SAN DIEGO — All-Star catcher Mike Piazza agreed yesterday to a $2 million, one-year contract with the San Diego Padres, giving the defending NL West champions a marquee player they think can still contribute.

Piazza, 37, had been interested in signing a free-agent deal with an AL team to become a designated hitter. Instead, he'll stay in the NL and return to the West Coast for the first time since the Los Angeles Dodgers traded him to Florida in 1998.

The 12-time All-Star holds the major league record for most career home runs by a catcher (374). He has 397 homers overall, and is a career .311 hitter.

The deal is expected to be announced today. Piazza gets a $1.25 million salary this year, and the contract includes a mutual option for 2007 at $8 million with a $750,000 buyout. He can earn an additional $750,000 this year in performance bonuses.

"The Padres told Mike that he could pretty much catch as much as he wanted to," said Piazza's agent, Dan Lozano.

Piazza is hoping to catch about 90-100 games this season, along with playing some first base and being the DH in interleague games.

Piazza became a free agent after last season, when he hit .251 with 19 homers and 62 RBIs in 113 games for the New York Mets. It was his lowest batting average since he hit .232 in 69 at-bats with the Dodgers in 1992, his first season in the big leagues.

Still, his 19 homers would have led the power-poor Padres. Ryan Klesko hit 18 for San Diego, which struggled to the division title before being swept out of the playoffs by the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Padres got into the Piazza mix in December. They held off making a firm offer because there was talk Piazza might have been headed for the New York Yankees, who have Bernie Williams and other players as possible DHs.

The Padres will have to move a player off their 40-man roster before signing Piazza.

BASEBALL CALENDAR

Wednesday-Feb. 20 — Salary arbitration hearings, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Feb. 16 — Voluntary reporting date for pitchers, catchers and injured players.

Feb. 21 — Voluntary reporting date for other players.

Feb. 27 — Hall of Fame Negro leagues and pre-Negro league selection committee vote, Tampa, Fla.

Feb. 28 — Mandatory reporting date.

March 2-11 — Teams may renew contracts of unsigned players.

March 3-20 — World Baseball Classic.

March 15 — Last day to place a player on unconditional release waivers and pay 30 days termination pay instead of 45 days.

March 29 — Last day to request unconditional release waivers on a player without having to pay his full 2006 salary.

April 2 — Opening day, Cleveland at Chicago White Sox. Active rosters reduced to 25 players.

May 15 — Hall of Fame Game, Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh, Cooperstown, N.Y.

June 6-7 — Amateur draft.

July 11 — All-Star game, Pittsburgh.

July 30 — Hall of Fame inductions, Cooperstown, N.Y.

July 31 — Last day to trade a player without securing waivers.

Sept. 1 — Active rosters expand to 40 players.

Oct. 3 — Playoffs begin.

Oct. 10 — League championship series begin.

Oct. 21 — World Series begins.