SEATTLE — The deal should be finalized before spring training, and would make him the highest-paid pitcher in Major League Baseball history.
Nightengale said a person familiar with the contract told USA Today about it, and spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal is not yet official.
In 2012, Hernandez threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays, which was the first in the Mariners' history.
Officials with the Mariners have not released a statement about the contract.
Hernandez signed a five-year, $78 million contract in January 2010. He won the 2010 American League Cy Young Award and won 13 games during that season.