SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle Mariners have finalized a $1.5 million, one-year contract with catcher Kelly Shoppach, providing a needed backup to expected starter Jesus Montero.

Seattle announced the deal Thursday. To make room on the 40-man roster, Seattle designated for assignment reliever Shawn Kelley, who just last week agreed to a 1-year, $935,000 deal with the team to avoid arbitration. Seattle has 10 days to trade or release Kelley, or to send him outright to the minors if he clear waivers.

Shoppach played for Boston and the New York Mets last season, appearing in 76 games. The 32-year-old also has a relationship with Seattle manager Eric Wedge, having played for him in Cleveland for parts of four seasons from 2006-09. Montero and Shoppach are the only two catchers on Seattle's 40-man roster.

Shoppach can earn an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses.

Kelley went 2-4 with a 3.25 ERA in 47 appearances last season for Seattle.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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  Nervoso wrote...

  Club is a mess

  February 7, 2013 12:58 pm

  only solid piece is Hernadez

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  C"mon Man wrote...

  WHO?

  February 7, 2013 2:01 pm

  Vanilla Mariners new slogan"Could be worse, we could have moved to Tampa Bay in the 90's".

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  clevesside wrote...

  Last week with Kelly signed...

  February 7, 2013 4:32 pm

  ... it looked like stability was coming to the bullpen. Now a ticket to AAA or some other club, maybe in the AL West, hurting for relief. What's the price to pay for getting some "offense?" This ain't it!

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  Pilate wrote...

  Miguel Olivo...

  February 8, 2013 6:28 am

  ... at half the price. At least now we have a first string catcher, a back-up, and an emergency in AAA, like most normal teams try to do.

  DFA'ing Kelley to make room makes the most sense, I guess. Low probability he'll be picked up to begin with, an if he is, the M's are on the hook for less than a half mil of his salary. The fact that he's not one of Wedge's favorites might have had something to do with it, too.

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