Mariners sign Steve Cishek to 2-year, $10 million deal

Seattle has signed free agent reliever Steve Cishek to two-year contract, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. The deal is pending a physical, and will pay $10 million in guaranteed money.

Cishek's new contract also includes a bonus based on the number of games he finishes and could be worth up to $17 million. Crasnick notes the Mets were among the other teams interested in Cishek.

The Mariners have been seeking closing help, and Cishek could prove to be an effective ninth inning option in Seattle. Cishek was non-tendered by the Cardinals and was arbitration eligible for two more season before he signed the deal.

Last season with the Cardinals and Marlins, Cishek, 29, pitched to a 3.58 ERA and 3.86 FIP over 55.1 innings while saving four contests. Throughout his career he has proven he can get both right and left-handed hitters out consistently.

Cishek's has been effective consistently, pitching to a 2.82 ERA over 313 career innings, however his inability to throw strikes in the ninth inning likely encouraged the Marlins to move him last summer. Before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, the Marlins sent Cishek to St. Louis in exchange for minor league reliever Kyle Barraclough.

Cishek is the second new addition to the Mariners bullpen after the organization added Joaquin Benoit.