SEATTLE — Relief pitcher Tyler Walker and the Seattle Mariners agreed to a one-year contract Tuesday, giving the team a potential replacement for former closer J.J. Putz.

General manager Jack Zduriencik cited the 32-year-old Walker's ability to pitch in any relief role as the reason the Mariners had been trying to sign him for weeks. Seattle traded Putz to the New York Mets at the winter meetings last month.

Walker was 5-8 with a 4.56 ERA in 65 games last season for the San Francisco Giants. In 53 1-3 innings, he allowed 47 hits, struck out 49 and walked 21.

Walker, who has spent six seasons in the majors, had 23 saves for the Giants in 2005. He earned 10 more in 2006 after being traded to Tampa Bay, then had elbow ligament replacement surgery in July 2006 and missed 13 months.