Ibanez Agrees to Deal

Raul Ibanez and the Seattle Mariners finalized an $11-million, two-year contract extension that runs through 2008.

Ibanez had 20 home runs and 89 runs batted in while batting .280 last season. He has a $4.25-million salary this season in the final year of his previous contract and gets $5.5 million in each of the following two seasons.

Seattle hopes to bat the left-handed hitter fifth behind Richie Sexson. Ibanez was one of the few bright spots last season for the Mariners, who lost 93 games and finished last in the American League with a .256 average.

“This was a pretty high priority for us in the off-season,” General Manager Bill Bavasi said.

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Bret Boone retired at New York Met camp in Port St. Lucie, Fla., the culmination of a swift decline for a player who was one of baseball’s best second basemen only a few years ago.

The 36-year-old Boone agreed to a minor league contract with the Mets in January and came to spring training with an opportunity to win the second base job. The four-time Gold Glove winner was at least expected to push incumbent Kaz Matsui, a two-year bust since arriving from Japan.

But Boone cut the competition short and called it quits before the Mets played their first exhibition game.

“At the end of the day, this really gives me some closure,” Boone said, his eyes moist at a morning news conference.

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Met closer Billy Wagner and Cleveland pitcher C.C. Sabathia withdrew from the U.S. roster for the World Baseball Classic. They were replaced by Washington right-hander Gary Majewski and New York Yankee left-hander Al Leiter.

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Manny Ramirez showed up for spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., a day after the mandatory reporting date, with the Boston Red Sox’s approval. However, he declined several opportunities to say he’s happy to still be with the team after he asked to be traded after last season.