming Kenji plays the way he can - Jeff's going to get exposed to another position at some point," Bavasi said. "But we have not given up on him as a catcher. A lefthanded hitting catcher with power, those are real tough to find. So, this doesn't change Jeff's track to the big leagues much at all. Because his track to the big leagues is with his bat more than his glove anyway."