Jason Bay’s opportunity to resurrect his career will come near his backyard.
The former Mets outfielder, who resides near Seattle, yesterday agreed to a one-year contract with the Mariners, according to a major league source.
Last month, the Mets bought out the remaining $21 million that Bay had remaining on his contract, allowing him to become a free agent. The buy-out includes deferred money, giving the Mets 2013 payroll flexibility.
The 34-year-old Bay hit only .165 with eight homers and 20 RBIs last season. In three seasons with the Mets after signing a four-year deal worth $66 million, Bay hit only 26 homers.
Bay, according to reports, also considered an offer from the Indians, who recently hired Terry Francona, his former manager with the Red Sox.
* Free-agent outfielder Nate McLouth has rejoined the Orioles with a one-year contract worth $2 million, a source said. An NL All-Star in 2008, McLouth was cut by Pittsburgh in late May.
* The Angels added two more new arms, agreeing to a $15 million, two-year contract with right-hander Joe Blanton and an $8 million, two-year deal with left-handed reliever Sean Burnett.
* Infielder Jeff Keppinger and the White Sox reached agreement on a $12 million, three-year contract. He hit .325 with nine homers and 40 RBIs for the Rays last season.
* The Tigers traded left-hander Andy Oliver to the Pirates for catcher Ramon Cabrera.
* Left-handed reliever Randy Choate and the Cardinals have agreed to a $7.5 million, three-year contract. … Pitcher Jeff Francis is staying with the Rockies.
* Padres pitcher Andrew Cashner cut a tendon in his right thumb during a hunting accident and probably will start the season on the disabled list.
* The Braves exercised their 2014 option on the contract of manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Atlanta also hired Dave Holliday and Brad Sloan as special assistants to general manager Frank Wren and major league scouts.
* Former Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek won the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in baseball broadcasting.
The award was announced by the baseball Hall of Fame yesterday at the Winter Meetings. Cheek died in 2005.
Cheek called the first 4,306 regular-season and 41 postseason games in the Blue Jays’ history, starting in 1977.
Cheek’s most famous call came in the 1993 World Series when Joe Carter hit a home run in Game 6 against Philadelphia that won the championship.
“Touch ’em all, Joe!” Cheek said into the microphone. “You’ll never hit a bigger home run in your life.”
Cheek will be honored during the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies July 26-29 in Cooperstown.
— With AP reports