The Mariners appear close to signing left fielder Raul Ibanez to a contract extension. Ibanez's agent, Ron Shapiro, was in town Friday and in discussions with the Seattle front office, including general manager Bill Bavasi and assistant GM Lee Pelekoudas, over details of an extension. "Nothing's happened yet," Ibanez said, "but I'm pretty optimistic. Things look like they are going well." The Mariners reacted to a report that they had signed Ibanez to a two-year extension by saying they had nothing to say concerning any signing and had no announcements scheduled.