Kenji Johjima walked away from $16 million on Monday, telling the Seattle Mariners he was triggering a contract option that let him return home to Japan rather than play here the next two seasons.

The decision dramatically changed the Mariners offseason plans, and general manager Jack Zduriencik said the search for a veteran catcher would begin almost immediately.

“It forces us to look at other things. Rob Johnson is going to be having surgeries on both hips and his wrist, and Adam Moore is inexperienced,” Zduriencik said of his current catchers. “It’s an area we’ll have to look at – sooner rather than later.”

Signed to a four-year contract extension in 2007, Johjima, 33, was to be paid $8 million in each of the next two seasons, but his decision to continue his career in Japan rather than Seattle negated that.

“There was no buyout,” Zduriencik said.

A seven-time Gold Glove winner, former MVP and perpetual All-Star in 11 seasons in Japan, Johjima signed in Seattle as a free agent before the 2006 season. That first year as a Mariner, Johjima batted .291 in 144 games, with 18 home runs and 70 RBI.

Those were numbers he never repeated – and there were issues behind the plate, as well.

The philosophical differences between a Japanese catcher and major league pitchers were never fully bridged. Johjima was locked into pitch-calling that often flew in the face of the way his staff wanted him to work in Seattle.

Johjima liked to stay away from the fastball early in the count and rely upon it heavily when a pitcher fell behind. A number of Mariners veteran pitchers – from Jarrod Washburn to Felix Hernandez – went to their manager and asked to work with another catcher.

Over the course of his career, Johjima caught some great games, made adjustments with his throwing and became one of the better catchers at throwing runners out.

Those who knew him best, however, say four years of being second-guessed by pitchers weighed on him, and he wanted to play closer to home, where he remains a star beyond reproach.

“I have had a wonderful experience competing at the Major League level. The last four years have been extraordinary, with great teammates and great coaches,” Johjima said in a statement.

“I will always be indebted to the Mariners organization for giving me the opportunity to follow my dream. This was a very difficult decision, both professionally and personally. I feel now is the time to go home, while I still can perform at a very high level. Playing close to family and friends was a major factor. I will miss the Seattle fans and their gracious support.”

Zdluriencik was quick to deny any speculation that the team had somehow pushed Johjima out.

“I was looking forward to seeing Kenji in spring training,” Zduriencik said. “He’s a class guy, and my experience with him was very positive. Kenji did a very nice job this year. He was injured twice, but I was very pleased with what he did. We had a turnaround year and he was part of that.”

Johjima becomes the second major Japanese star to leave Seattle before his contract expired – closer Kazuhiro Sasaki did much the same thing after the 2003 season.

Asked why, Zduriencik said it wasn’t much different than what many American-born veterans go through later in their careers.

“Kenji’s played 14-15 years of pro baseball, he’ll turn 34 this summer and has decided to play close to home,” Zduriencik said. “Players from all parts of this country make the same decision. We respect that.”

Now, the team begins a search for a veteran catcher. Johnson hopes to be physically ready to play by spring training, but there’s no guarantee, and Moore has less than a month of big-league playing time.

Five coaches stay, Hines goes

The Mariners extended the contracts of five of their six coaches for 2010 – but let third base coach Bruce Hines go and will seek a successor this month.

Hines, 51, was told last week that he wasn’t being retained, although neither general manager Jack Zduriencik nor manager Don Wakamatsu has yet discussed the firing – or the reasoning behind it – other than to say they wanted to go in a “different direction.”

The team extended bench coach Ty Van Burkleo, pitching coach Rick Adair, batting coach Alan Cockrell, first base/outfield coach Lee Tinsley and bullpen coach John Wetteland.

Hines, who worked with Mariners infielders in 2009, is the son of former Seattle coach Ben Hines. He was, he said, “absolutely devastated” by the decision.

larry.larue@thenewstribune.com

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