SEATTLE -- The same day he finished third in voting for American League MVP, Bret Boone said the Seattle Mariners' first offer fell far short of what he wanted but he still hopes to stay with the club.

	Bret Boone Second Base Seattle Mariners Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS GM HR RBI R SB AVG 158 37 141 118 5 .331

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Wednesday that the Mariners offered the free agent All-Star second baseman a three-year package for about $23 million.

Boone, 32, had his best year at the plate this season, batting .331 with 37 home runs and a league-leading 141 RBI. His 36 homers as a second baseman -- the other was as a pinch hitter -- set an AL record for second basemen.

In a telephone interview Wednesday, the first day he and other free agents were free to talk to any major league club, Boone said from his home in Orlando, Fla., he wants a four- or five-year contract.

The money offer, he added, was "not that reasonable."

Boone is believed to be asking for $8 million to $10 million a season after earning $3.25 million this year. He said he still hoped to sign with the Mariners and didn't think the club was out of line.

"I'm not mad at anybody," he said. "It's a long process. I know that. I really enjoyed my time in Seattle, and I'd like to come back, but as of today, I will test the free-agent market...

"We'll continue to talk with the Mariners. This is just the first step. The offer needs to be improved, but we'll continue to talk and continue to work at it."