Alright, sorry for the delay in getting the stuff from today’s Seattle Mariners spring luncheon posted to the blog. We were provided lunch afterward and we sat with new Director of Amateur scouting Tom McNamara, which was pretty cool, he told us plenty of stories, including running against Ichiro in a 60-yard dash as a workout and seeing a young Chris Snelling in Australia.

After lunch, I ran over to Jimmy’s on First Avenue to do a little radio time with Ian Furness and Jason Puckett from KJR. You can listen

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A few days ago, catcher Jeff Clement said he’d seen coverage of the 1995 season on MLB TV, and watched the Seattle Mariners accomplishments that year.

"I remembered a lot of that season, but I’d forgotten a lot, too," Clement said.

We’ll forgive him – he was 12 that year.

No one remembers everything, and we all remember things a bit differently. Arne Christensen wanted to collect memories of that season from anyone who wanted to share theirs, so he started a website.

On it, you can find links to audio of ’95, some video clips

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In a move that wasn’t overly surprising, but extremely logical, Bonneville Seattle, the parent company of the new 710 ESPN radio station, announced it has hired Shannon Drayer to be its Mariners beat reporter for the upcoming season and she will begin work for the fledgling sports-talk radio station on Feb. 2.

"Shannon Drayer is one the premier sports reporters in the Pacific Northwest," said Bonneville Seattle Program Director, Rod Arquette in a press release. "Her connections with the Mariners will provide 710 ESPN Seattle listeners with exclusive,

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In the past few months, new-general manager Jack Zdurirencik has been busy, and the Seattle Mariners roster has been turning over, but to look at just how much this team has changed, flip the calendar back to last April.

What’s happened since opening day, 2008?

Plenty.

Last April, the Mariners had Willie Bloomquist, Miguel Cairo, Raul Ibanez, Charlton Jimerson, Greg Norton, Richie Sexson, Jose Vidro and Brad Wilkerson on their 25-man roster.

And the pitching staff? It had Cha-Seung Baek, R.A. Dickey, Sean Green, Eric O’Flaherty, J.J. Putz and Arthur Rhodes.

That’s 14 players gone

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Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik continues to be busy making moves. After signing Erik Bedard and Aaron Heilman to one-year deals to avoid arbitration, Zdruiencik also announced that the Mariners have acquired right-handed reliever David Aardsma from the Boston Red Sox in return for minor league left-handed pitcher Fabian Williamson.

Aardsma was immediately placed on the 40-man roster giving the Mariners a full 40.

“Adding David to our roster gives us another quality bullpen arm,” Zduriencik said in a press release.. “He has over three years

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The Mariners’ final player eligible for arbitration was signed today. Pitcher Aaron Heilman, who was part of the monster three-team trade for J.J. Putz, agreed to a one-year deal for this season.

"Aaron is a very versatile pitcher and is an important part of our pitching staff in 2009,"

Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said in a press release. "It is good to settle all these negotiations and head into spring training focused on working hard and getting prepared for the 2009 season."

The 30-year-old Heilman finished 2009 with a

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Left-hander Erik Bedard, the likely No. 2 starter in the Seattle Mariners rotation, avoided arbitration Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year contract.

Bedard, 29, made 15 starts in 2009 before a shoulder injury ended his season. He was 6-4 with a 3.67 earned run average.

Healthy again, Bedard and Felix Hernandez will make up one of the stronger 1-2 punches in the American League. The Bedard deal comes one day after Hernandez received a one-year, $3.8 million deal from the Mariners, also avoiding arbitration.

The team would not disclose details of Bedard’s contract. Reports say it is

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On the telephone, Jeff Clement sounded awfully cheerful for a man living in 21-degree temperatures.

"A couple of weeks ago, it was below zero," Clement said. "That’s Iowa in the winter."

Clement had reason to be happy. A few months ago, he moved into a new home not far from Des Moines, he and his wife are expecting their first child in March and his rehabilitation from season-ending knee surgery is going well.

"I’m good to go, physically," he said. "I won’t have any restrictions when camp opens. I’m lucky

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