Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports the the Seattle Mariners are “making progress” in securing a long-term deal for center fielder Franklin Gutierrez.

Gutierrez, who is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time, likely would sign a three-year deal with one club option or a straight four-year contract.  The four year contract would cover Gutierrez’s three arbitration years and his first year of free agency.  If this goes through, he’ll be eligible to hit the open market in 2014.

Gutierrez hit .283, 17 home runs and drove in 71 RBIs in his first season with the Mariners in 2009 after spending 4 seasons with the Cleveland Indians.  You can see his complete contract and statistic history here.