M's sign Rhodes to minor-league deal

When Arthur Rhodes was a young pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, one of his teammates was fellow left-handed reliever Jesse Orosco, who finally quit nearly a decade later at age 46.

"I'm going to try to catch Jesse Orosco; that's my goal," Rhodes said on Tuesday.

At 38, Rhodes still has a long way to go, but he's delighted to be resuming his career with the Mariners. After missing all of the 2007 season because of an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, Rhodes on Tuesday signed a minor-league contract with Seattle.

Like Chris Reitsma, another injury-plagued reliever who reached a minor-league deal with the Mariners last week, Rhodes has been invited to major-league camp at spring training. And like Reitsma, Rhodes hopes his arm troubles are behind him.

"I'll be healthy," he said. "I've been throwing pretty hard on flat ground, sticking with the program. My elbow feels great. Once I get to spring training, I'll work with Rick [Griffin, the trainer] and the staff. My goal is to be ready for opening day."

Rhodes made the Mariners' opening-day roster last season after being signed to a minor-league deal, posting a 2.57 earned-run average in spring games. But he never made an appearance before his elbow injury. Dr. Frank Jobe performed ligament-replacement surgery on May 2.

"It stinks to have surgery and not pitch the whole year," Rhodes said. "I want to go back next year and help the team win. I've seen a lot of guys have Tommy John surgery and come back throwing harder."

Rhodes said he never contemplated retirement, though he will have to show the Mariners again in spring training that he can be an effective situational left-hander.

"I didn't want to go out that way, after surgery," he said. "I told [general manager] Bill Bavasi after the season that I'd love to come back, because I didn't get to show you what I'm capable of doing. I feel like I have a brand new elbow."

Pitchers and catchers report to Mariners spring-training camp in Peoria, Ariz., on Feb. 13, with the first workout scheduled for Feb. 14.

Sherrill signs

The Mariners' primary left-handed reliever, George Sherrill, avoided arbitration by signing a one-year contract. That leaves the Mariners with just one arbitration-eligible player, pitcher Horacio Ramirez.

Sherrill, currently being mentioned in trade rumors involving Baltimore pitcher Erik Bedard, had an outstanding 2007 season. He was 2-0 with a 2.36 ERA in 73 appearances, allowing just 28 hits in 45-2/3 innings while striking out 56. Sherrill, 30, limited opponents to a .179 average, .156 by lefty hitters.

The contract is for $980,000 with $60,000 in performance bonuses, The Associated Press reported.

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com