SEATTLE -- The Hisashi Iwakuma saga did a complete 360-degree twist late Thursday as the Mariners announced they've re-signed the 34-year-old right-hander to a one-year guaranteed deal, with two more potential vesting years after the Dodgers backed out of a three-year, $45 million agreement earlier in the day.
Iwakuma rejected Seattle's one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer in October and then agreed to a deal with the Dodgers on Dec. 6, but Jiji Press in Japan reported Thursday that the Dodgers never finalized that contract after Iwakuma failed a physical exam.
"We said from the start that Kuma was a priority for us," Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said.