By TIM KORTE
AP SPORTS WRITER

SEATTLE -- Cuban infielder Yuniesky Betancourt agreed Wednesday to a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners worth $2,826,000, bolstering the team's depth at shortstop.

The 22-year-old Betancourt fled Cuba on a raft in July 2003. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound shortstop wound up in Mexico, where he has lived since.

"Yuniesky is an athletic, offensive shortstop," Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi said. "We view him as the equivalent of a first- or second-round draft pick."

Earlier this month, veteran shortstop Pokey Reese joined the Mariners on a one-year contract that includes a team option for 2006.

Seattle also has promising 22-year-old Jose Lopez available, but he's expected to return to Triple-A. Lopez played 57 games with the Mariners last season after Rich Aurilia was traded to San Diego.

Betancourt played second base from 2001-03 with Villa Clara in the Cuban National League. Villa Clara's starting shortstop, Eduardo Paret, has played with the Cuban national team since 1995.

Betancourt hit .288 with 43 runs scored, four homers and 45 RBIs for Villa Clara in 2002, then improved to .317 in 2003 with 64 runs, seven homers and 52 RBIs in 2003 before he left Cuba.

He started at shortstop for Cuba's 17- and 18-year-old national team in the 2000 world championships at Edmonton, Canada, hitting .523 in the tournament.

Seattle is giving him a $1.31 million signing bonus and salaries of $316,000 this year, $350,000 in 2006, $400,000 in 2007 and $450,000 in 2008. In addition, his 2008 salary could rise by as much as an additional $700,000 if he has 1,000 plate appearances in the previous three years.

If Betancourt accumulates enough service time by the end of the 2007 season to become eligible for salary arbitration. 2008 would be voided.

Right-hander Aaron Looper was designated for assignment to open a roster spot. The 28-year-old Looper was 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA in eight games at Tacoma last season but spent most of the summer rehabilitating after elbow ligament-replacement surgery on May 13.

His father is Benny Looper, Seattle's vice president for player development, and he is a cousin of Mets right-hander Braden Looper.