In a deal that had been all but done for a week, the Mariners made it official today, announcing the signing of left-handed reliever George Sherrill to a 2012 contract.

Sherrill is well known around these parts, having pitched for the Rainiers and Mariners, who signed him out of an independent league in July of 2003. Sherrill began his pro career pitching four-plus seasons in the Independent Leagues with Evansville, Sioux Falls and Winnipeg.

In four seasons with the Mariners, he combined for a 3.65 ERA in 195 appearances. He made 73 appearances in 2007, tied for fourth-most in …

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The quiet offseason for the Seattle Mariners took a turn this afternoon thanks to a tweet from Miami Marlins outfielder Logan Morrison, who let go with this wowzer: “Just heard from my boy that Prince to Seattle is a done deal…”

Prince Fielder? To Seattle? … Not so fast, say the Mariners.

Staff writer Larry LaRue, on vacation in Southern California, called the team for comment, and it’s a simple one: Nothing’s brewing. GM Jack Zduriencik is not even in the office today, and the team’s head of media relations is on vacation for the week; two signs that the …

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Catcher Chris Gimenez was non-tendered by the Mariners on Monday and then re-signed to a major league contract on Wednesday.

Gimenez was a free agent for all of two days, but Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said the team always wanted to keep him.

“We had every intention of re-signing Chris,” Zduriencik said. “There was just some procedural stuff that required us to non-tender him before we negotiated a new deal for 2012.”

With today’s transaction, the Mariners 40-man roster is now at 37 players.

Gimenez, who turns 29 on Dec. 27, appeared in 24 games for the Mariners after missing …

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The Mariners announced free agent signings – plural – but not THE signing fans wanted.

The team agreed to terms with 11 minor-league free agents, including old favorites Luis Rodriguez and Guillermo Quiroz. All the players have contracts for the 2012 season and an invitation to spring training.

The other nine players who signed: OF Darren Ford, RHP Matt Fox, LHP Steve Garrison, RHP Jarrett Grube, LHP Sean Henn, RHP Josh Kinney, RHP Jeff Marquez, RHP Scott Patterson and LHP Phillippe Valiquette.

Here are capsules on each player, as provided by the Mariners:

Ford, 26, spent last season in the San …

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Two players who played small roles in the Mariners 2011 season – pitcher Dan Cortes and catcher Chris Gimenez –  have been non tendered.

Cortes and Gimenez are now free agents and may negotiate with any team, including Seattle. With these transactions, the Mariners 40-man roster is at 36 players.

The Mariners offered contracts to three pitchers – Shawn Kelley, Brandon League and Jason Vargas. All three are arbitration eligible.

The hard-throwing Cortes, 24, appeared in 10 games with Seattle last season. He spent time on the disabled list with a bruised left ankle and had his season cut …

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The reaction around baseball to the Albert Pujols signing varies widely, but it’s been the topic of discussion across the country today.

Chicago’s well-grounded Phil Rogers writes that Pujols is an honorable man, but that with St. Louis he was never in the Top 15 salaries in the game – despite three MVP awards – and last year ranked 23rd.

St. Louis columnist Bryan Burwell pulled no punches in analyzing the Cardinals efforts, offering three possible reasons for their efforts and buying this one: the team “opted for image purposes to put up a carefully constructed facade of a “negotiation” …

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The Texas Rangers have won back-to-back American League championships, which set the bar in the Amerian League West high, and now the Los Angeles Angels have challenged it – reportedly signing first baseman Albert Pujols.

Reports from Dallas and the winter meetings are that Pujols was landed with a 10-year offer that may be as high as $260 million.

That certainly makes life more difficult for the Seattle Mariners and general manager Jack Zduriencik, a fourth-place team that – on paper – seems to have lost ground to the division leaders this off-season. Their only move at the winter meetings …

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For those who’ve asked about former Seattle Mariners lefty Erik Bedard, that particular chapter in team histrory appears closed – the Pittsburg Piraates have agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the free agent.

Before being traded to Boston last summer, Bedard appeared to have worn out his benefit-of-the-doubt with team president Chuck Armstrong and manager Eric Wedge, who were both frustrated by Bedard’s injuries – which were legitimate – and his willingness to come back from them, which was questioned.  When healthy, he’s a solid pitcher.

And the Mariners won’t be signing Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima, because the New …

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