"We're thrilled to have Richie here as hopefully the first component to adding more offense to this club," general manager Bill Bavasi said Wednesday at a press conference at Safeco Field in Seattle. "We have stated from the outset that our primary goal this offseason was to add offense."

The Mariners are adding a 6-foot-8, 237-pound first baseman who has averaged 32 home runs and 94 RBIs the past four seasons -- despite missing all but 23 games in 2004 in Arizona because of a left shoulder injury. He suffered the injury on a check-swing during a game and was on the disabled list from April 29-May 20, only the second DL stint of his career.

He re-injured the shoulder on May 23, underwent arthroscopic surgery on June 4 and missed the remainder of the season, finishing with nine home runs and 23 RBIs in 23 games.

"Ever since I started playing baseball professionally, this is an organization I was very fond of and wanted to be a part of," the soon-to-be 30-year-old said. "I want to help get it back to the way it was."

Sexson and the Mariners reached an agreement, in principle, on Sunday during the Winter Meetings in Anaheim. However, the organization wanted to make sure Sexson's shoulder was 100 percent healthy before even commenting on the deal.

"I just went through a massive physical and after that I'm pretty positive it's all right," Sexson said of his shoulder. "I feel like going out and jumping on some monkey bars and doing some flips."

There were some anxious moments over the past few days. Sexson's agent, Casey Close, told reporters on Monday that his client was still on the market and the Orioles were still interested.

But the market door closed on Wednesday.

"This is, first and foremost, where I wanted to play," the Vancouver, Wash., resident said. "Baltimore and New York [Mets] were involved, but in the back of my mind and my family's, they knew this was my spot."

Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but sources say it is a four-year, $50 million deal, which would make Sexson the highest-paid player on the team. Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki has three years remaining on a contract that averages $11 million a year.

According to the Associated Press, Sexson receives a $6 million signing bonus, $4.5 million in 2005, $11.5 million in '06 and $14 million in each of the final two seasons of the contract.

The Mariners are hoping to cash in by watching Sexson drive in a bunch of runs. Seattle scored the fewest runs (698) and hit the fewest home runs (136) en route to a 63-99 record in finishing last in the AL West.

"Anybody who has followed Seattle at all knows they were disappointed with last season," Sexson said. "They want to fight their way out of that, and I want to be a huge part of that. Every organization goes through rough times, but you want to play for an organization that wants to win and wants to win now."

Mariners starting pitcher Ryan Franklin was thrilled to hear about the signing.

"That is good, really good news," Franklin said from his home in Oklahoma. "He is really going to help us out."

Franklin could be a huge benefactor. The right-hander had a 4-16 record last season but received less run support (3.14 runs per nine innings) than any pitcher in the American League.

"I'll need more than just him," Franklin laughed, "but it's a good start. Carlos Delgado would be nice. Adrian Beltre would be nice. But this definitely makes me feel good, and I'm sure they [Mariners] aren't finished."

Actually, the organization is still talking to Delgado and Beltre, although it seems unlikely that both would sign with Seattle.

"I'm not surprised; I'm thrilled," Franklin added. "I'm happy for our team, the organization and everybody. I knew they were going to have to do something about our run production, which was the lowest in the league, and they added a home-run threat to the middle of our lineup. And he's a good dude, man."

At the moment, Sexson is penciled in at first base, though he would move to left field if the Mariners are successful in signing Delgado.

"I've played it before and if I'm playing left field, that means we've got a pretty good first baseman over there," he said. "If I'm not playing left field, I'm very comfortable at first base."

The deal reunites Sexson with his first Major League manager, Mike Hargrove.

"Any time you add a hitter with numbers like Richie has produced over his career, it helps to legitimize your lineup," Hargrove said in a statement. "Richie is a proven middle-of-your-order hitter and one of the better power and production hitters of the last four years. He is the first big piece of what we are trying to do here, and I am extremely happy to have him signed and in Seattle."

Safeco Field is regarded as a difficult place for right-handed batters, but Sexson has the strength to hit balls out of any ballpark.

"He goes to right field and right-center very well, so that stadium shouldn't be a problem for him," said former Mariners catcher Tom Lampkin, who also lives in Vancouver, Wash. "He's a quality guy and is going to fit in great with those guys."