SEATTLE - The Ancient Mariner will return for the 2004 season.
The Seattle Mariners on Tuesday agreed to terms with Edgar Martinez, the franchise's all-time leader in several categories, including games, hits and RBIs, on a one-year contract.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Martinez, who turns 41 in January, has spent his entire 17-year career with the Mariners.
"I am very fortunate and grateful that I have been able to play my entire career with the Seattle Mariners and I plan on finishing my career as a Mariner," Martinez said. "I feel great, and I think we will have another good team in 2004."
His tenure as a Mariner is the second-longest one-club affiliation in the majors among active players, behind Cincinnati's Barry Larkin.
"This could be my last year, and I am looking forward to another chance at a championship for the fans here in Seattle," Martinez said.
Arguably the best designated hitter in baseball history, Martinez won American League batting titles in 1992 and 1995 and owns a .315 career average with 297 homers and 1,198 RBIs in 1,914 games.
Last season, Martinez batted .294 with 24 homers and 98 RBIs in 145 games. He was fourth in the American League with a .406 on-base percentage and hit .352 with runners in scoring position.
A seven-time All-Star, Martinez needs three home runs and nine doubles to become the sixth player in major league history to record 300 home runs, 500 doubles, 1,000 walks, a .300 batting average and a .400 on-base percentage. He would join Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, Stan Musial and Rogers Hornsby as players to accomplish the feat.
This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index
