Mariners, Iwakuma agree to extension

The Mariners and pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma have agreed to a contract extension that will keep the Japanese import in Seattle through the 2014 season with an option for 2015. The deal is worth $14 million over two years- $6.5 million in 2013, $6.5 million in 2014, and a $7 million option for 2015 with a $1 million buyout.

The Mariners signed Iwakuma last off-season to a one year, $1.5 million deal and he did not disappoint, posting a 3.16 ERA in 16 starts and 14 relief appearances.

Analysis: This isn't a bad signing by the Mariners. Iwakuma had a good season in 2012, and I'm glad that the retained him. I don't know if he is worth $6+ million per year, especially with the top pitching prospects (Paxton, Hultzen, Walker, etc.) coming up to the big leagues soon. We'll have to see how this deal shapes up, because we all know that these Japanese imports tend to fail to live up to expectations.