Erik Bedard says he has agreed to one-year deal with Mariners

Free-agent pitcher Erik Bedard confirmed to a Canadian newspaper that he has agreed to terms with the Mariners on a one-year contract for 2010.

Bedard, who turns 31 on March 5, was in Seattle undergoing a physical examination on Friday. The Mariners' medical staff was believed to be still evaluating test results on Friday, but an announcement of the deal could come as soon as Saturday, barring unforeseen issues.

According to Le Droit, a Canadian French-language newspaper in Ottawa — Bedard is from Navan, Ontario — the left-hander said he accepted a one-year deal with a base salary of $1.5 million. He can earn considerably more with incentives, likely based on how much he pitches and time spent on the active roster.

The paper quoted Bedard saying he "hopefully" could make "roughly the same" as the $7.5 million he earned last year if he hit all his incentives.

"I am truly happy. It was my first choice to return to Seattle," he told the newspaper in French. "I think the team will be really good this season. I very much like the direction the team is going."

Bedard underwent shoulder surgery in Los Angeles on Aug. 14, during which Dr. Lewis Yocum repaired a torn labrum, an injury that typically has a 10- to 12-month recovery period.

That means Bedard won't be ready for the start of the season, but could be a dynamic midseason addition to the rotation if his shoulder responds. Torn labrums, however, are notorious for being a problematic injury for a pitcher to come back from.

Bedard has struggled with health issues since the Mariners acquired him from the Orioles before the 2008 season in a so-far lopsided deal. The Mariners sent five players to Baltimore, including Adam Jones and George Sherrill, both of whom were All-Stars for the Orioles. The Mariners also sent pitchers Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio and Tony Butler to the Orioles.

Bedard, meanwhile, made a combined 30 starts in two seasons in Seattle, going 11-7 with a 3.24 earned-run average. In 2008, he didn't pitch after July 4, undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in September. Last year, Bedard's final start came on July 25.

His best seasons were his final two with the Orioles. In 2006, Bedard made 33 starts — the only time in his career he has exceeded 30 starts — and went 15-11 with a 3.76 ERA. In 2007, Bedard went 13-5, 3.16 with 221 strikeouts in 182 innings.

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