The first of the two reasons is the simplest – no one wants him.

Richie Sexson and his $14 million contract haven’t drawn a bit of interest this fall, nor at these winter meetings. At least not unless the Seattle Mariners are willing to eat that contract.

Oh, there have been rumors floated – Sexson to San Francisco for Ray Durham, for instance. Problem is, talk to the other team supposedly involved, the rumors turn out to be false.

Giants GM Brian Sabean insists Sexson was “never” on his radar.

It’s a story told over and over. Detroit wanted Sexson, claimed him on waivers last August. Except the Tigers say it never happened.

The second reason the Mariners won’t move Sexson or dump him and eat his salary: To a man, the organization believes the lanky first baseman is going to have a solid comeback season.

Yes, he batted .206 last year, with 21 home runs and 63 RBI. Yes, he struck out 100 times in 121 games. And yes, he cost the team games.

GM Bill Bavasi, manager John McLaren and hitting coach Jeff Pentland, however, believe Sexson will rebound in the final year of his contract to hit more like his career numbers.

When healthy, that translates to a .263 average with 30-plus home runs and 100-plus RBI. Drop those numbers in the meat of the Seattle lineup, the Mariners insist, and the team might have made up its six-game deficit in the American League West last summer.

Sexson might, of course, bat .206 again.

But since the Mariners don’t believe that, letting him go and watching him play well somewhere else on their dime next season would be foolhardy.

Sexson almost certainly will be the teams opening day first baseman in 2008. What happens to the Mariners next year could well depend on how that comeback plays out.