RealGM

The three-year, $24 million extension Kenji Johjima signed with the Mariners this season seemed like a strange one at the time given the wealth of catchers the organization has.

The signing is said to have come at the insistence of Japanese ownership.

Johjima's level of production has been so poor that he 'deserves' a contract of $390k. He is making $6.38 million this season and will be getting a raise because of the extension.

One oft-repeated rumor making the rounds these final weeks is that Johjima has an "opt-out" clause in his contract that enables him to head back to Japan after this season. But in fact, Johjima's agent, Alan Nero, said the clause won't kick in until the end of 2009, once the second contract — the one containing Johjima's extension — has been in effect a full season.