M's sign Everett for one year

SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners signed outfielder Carl Everett today to a one-year contract with a club option for 2007.

"Today we achieved one of our offseason goals," Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi said in a statement.

"Carl Everett is a clutch-hitting run producer with power. As a switch-hitter, he provides our lineup with added versatility. Carl is a winner, most recently as a member of the 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox.

"His experience and intensity will be welcome additions to our clubhouse."

Everett batted .251 with 23 home runs and 87 RBI for the White Sox last season.

Seattle becomes the eighth team in 14 major-league seasons for the sometimes controversial 34-year-old. Chicago declined its 2006 contract option on him Oct. 31.

"Carl will primarily be the DH, but will also play some in our outfield," Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said. "Having him in my lineup gives us some of the left-handed sock and run production we were looking for."

Everett is one of six switch-hitters in major-league history with 100 RBI during a season in each league. He had 108 with Houston in 1999 and 108 with Boston in 2000. Bobby Bonilla, Eddie Murray, Ted Simmons, Ken Singleton and J.T. Snow are the others.

Everett is a lifetime .274 hitter with 191 home runs and 759 RBI over 1,313 games for Florida, the New York Mets, Houston, Boston, Texas, the White Sox and Montreal.