INDIANAPOLIS — As expected, Adrian Beltre has declined salary arbitration from the Seattle Mariners.

The team announced the development late Monday night at the end of the first day of baseball’s annual winter meetings. It means that if Beltre, a free agent and two-time Gold Glove third baseman, signs the multiyear contract from another team that he’s seeking, Seattle will get a compensatory round draft choice in June.
It also justifies the agreement the Mariners have with free agent third baseman Chone Figgins on a $36 million, four-year contract, pending Figgins’ physical.
That deal could be worth $45 million for five years through a vesting option for 2014. The agreement may be formally announced Tuesday.