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11/14/2006 3:00 PM ET Mariners announce agreements with nine Minor League players

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Signed to contracts with AAA Tacoma were: Renee Cortez, RHP; Jesse Foppert, RHP; Rey Ordonez, INF; Tony Torcato, OF and Brant Ust, INF.

Signed to a contract with AA West Tennessee was: Cibney Bello, RHP.

Signed to a contract with A Wisconsin were: Josh Kite, LHP and Michael Wagner, RHP.

Signed to a contract with rookie-A Everett was: Jared Eichelberger, RHP.

Players with Major League experience in the group include Jesse Foppert, who pitched with San Francisco from 2003-2005; Rey Ordonez, who played shortstop with the Mets (1996-2002), Devil Rays (2003) and Cubs (2004); and Tony Torcato, who spent time as an outfielder with the Giants (2002-2005).

"It is important for our minor league system to have proven depth to protect the big league club in the case of injuries, as well as to provide veteran players with an opportunity to challenge for jobs with the big league club," Mattox said. "Certainly, this group of players has the type of big league experience that helps with that process."

Four players were re-signed as minor league free agents after playing in the Seattle system in 2006: Cibney Bello, Renee Cortez, Jared Eichelberger and Jessie Foppert.

Bello, 24, was 6-10, 3.94 in 29 games, 27 starts, with the Inland Empire 66ers in the California League. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Varagas, VZ, in 2000. Cortez, 23, was 5-3, 4.18 in 31 relief appearances with Tacoma last season. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Valencia, VZ, in 2000.

Eichelberger, 23, was 1-3, 4.28 in 16 relief innings with the Mariners Arizona League affiliate and Foppert, 26, was 0-1, 6.97 in 5 games, 2 starts, with Tacoma.

In addition, Wagner was born in Seattle and attended Washington State University.

For more information, please contact the Seattle Mariners baseball information department at (206) 346-4000. Additional information on the Mariners minor league system is available on the team's official website, www.seattlemariners.com.

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