BOSTON -- The Mariners are still hoping to keep free agent second baseman Bret Boone in Seattle.

The Mariners offered Boone $23.5 million for three years with a vesting option that could make the deal worth $30 million for four years. Boone's agent met with Boston general manager Dan Duquette on Wednesday.

"Bret is our first priority," Piniella said. "He had an outstanding year for us. I really enjoyed having him on our baseball team last year. He did an outstanding job on the field and in the clubhouse. We've enhanced our offer somewhat. Now it's up to Bret and his agents to make a decision. We'd love to have him back."

ESPN's Peter Gammons reported Boone might accept Seattle's offer of arbitration, which could bring him a one-year deal worth $11 million or so, and then test the market again next year.

On Monday, Mariners general manager Pat Gillick declined to discuss specifics of the new offer, but told the Seattle Times, "I can confirm the team genuinely wants the player back. It's a good feeling."

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, which also reported Tuesday that the Mariners had improved their offer, said Gillick was optimistic.

"With Boone, I feel as long as there is dialogue going on, it's a good thing," he told the P-I.

Boone, who signed as a free agent in December 2000, hit .331 with 37 homers and an American League-leading 141 RBI.

"Bret truly loved his Seattle experience," Adam Katz, Boone's agent, told the Times. "The problem is that he had such an extraordinary season, you feel like the economic package should be in a similar area. ... We'd like them to expand it a little bit."

On Tuesday, Seattle got a young catcher, acquiring Ben Davis from San Diego in a six-player trade that sent pitcher Brett Tomko and shortstop prospect Ramon Vazquez to the Padres.

The Mariners also acquired backup infielder Alex Arias and pitcher Wascar Serrano, while the Padres got catcher Tom Lampkin and cash.

Davis, 24, was the second pick in the 1995 amateur draft. He hit .239 last season with 11 homers and 57 RBI.

"He's got a good arm," Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. "He's a switch-hitter. He's got a good frame."

ESPN.com analysis

Well, the M's get younger with this deal ... but do they get better? Now Seattle has two starting catchers, one of them a switch-hitter (Ben Davis) who can't hit right-handed pitching, the other a right-handed hitter (Dan Wilson) who can't hit right-handed pitching. Wascar Serrano has a live arm, and might thrive in the Mariners organization, as so many young pitchers have in recent seasons. Tomko adds durability and experience to a promising-but-youthful Padres rotation. Lampkin and Vazquez are both useful players; the 37-year-old Lampkin might actually have enough gas in the tank to give San Diego a solid stick against righty starters, and Vazquez should challenge Damian Jackson and D'Angelo Jimenez for the everyday job at second base or shortstop. -- Rob Neyer

Dan Wilson, Seattle's top catcher, is eligible to become a free agent after next season. Davis doesn't become eligible for salary arbitration until after 2002 and can't become a free agent until after the 2005 season.

"The opportunity to get a young catcher was something we couldn't pass on," Gillick said.

The deal could have a pinwheel effect on much of San Diego's lineup.

Padres general manager Kevin Towers said Vazquez, 25, could become his starting shortstop, with D'Angelo Jimenez moving to second, Phil Nevin shifting from third to first, Ryan Klesko moving from first to right field and Pacific Coast League rookie of the year Sean Burroughs starting at third.

Chris Gomez began last season as San Diego's shortstop and was replaced by Donaldo Mendez, who gave way to Jimenez. Vazquez batted .300 with 10 homers and 79 RBI this past season at Triple-A Tacoma of the PCL.

Tomko, 39-32 with a 4.45 ERA in the major leagues, also spent most of last season at Tacoma, going 10-6 with a 4.04 ERA in 18 starts and one relief appearance. He threw a no-hitter against Oklahoma on July 3.

The 28-year-old right-hander, acquired from Cincinnati in the Ken Griffey Jr. trade before the 2000 season, was 3-1 with a 5.19 ERA on the pitching-rich Mariners, making four starts and seven relief appearances.

	Padres projected lineup
	2B D'Angelo Jimenez CF Mark Kotsay RF Ryan Klesko 1B Phil Nevin LF Ray Lankford / Bubba Trammell 3B Sean Burroughs C Wiki Gonzalez SS Ramon Vazquez

"Tomko has a chance to really blossom," Towers said. "He's from San Diego."

Lampkin, 37, also played for San Diego from 1990 through '92. He hit .225 with five homers and 22 RBI last season.

Arias, 33, batted .226 this year, playing all four infield positions, and Serrano, 23, was 3-3 with a 6.56 ERA in five starts and 15 relief appearances. It was his rookie season.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for both Tomko and Vazquez," Piniella said.