Cliff Lee says he was open to a contract extension with the Mariners prior to the season, but the team wasn't interested. "We told them in spring training that if they wanted to do something to do it before the season starts," Lee said Thursday. "Even up until I came back (from the disabled list) we said, 'If you want to do something, do it before I start pitching.' "They decided not to and that's that. There really is nothing to it other than that. ... I can't force them to do anything. That's it." Lee said he didn't feel slighted by Seattle's decision. Months later, the struggling Mariners are expected to land a handful of prospects for Lee's services.