The Los Angeles Angels may not have gotten Mark Teixeira and they may not be interested in Manny Ramirez, but they did manage to shore up the space vacated by Francisco Rodriquez. The Halos signed free agent closer Brian Fuentes to a two-year, 17.5 million dollar deal. Here's the story from the Associated Press.

Some of you may remember that Fuentes was actually Mariners property - drafted in the 25th round of the 1995 draft - but he was traded to the Rockies along with Denny Stark and Jose Paniagua for Jeff Cirillo. No, Bill Bavasi didn't make that trade, but it still doesn't make it any better.

Look this isn't as a sexy of signing as saying getting Teixeira. And there are some who thought that the Angels could have gotten away with having Jose Arredando move from the set-up role to the closer role. Having guys in established roles for late in games is so vital. I think we saw what happened this year with the Mariners when J.J. Putz was hurt, and we'll see this year when the Mariners play musical closers.

I don't know if Fuentes was the best closer available, but he was relatively cheap and experienced. And if your the Angels, this is the type of move you make - because you can afford to and because you are a good enough team with enough resources to not go into the seasons with a pitcher who has never closed games at the big league level. That's what you do when you are in the Angels situation, not so much when you are in the Mariners situation.

There is some thought that closers are overrated, and I was one who thought K-Rod fit that bill (as did his new bullpen mate JJ Putz), but I'm not necessarily a believer that you can take any pitcher and stick them in that role and have success. I talked with former Mariners pitching coach and current D'backs pitching coach Bryan Price about this a little in Las Vegas at the winter meetings and Price was adamant that some pitchers can't succeed in that closing role. New Mariners bullpen coach John Wetteland is along the same mindset.

And that's what is scary about the possibility of Aaron Heilman being used as a closer this season. Heilman struggled in the role last season. One of the reason's was the command of his fastball which the Lookout Landing broke down. But there was some people close to the Mets, who said that Heilman simply couldn't handle pitching in that situation, particularly with the Mets' bullpen struggling as a whole. After a few struggles, he lost confidence in himself and particularly his fastball. Instead of challenging hitters with it, he nibbled and tried to be too fine, which led to him falling behind in counts.

Whatever the issue is with Heilman it needs to be fixed this season. Maybe he doesn't have the make-up to be a closer. And his demands to be a starter says that he doesn't want to do it. So what does that leave the Mariners with?

Brandon Morrow? There would be a mutiny by Mariners fans.
Mark Lowe? He still hasn't been able to find consistent command with his fastball and it has lost movement.
Roy Corcoran? His motto of "I might not throw 98, but I act like I do." could eventually catch up with him.
Miguel Batista? Um, well, um, no.

What would you do?

It looks as though since the Baltimore Orioles didn't get Mark Teixeira, they are looking at the next best thing.

BAM!

Baltimore Sun columnist Peter Schmuck offers this blog post about the Orioles and their interest in one Mr. Richmond Lockwood Sexson. I really have no words. None that are relevant or nice or civil. Just read some of the comments from the Orioles fans. They're pretty hilarious.

Greetings from balmy Havre, MT, where the temperature finally got over 0 degrees for the first time in four days.

It seems as though our good buddy Kirby Arnold of the Everett Herald must have gotten his Christmas shopping done and didn't wait till Christmas Eve like the rest of us. Why? Well, because he broke the story today that knuckleballer R.A. Dickey spurned a chance to re-sign with the Mariners along with free agent offers from the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers to sign with the Minnesota Twins - the team the Mariners first acquired him from.

Here's Dickey's splits with the Mariners this season.

Can't really argue with Dickey's logic for choosing the Twins. Even though the Mariners offered more money, Dickey went with the Twins because they offered his best chance to stay at the big league level - which is all he ever wanted.

Is Dickey a major loss for the Mariners? Well, that depends on how you look at it. Dickey wasn't the most consistent pitcher for Seattle last season. He showed flashes of brilliance as a reliever, particularly a long reliever. However, he struggled as a starter much of the time and he fought to find consistency with his signature pitch for stretches. Still, he was valuable in the sense that he was willing and almost asked to take the ball every day. He was always available no matter the situation and a pitcher with that attitude and durability definitely has his uses.

For me and other sportswriters, Dickey was a breath of fresh air and a dream to have in the clubhouse. He was unpretentious, always available and accommodating almost to a fault. He is probably the most intelligent baseball players I've ever covered and one of the smartest people I've ever met. He has a great perspective on not only the game but on life outside of it. He was always a guy you could go to ask a bigger picture question about things affecting the game, almost always you got a smart, well-put opinion that resonated with what you were writing about. And on days when you were searching for a notebook idea, a quick chat with Dickey or Roy Corcoran could often illicit something useful.

Part of the reason why he was so good to talk to is because of what it took for him to get to this point in his career. It was far from conventional and was well documented in this New York Times story.

The Mariners announced today they have re-signed catcher Jamie Burke.

He was cut loose by the Mariners on Dec. 12 when he was not offered a contract, becoming a free agent. He has agreed to a minor-league contract for 2009.

His career stats are here from baseball-reference.com

Burke played in 48 games last year with the Mariners, hitting .261. The 37-year-old originally signed with Seattle as a minor-league free agent in Nov. of 2006, and has played in 98 games with the team over the past two seasons.

Last season Burke made his major-league pitching debut on July 6 vs. Detroit. He pitched the 15th inning and took the loss when he gave up one earned run.

(At this point in the original post, it said Burke is one of four catchers on the 40-man roster. He is not. Thanks to those who pointed that out. Burke is a non-roster invitee to spring training, where he'll join Kenji Johjima, Jeff Clement and Rob Johnson, the three catchers who ARE on the Mariners' 40-man. Thanks again).

On a free agent market where big names like Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, Ben Sheets and Derek Lowe remain available, William Paul Bloomquist has no illusions about his status.

“Teams are waiting to see how the bigger dogs shake out,” Bloomquist said. “I’ve had some interest shown, teams have called and talked, but no one has made an offer.”

For a 31-year-old utility player whose career has been made as much on his intensity as his talent, Bloomquist’s first run a free agency has been trying. The Seattle Mariners are among the teams that have spoken to his agent, Scott Boras.

And they’re among the teams that has not made an offer.

“I’m not known for my patience,” Bloomquist said. “I’d love to know where I’m going to be, what I’ll be doing. This is all new to me. After all the years spent with Seattle, I don’t know if I’ll go to spring training in Florida or Arizona, whether I’ll play on the west coast or the east.”

Having watched the Mariners and new general manager Jack Zduriencik from his home in Arizona, Bloomquist suspects he has played his last game as a home-grown Mariner.

“I’m not expecting to go back to Seattle. It doesn’t look like the route they’re going,” the Port Orchard product said. “I’m not holding my breath. It’s business. I enjoyed my time in Seattle and who knows, I could wind up there.

“You come to grips that guys in my situation don’t sick with one team their whole career. I did pretty good job sticking for six years in one spot.”

Last season, like most others with the Mariners, Bloomquist played six different positions. He batted .279 in 71 games, and stole 14 bases in 17 attempts. In his career, Bloomquist has played eight positions, batted .263 and stolen 71 bases in 87 attempts – many of them coming off the bench as a pinch runner.

“I know I’ll be playing somewhere,” Bloomquist said. “I try not to get anxious. A week away in the mountains helped. Then I took my family on vacation and we got away from everything.

“But when I work out, it creeps back in. I can’ help but think about it then.”

Here's a longer story from the Bloomquist interview.

When the Seattle Mariners traded J.J. Putz last week, the immediate hole at closer became a matter of debate – who would work the ninth inning for them in 2009?

Turns out, pitchers now on the Mariners roster have a combined 68 career saves divided among nine men.

And you thought you didn’t have options.

Carlos Silva, for instance, has two career saves. Both came when he was breaking in with Philadelphia. Jarrod Washburn was a perfect one-for-one in save opportunities last season, nailing down the only save of his career.

Randy Messenger had both his career saves last year and Mark Lowe saved one game – the only one of his career – in 2008. Roy Corcoran has three saves, all last season, and Ryan Rowland-Smith had a pair of saves.

Newcomer Aaron Heilman, a 6-foot-five right-hander, saved three games for the Mets a year ago and has nine saves in his career. Brandon Morrow, closing for the injured Putz last season, has 10 saves.

And the leader in the clubhouse?

Miguel Batista has 38 career saves - one last year, the other 37 in 2005 with Toronto.

At the moment, the Mariners most realistic options to close are Batista, Morrow or Heilman, with everyone else in the ‘thinking outside the box’ category.

So, there are the men who have saved big-league games in their career.

Who do you trust the most? Which one do you want to see with a one-run lead in the ninth inning?

It’s a question manager Don Wakamatsu is no doubt pondering, too.

If you haven’t heard, Jamie Moyer has agreed to a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, one that will pay him $16 million and take him to age 48.

Considering teams were interested in Moyer – as a pitching coach – 16 years ago, what he continues to do is amazing. He won 16 games last season, pitching 196 innings over 33 starts.

“The thing about Jamie is, if he starts to lose his stuff he’ll figure out another way to get hitters outs,” Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said.

Since being traded to Philadelphia by Seattle, Moyer has made 74 starts and gone 35-21. Take away one number – his age – and his statistics are remarkable. Moyer hasn’t made fewer than 30 starts in a season since 2000, and he’s averaged 200 innings a year since 1997.

Going back to the year Moyer turned 30, he’s won more than 165 games, all with the changeup as his No. 1 pitch.

Amazing.

Years ago, I asked Moyer if he thought he could pitch until age 50. He thought for a moment before answering.

“Why not?” he asked.

Why not, indeed.

The Japanese team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic has named two players to its team – Ichiro Suzuki and Kenji Johjima – that the Seattle Mariners probably wish weren’t participating.

No, the Mariners won’t ask their All-Star outfielder or their slumping catcher to say ‘no’ to their national team. That doesn’t mean they endorse the choice, either.

It will be a surprise if Japan, the defending champion, doesn’t go deep into the games, and that means Ichiro and Joh will miss considerable time away from spring training.

Given that manager Don Wakamatsu and his coaching staff are new, and that their approach to the game will be different, that doesn’t help Ichiro, Johjima or the Mariners.

Wakamatsu, a former catcher, has ideas he believes can help Johjima become a better catcher and a better hitter – and Joh needs help with both after his ’08 performance. Catching for Team Japan might pull him back into old habits.

Ichiro, on the other hand, didn’t suffer much after playing in the ’06 WBC. He went on to bat .322 with 224 hits that season. Still, given the turnover on the field already, it will be a new Seattle outfield this spring, and Ichiro won’t be there for much of it.

Maybe that’s not all bad. Without Ichiro, the Mariners will get longer looks at young outfielders who didn’t figure to play as much in spring with him there. And without Johjima, Wakamatsu and his staff can work more with Jeff Clement and Rob Johnson – and probably get a good look at prospect Adam Moore.

Worst case scenario, of course, is an injury. And though either Ichiro or Johjima could be hurt just as easily in camp as in a WBC game, no team wants to see one of its players hurt doing anything somewhere else.

It’s far more likely all either player will lose is time in spring training. Almost certainly, they won't be alone - Adrian Beltre and others may well play in the WBC.

This spring, for this team, however, that’s not what the Mariners want.

Asked who he was going to miss in the Seattle Mariners clubhouse, Sean Green answered immediately.

“Everyone,” he said. “We had a great group of guys.”

Still, that group of guys lost 101 games, costing a manager and general manager their jobs. And when new GM Jack Zduriencik made a three-team, 12-player trade last week, Green was among those the Mariners gave up.

“I was surprised. I think everybody thought J.J. (Putz). might be moved. But me? It didn’t cross my mind,” Green said. “I was shocked. It’s changed everything. I’ll go to spring training in a different state, on a new team, in a new league. It’ll be fun.”

Green, 29, Putz and outfielder Jeremy Reed are now New York Mets.

“I looked at the roster, and the only guys I know on the Mets are J.J. and Jeremy, but at least we’ll have each other to break the ice,” Green said. “I loved Seattle, but they needed certain things and were willing to give something up to get it.

“The Mariners gave me the opportunity to make it in the major leagues. I’ll never forget that. Now, I’ve got to take it and move on. It wasn’t that they didn’t like me, they just knew what they needed and went after it.”

The Seattle Mariners haven’t stopped talking to other teams just because the winter meetings ended, and the world of baseball continues on a frantic pace.

Not much Mariners news today, but here’s a little catch up work on a handful of former Mariners:

* The Phillies are trying to bring Jamie Moyer back and the Brewers are courting the 46-year-old, who is asking for a multi-year deal – and, as always, acting as his own agent.

* Outfielder Mike Cameron is under a one-year, $10 million contract with Milwaukee, which is on the verge of trading him to the New York Yankees for outfielder Melky Cabrera.

* Veteran left-hander and two-time former Mariner Arthur Rhodes signed a two-year, $4 million deal with Cincinnati.

* The Tigers resigned utility infielder Ramon Santiago for $650,000. If the name sounds familiar, it should – Santiago was traded to Seattle by Detroit in the Carlos Guillen trade. When that didn’t work out here, Santiago went back to Detroit and has been a valuable bench player since.

* Now that A.J. Burnett has signed with the Yankees, the next huge pitching contract likely will go to former Mariner Derek Lowe. Lowe, 36 now, is looking for a five-year, $80 million deal. Insane, yes – but he may get it.

As expected the Mariners didn't tender (offer) a contract to catcher Jamie Burke for the 2009 season. This was not a surprising move with Kenji Johjima and Jeff Clement expected to share the catching duties and Rob Johnson and Adam Moore waiting in the wings.

Burke is a solid defensive catcher, a prototypical back-up who calls a good game, handles a pitching staff, can handle the bat and doesn't make waves. He is one of the most genuine professional athletes that I've ever met and a guy that has such a great perspective on baseball and life after toiling in the minor leagues.

Anyway, Burke should be able to find a job as a back-up with another major league team, and I hope he does.

MARINERS NON-TENDER CATCHER JAMIE BURKE

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik today announced that the Mariners did not tender a 2009 contract to catcher Jamie Burke.

Major League clubs must make contract offers ("tender") to every player on their 40-man roster who is not already signed for the 2009 season by Dec. 12 at 9 pm (PDT). Players who are arbitration eligible for the 2009 season (in Seattle's case: LHP Erik Bedard, RHP Aaron Heilman and RHP Felix Hernandez) who are tendered contracts may either agree to a contract or advance to arbitration proceedings with the club.

Burke is now a free agent and may negotiate with any of the 30 Major League teams, including Seattle.

Burke, 37, appeared in 48 games with the Mariners last season, hitting .261 (24x92) with 3 doubles and a home run. He hit .341 (14x41) vs. left-handed pitching and threw out over 29% (5 of 17) of opponents attempting to steal a base. He made his Major League pitching debut July 6 vs. Detroit in the 15th inning and took the loss (1.0 IP, 1 ER).

Burke was originally signed by Seattle as a minor league free agent on Nov. 16, 2006. He appeared in 98 games with Seattle over the past two seasons.

Raul Ibanez has reached agreement with Philadelphia on a three-year, $30 million contract, pending a physical - and done it in typical Ibanez fashion.

The deal will be announced in Philadelphia, probably on Tuesday, a Phillies source said.

Ibanez didn't want his agent playing one team against another, didn't try to break the bank.

What he wanted was a third year, and got it, from a team that just won the World Series.

The Seattle Mariners couldn't have done much better. They'll get two picks in the June draft - and won't have to face Ibanez any time soon.

That's no small thing.

As a visiting player, Ibanez dominated Safeco Field. As an opponent, he hit Mariners pitching like he knew what was coming.

Like J.J. Putz, Ibanez will be missed in Seattle as much for the man he is as the Mariner he was.

For the second day in a row, I was back on the radio with Ian Furness discussing yesterday's big trade, how everything went down and also things like Josh Fields and Raul Ibanez.

You can listen to it HERE

Elise at Night has Jack Zduriencik on after last night's trade press conference. You can listen to that HERE.

Also, some more audio from a few days ago, but Elise had former manager Jim Riggleman on and you can listen to that HERE.

The Rule V draft is over and the Mariners picked up two players in the major league portion and one player in the AAA draft.

I'll add to their bios in a little bit, click on their names for stats.

The Mariners had the second pick of the draft and took infielder Reegie Corona from the Yankees Triple A team in Scranton. According to GM Jack Zduriencik, Corona will be a back-up utility infielder type, replacing Willie Bloomquist's role.

Corona, 22, is a switch-hitter who was primarily a second baseman for Trenton (AA), but played shortstop as well. Against left-handed pitching, he hit .317 (44x139) with 12 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 18 RBI with a .360 on-base percentage and a .820 OPS. He stole 24 bases (in 28 attempts) which ranked fourth in the Eastern League. He is currently playing in the Venezuelan Winter League with the Navegantes del Magallanes. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Yankees in 2003.

Zduriencik (steadily earning the much-used nickname trader Jack) made a Rule V trade with Kansas City, giving them "cash considerations" to select Jose Lugo from the Triple A Rochester of the Twins organization.

Lugo, 24, was 2-6, 4.04 with 1 save in 51 games (all in relief) with Fort Myers (A) in 2008. In 69.0 innings, he allowed just 68 hits while and struck out 76 while walking only 33. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound reliever is a native of San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. He was originally signed by the Oakland A’s as a non-drafted free agent on Jan. 30, 2002. Minnesota selected him in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 8, 2005.

In the Triple A portion of the Rule V draft, Seattle took right-handed pitcher Patrick Ryan from the Brewers organization.

Ryan, 25, has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen during his professional career. In 2008, he went 5-5 with 12 saves and a 2.52 ERA (18 ER, 64.1 IP) in 39 relief appearances for Huntsville (AA) in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. In 151 career minor league appearances, Ryan is 15-10 with 20 saves and a 2.27 ERA (65 ER, 258.0 IP). He has held opposing hitters to a .222 (156x702) batting average during his career. Originally selected by Milwaukee in the 19th round of the 2005 June draft, Ryan played his college ball at Embry-Riddle (FL).

The Mariners also lost three players in the minor league portion of the Rule V. RHP Miguel Marquez was selected by Boston and RHP Gerardo Esparza was taken by Pittsburgh in the Triple A draft, while RHP Andrew Barb, who was acquired in the Jamie Moyer trade, was taken by Baltimore in the Double A draft.

Here's some info on them, click on their names for career stats from baseball-reference.com

Franklin Gutierrez, outfielder, 25, hit .248 with 26 doubles, 2 triples, 8 home runs and 41 RBI in a career-high 134 games with Cleveland last season. He appeared in 119 games in the outfield, making 104 starts (8 in left, 11 in center and 85 in right). Gutierrez has appeared in the Majors in each of the past four seasons, and is a career .258 hitter with 48 doubles, 4 triples and 22 home runs in 284 career games.

Aaron Heilman, right-handed pitcher, 29, was 3-8, 5.21 with 3 saves in 78 games with the Mets in 2008. In the heat of the pennant race in the NL East, he was unscored upon in 16 of his final 19 appearances. His 78 games were seventh-most in the NL and his 76.0 innings were 12th. He limited right-handed hitters to a .222 mark (38x171) and American League batters managed just a .190 mark (4x21). Last season was the first time his ERA had been above 3.62 since the 2004 season.

Heilman has appeared in 70 plus games in each of the past three seasons (74 in 2006, 81 in 2007 and 78 in 2008) and is third in the National League with 69 holds since 2005. He was the Mets first round pick (#18 overall) in the 2001 June Draft after posting a 15-0 mark in 15 starts his senior year at Notre Dame.

Endy Chavez, outfielder, 30, made 56 outfield starts with the Mets in 2008 (41 in right, 13 in left and a pair in center) and tied for second on the club with 7 outfield assists. He hit .267 last season, including a .313 mark (50x160) from June 11 to the end of the season. The nine-year Major League veteran has played with five clubs: Kansas City (2001), Montreal (2002-04), Washington (2005), Philadelphia (2005) and the Mets (2006-08). He is a career .270 hitter with 98 doubles, 28 triples and 17 home runs in 773 big league games.

Jason Vargas, left-handed pitcher, 24, missed all of the 2008 season after having surgery on his left hip. He was traded to the Mets from the Florida Marlins on Nov. 20, 2006 and spent the majority 2007 season with New Orleans (AAA), going 9-7 with a 4.97 ERA (69 ER, 125.0 IP) in 24 starts. He also made two starts with the Mets that season, going 0-1 with a 12.19 ERA (14 ER, 10.1 IP). In three Major League seasons combined between the Marlins and Mets, Vargas is 6-8 with a 5.81 ERA (82 ER, 127.0 IP) in 31 games, 20 starts. He was originally drafted by the Marlins out of Long Beach State in the 2nd round (68th overall) of the 2004 June Draft.

Mike Carp, first baseman, 22, hit .299 (143x478) with 67 runs scored, 29 doubles, 1 triple, 17 home runs and 72 RBI in 134 games with Double-A Binghamton in 2008. The left-handed hitter set career-highs in nearly every offensive category, including in average, on base percentage, doubles, home runs, and walks. Carp led the Eastern League in walks (79), while finishing 4th in on-base percentage (.403) and games played (134). He recorded a season-high 14-game hit streak, batting .483 (28x 58) with 13 runs scored, 5 doubles, 4 home runs and 13 RBI from April 4-21. He was the starting first baseman in the 2008 Eastern League All-Star game, named to the Eastern League Post Season All-Star team and named Eastern League Player of the Week, April 3-13. Carp was originally selected by the Mets in the 5th round of the 2004 First-Year Player draft.

Maikel Cleto, right-handed pitcher, 19, spent the majority of the 2008 season with Savannah (A), posting a 5-11 record with a 4.25 ERA in 25 games including 22 starts before earning a late season promotion for one start at St. Lucie (A). He went 2-4, with a 3.58 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 75.1 innings in 14 appearances prior to the All-Star break. Baseball America rated Cleto as having the “best fastball” in the South Atlantic League last season.

Ezequiel Carrera, outfielder, 21, is a left-handed hitting centerfielder that is currently playing in the Venezuelan Winter League with the Navegantes del Magallanes. He spent the 2008 season with St. Lucie (A) where he served as the primary leadoff hitter and ranked fourth in the Florida State League with 28 stolen bases. He batted .263 (113x430) with 61 runs, 11 doubles, 12 triples, 7 home runs, 29 RBI and 44 walks. Carrera was named the “best defensive outfielder” in the Florida State League this past season by Baseball America.

The players traded by the Mariners:

To the Mets, J.J. Putz, right-handed pitcher, 31, had spent his entire career with Seattle after being their 6th round selection in the 1999 June Draft. As a Mariner, he recorded 101 saves, second most in franchise history behind Kazuhiro Sasaki. He was the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year winner in 2007 when he recorded 40 saves with a 1.38 ERA. In 2008, he made two trips to the disabled list with mild costochondritis on his right side (April 2-22) and with a hyper-extended right elbow (June 12-July 20).

To the Mets, Sean Green, right-handed pitcher, 29, set career-highs in appearances (72) and innings pitched (79.0) this past season. Amongst American League relievers, he was tied for eighth in appearances and fourth in innings pitched. He was 2-2 with a 2.67 ERA (16 ER, 54.0 IP) in his first 49 games of the season from March 31 thru July 20.

To the Mets, Jeremy Reed, outfielder, 27, began the season in Triple-A Tacoma before being recalled on May 19. He made 72 starts including 52 in center field. He was originally acquired from the Chicago White Sox in 2004 as part of a deal for Freddy Garcia.

To the Mets, then the Indians, Luis Valbuena, infielder, 23, made his Major League debut with Seattle this past season after being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on September 1st. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2002. He split the 2008 season with Double-A West Tennessee and Tacoma where he hit a combined .303 with 84 runs scored, 21 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 60 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

Look, I know everybody has questions and opinions on the trade. And we'll follow up with that. But first let's take a moment to thank J.J. The guy was a class act, a true professional and always fair, honest and friendly to me. It will be strange entering a Mariners clubhouse without him.

More than that, he was good at what he did. I know this last season wasn't great, but I really think he'll have a strong season this year - unfortunately it will be with the Mets.

Here's some of his comments after hearing about the trade.

I wasn't surprised it was to the Mets because my agent had called and told me he had heard about them wanting me.

It's not the ideal situation, but having the two of us at the back of the bullpen will be pretty strong. I will not change my approach at all. I will close the game in the eighth and give the ball to Frankie. The Mets organization is built to win right now and that’s new for me. We will have a very strong ballclub.


It will be tough leaving Seattle. Shoot, that was home for us for six years. My wife is taking it harder than I am. She has lots of friends there. A lot of people don't realize that something like this is harder on wives than the players. It will be fine.

It’s always tough to leave Seattle. It's a great city, great fans. I’ve got nothing but great things to say about it. I had a great six years there.

The official deal...

Mariners get:
Aaron Heilman - big league reliever, one time starter.
Endy Chavez - versatile outfielder
Maikel Cleto - minor league pitcher
Ezequiel Carrera - minor league center fielder
Jason Vargas - minor league pitcher with ML experience.
Mike Carp - minor league first baseman
Franklin Gutierrez (from Indians) - outfielder with speed and defense

Mets get:
J.J. Putz
Jeremy Reed
Sean Green

Indians get:
Joe Smth
Luis Valbuena
Joe Smith

As of about 9 p.m. local time, the deal was confirmed that the Mariners would send Putz, Reed and Green to the Mets and infielder Luis Valbuena to the Indians. The Mets would then ship first baseman Mike Carp, outfielder Endy Chavez, reliever Aaron Heilman, minor league pitchers Jason Vargas, Maikal Cleto and Ezequiel Carrera to the Mariners and then send reliever Joe Smith to the Indians. The Indians would send outfielder Franklin Gutierrez to the Mariners.

the trade will be official in the coming minutes and we will have a meeting with Zduriencik at 9:30 p.m.

UPDATE (7:39) --- Foxsports Ken

Rosenthal has an update on the particulars.

Under terms of the deal, the Mets would get Putz, outfielder Jeremy Reed and reliever Sean Green from Seattle. The Mariners would receive reliever Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez and first baseman Mike Carp from the Mets. They'd also get Franklin Gutierrez from the Indians and minor leaguers. The Indians would get reliever Joe Smith from the Mets and infielder Luis Valbuena from Seattle.

Anyway, here's a more detailed report on a three-player trade with the Mariners, Mets and Indians from mlb.com.

Mariners get -- OF Franklin Gutierrez from Cleveland and Aaron Heilman from NY.

Indians get -- IF Luis Valbuena from the Mariners and reliever Joe Smith from the Mets.

Mets get --- Putz and Jeremy Reed

Just left our meeting with Mariners general manger Jack Zduriencik and it appears as though a deal for closer J.J. Putz could happen sometime in the coming days and possibly tonight.

When asked if a proposal on the table, Zduriencik said. "Yes, there is something to think about in detail."

When asked if a deal could happen on Thursday or even tonight, he said, "Very possible."

Now, the trick is figuring out who the deal could be with.

Basically it appears to come down to two teams .. the Detroit Tigers and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Sources have said that the Mariners are looking for a 3-for-1 deal with Matt Joyce and Jeff Larish included, but a source close to the Tigers said, they are having reservations about giving up two young hitters. But Joyce could be off the table since he's reportedly being traded to the Devil Rays for Edwin Jackson.

That leaves the Cardinals, who have shopped outfielder Rick Ankiel around, a source said that the deal would ultimately be Ankiel and a minor league prospect for Putz. But it looks as though the Cardinals are completely focused on getting free agent Brian Fuentes even for a price tag of $10 million per year.

Just coming late from New York is the report of a possible three-way deal with the Mets and Indians where Putz would go to New York and bet set up man for Francisco Rodriguez.

Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal is reporting that another major league GM said that the Cardinals offered Rick Ankiel and a prospect for J.J. Putz.

This blog post from CBS sportsline makes it sound as though the Brewers won't be going after a free agent closer or any closer before the meetings end.

Also, it appears that we could be seeing Raul Ibanez a lot next season - in an Angels uniform. He's an option if some other things don't workout.

Just to give you a heads up, I'm going to be on KJR with Ian Furness at around 2:05 p.m. today to talk about some of the stuff that's going on with the Mariners.

you can go to www.kjram.com to listen to it. I'll post the mp3 of it afterward, providing I don't sound like too much of an idiot.

You can listen to the podcast of my interview HERE

I'm also gauging interest in a live chat on Thursday after the Rule V draft. So if you want one, let me know and we'll try to get one set up.

We just got back from the manager's luncheon and sat with Don Wakamatsu for the first time. It was the first time that a few of us had met him in person since we missed his hiring press conference. He seems like a good guy. And both he and I are of the same cultural background, being half Japanese. Does that give me an "in" with him? Probably not.

Good morning from Day 3 at the winter meetings, I still have the shirt on my back and I still have my laptop, though it wasn't working so well last night so I didn't get to post the update after the Zduriencik meeting.

But my story that ran in today's paper has most of what he said in it along with reactions from J.J. Putz and Brandon Morrow to all that's going on.

Also, if you didn't get a chance, check out Larry's story on a surprisingly talkative Erik Bedard. It's got some interesting comments from the quiet enigma of a pitcher. General manager Jack Zduriencik seems convinced that Bedard is going to have a big year, because he will be healthy and because he's in the walk year of his contract.

OK, let's get to more J.J. stuff, since he seems to be the only player being openly coveted by other teams

First of all, let's start with the Tigers. It's unclear how the talks are going. The report of the Mariners requesting three players - Jeff Larish, Matt Joyce and another minor leaguer - seems to be pretty solid. The Tigers are hesitating giving up both players and would give up one or the other.

Here's Jon Paul Morosi's story outlining the possibilities and here is Lynn Henning's column wondering if giving up both is just too much. The Detroit News has a story saying that set-up man Fernando Rodney could possibly be the closer (although that might give Jim Leyland heart palpitations) and it also has an update on Larish and Joyce's progress in winter ball.

Another team that could make a late push for Putz is the St. Louis Cardinals. Zduriencik met with them yesterday and their GM, John Mozeliak, made it very clear they are looking for a closer according to stories from Matt Leach and Joe Strauss.

I talked with a few sources close to the team and the Cardinals are looking for two things - a closer and a starter - and they know that they will have to give up an outfielder to get at least one, if not both. The most likely candidate to be traded is Rick Ankiel. On the surface it would seem crazy to trade Ankiel, but his contract is up next season and his agent is Scott Boras. Ankiel, who will make $900,000 this season, will be looking for a large pay raise.

The Cards feel like they could give up Ankiel because talented prospect Colby Rasmus is ready and would slide into his spot along with Ryan Ludwick and Skip Schumaker, who are under team control for a while still.

Ankiel is what the Mariners are looking for, a left-hander with power, and even better he could play center field, a position of weakness for the Mariners. He would be an upgrade both offensively and defensively over Jeremy Reed, and Seattle could go out and look for a left fielder and even resort to a platoon situation with Wlad Balentien and somebody else.

The other team reported to show interest was the Milwaukee Brewers. Zduriencik shot down a rumor from ESPN's Steve Phillips, who mentioned that Putz and first baseman Prince Fielder could be part of a package deal.

“Is that right?” Zduriencik smiling upon hearing that talk. “I wouldn’t comment on if I would make that deal. We haven’t talked about that. Honestly, there has not been a discussion about those two players related to each other.”

Milwaukee needs a closer. We already mentioned that enduring Eric Gagne and the emotional roller coaster last season wasn't desirable. With CC Sabathia set to sign with the Yankees, the Brewers can now focus on picking up a closer and now need starting pitching since Sabathia and probably Ben Sheets won't return.

The feeling is that Zduriencik would be quicker to trade with the Brewers because of his familiarity with the team. The Brewers have said that outfielder Corey Hart and shortstop J.J. Hardy aren't being shopped but that doesn't mean they aren't available. However, both are right-handed bats. And GM Doug Melvin said yesterday he didn't see any real matches.

Zduriencik could make a push for maybe some minor league prospects like third baseman Mat Gamel and a few others from the well-stocked farm system.

So what is going to happen?
Really Zduriencik is in a position of power. He can ask for quite a bit in return, because he isn't set on trading Putz. He'd keep him if he felt there wasn't enough out there. The Tigers have been known to overpay if they really feel like they have to fill a certain need.

The longer Zduriencik waits and the more teams he talks to about Putz, the more willing the Tigers may grow to throwing in both Joyce and Larish. A trade for Ankiel seems intriguing, but it is only worth it if you re-sign him next season. And that might cost more than $10 million a year. You can't trade away Putz for a player that you might only get for one season. And the Brewers, well, who knows how his previous relationship with the team will affect those chances, but they seem pretty far off now.

Zduriencik said there's no anxiety to get anything done over the next few days, so this could move on into the coming weeks.

A few quick bullet points with some detail to come.

* Zduriencik did speak to the Cardinals and Brewers today about J.J. Putz. The Prince Fielder and Putz in a packaged deal rumor was shot down with Zduriencik saying those two players were never talked about together in any sort of deal.

* Zduriencik also said that any personnel changes to the 25-man roster would have no effect on expediting negotiations with unsigned No. 1 draft pick Josh Fields. But he is supposed to meet with Fields' agent Scott Boras in the next day or two.

* Zduriencik said he feels no urgency whatsoever to get a deal done before the meetings come to an end.

UPDATED: Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik met with his former boss Doug Melvin of the Brewers about Putz, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, but nothing came of it ...

But when asked whether he sees a match between those two teams, Melvin said, "I don't think so at this point."

I haven't posted this latest rumor surrounding M's closer J.J. Putz for a few reasons.

ESPN analyst Steve Phillips had this comment in ESPN's winter meetings blog: • The Mariners need a power hitter. The Brewers need a closer. There is speculation that the two teams are discussing a package involving J.J. Putz and Prince Fielder.

The original post had Fielder playing for the Tigers. But it has been edited. Hey, it's been a long day and mistakes can happen, I know my copy on the blog isn't always the cleanest.

But that's one reason I didn't post it right away, the other is that I don't know how reasonable it is. Now let me clarify, I think the Brewers have inquired about Putz. They need a closer. They already decided not to jump on the emotional roller coaster that is Eric Gagne in that role.

I think the Brewers are willing if not looking to trade Prince Fielder. It was reported as much a few weeks ago.

And I think the Brewers and Mariners could be trading partners because: 1. Jack Zduriencik worked there and is familiar with what they have. 2. The Brewers have plenty of talent in the minor league system. The type of talent the Mariners are looking for.

BUT .... the Brewers are right now a little predisposed with trying to re-sign C.C. Sabathia and/or Ben Sheets. The Sabathia saga seems neverending just check out this growing list of links on mlbtraderumors.com, And that's the priority now. The Brewers would love to probably sit down and talk with the Mariners about Putz, but they have to figure out their starting pitching first before trying to figure out a closer.

ALSO ... There is no way they are swapping Putz for Fielder, which is also what Phillips post said. It will have to be multi-player deal, perhaps on both ends.

But you know what, I guess just speculating about the possibilities could be fun.

Ok, I got a hold of both J.J. Putz and Brandon Morrow today to talk to them about what's going on down here.

J.J. of course is well aware. He talked with the P-I briefly yesterday, and his friends back in Michigan have been keeping him updated on the speculation coming out of there.

Let's be clear about this, J.J. doesn't want to leave Seattle. He may be a native of Michigan (Trenton, Mich.) and he may have pitched for the University of Michigan, but his loyalty is with the Mariners, not the team he grew up cheering for.

“If you would have told me 20 years ago, I had chance to pitch for the Tigers, I would have said, ‘heck yeah,’” Putz said. “But I’ve been with the Mariners my whole career and it’s where I want to be.”’

Morrow wasn't aware of the trade rumors about J.J.; in fact he was somewhat surprised. He was even more surprised when he was told of Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik's general statement about switching roles based on personnel moves.

"I do think that any type of player moves, whether it be signing someone, or trading someone, or bringing someone in, whatever you do to improve your ball club, has a domino effect, no question about it,'' Zduriencik said. "I think when the day is said and done, our job is to put the best talented players on the field in the position where they can have the most success. How we determine that is an ongoing process that will remain unanswered until we roll into spring training and realize exactly what this ball club is going to look like.''

Now, he wasn't being specific about Morrow, but his answer came after being asked if something could change Morrow's status.

Morrow obviously wasn't keen on the idea of switching back to being a reliever, but he's a team guy and he would never say "no," or as he pointed out, "“I don’t know that I’d have choice."

Anyway, here's my full story that I wrote up for the website.

It looks as though free agent closer Kerry Wood is going to sign with the Cleveland Indians. MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince reported that it is a two-year deal with an option for a third.

UPDATE (3:08 p.m) - this deal still hasn't been finalized. Yahoo's Gordon Edes reports that it is a pretty close to being finalized.

But ESPN's Peter Gammons had this : • The Indians are said to be "making progress" with Kerry Wood, "but are far enough away so that they are talking to alternatives."

Why is this important?

Wood was also drawing interest from the Detroit Tigers, who also are interested in J.J. Putz.

With Wood going to sign with the Cleveland and Francisco Rodriguez set to sign with the Mets, that leaves Trevor Hoffman and Brian Fuentes as the only established closers left on the free agent market. Neither has been way up on the Tigers radar so far, so the push to get Putz might increase.

Good morning. After one day of rumors, speculation and a few late night cocktails, we are back here early in the morning with not much changed. J.J. Putz is still with the Mariners, at least for the moment.

Quickly, here's a link to my story from yesterday.

Offering the other side's perspective is Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press. J.P. also checks in with an update that said the Mariners are looking for possibly a 3-for-1 deal, perhaps including outfielder Matt Joyce and first baseman Jeff Larish – both left-handed hitters – and a minor leaguer.

Does that seem like too much? Well, Joyce and Larish are major-league players, but are they major-league contributors?

Joyce made his big-league debut on May 7th last season when manager Jim Leyland decided to shake up the line-up of his reeling team by inserting him as a starter.

Joyce appeared in 92 games, starting 59. He had 277 plate appearances and hit .252 with 16 doubles, 3 triples, 12 home runs and 33 RBI. Hardly Ruthian numbers, but not bad. He also had 31 walks and 65 strikeouts. Joyce posted on OPS (on-base+slugging) of .831, which is better than anybody on the Mariners last season, not named Raul Ibanez.

Larish also made his debut last season, appearing in 42 games and starting 25, getting 111 plate appearances.

He hit .260 with six doubles, two homers and 16 RBI. Kind of scary is the fact that he struck out 34 times and walked just seven. But I've been told by a source close to the team that he does have a good eye and is willing to work counts. He had an OPS of .681, but it was from a relatively small sample size. His numbers at Triple A Toledo were obviously better. He still hit .250, but had 20 doubles, 20 home runs, 64 RBI, and had an OPS of .818.

Larish is kind of blocked with Miguel Cabrera and his gargantuan contract and even larger frame hulking around first, while Brandon Inge has taken over at third. Larish has even worked out at third to find time, but he is clearly blocked.

One thing to remember in all of this is that Tigers aren't just looking at Putz. They are also looking at possibly signing free agent closer Kerry Wood.

But MLB.com's Jason Beck mentions that could be a reach with Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski being quoted as saying, "I would say I doubt it" when asked about going after a bigger free agent closer.

The Tigers' payroll is pretty bloated, and unless they could dump a major contract, like Magglio Ordonez, it doesn't seem likely they could take a $30-plus million contract to Wood.

So it seems a trade for Putz is very possible. One question is whether they would give up both Larish and Joyce. A source close to the team says that's unlikely, but did say the Tigers are willing to pay and sometimes overpay to get what they really need, and they can't go into next season without having the closer position solidified.

OK, I'm taking my previous bullet points and elaborating with some more info on them from my meeting with Zduriencik.

* J.J. Putz has drawn the most interest from teams so far. Zduriencik said "several" teams have contacted him about Putz and his availability. So far he's heard the Mets, Tigers, Cardinals and Indians, but I assume at least three or four others have also asked.

“Several,” Zduriencik said when asked how many teams have contacted him about Putz.

“In terms of Putz, there’s a lot of clubs in baseball that need that guy,” he said. “Sure there have been inquiries about J.J. We have talked about J.J. with other teams. But we haven’t made a determination about what we are going to do because that’s a very important position for us and a lot of clubs in baseball.”

Putz could clearly bring back perhaps a left-fielder to fill the spot vacated by Raul Ibanez.

“My estimation if anything happened on that front then we would have to consider that it is something that helps this organization short term and long term – as any trade would be,” Zduriencik said.

Realistically, the Tigers would be the most likely partners. We talked about Putz's Michigan roots, but its more than that, the Tigers have some players that might match-up for a trade.

Outfielder Matt Joyce and first baseman Jeff Larish seem like possibilities.

Putz was apparently upset about the trade rumors - he wants to stay with the Mariners. Zduriencik said he called Putz to clarify the situation.

“I said, ‘J.J., I can’t make any promises right now,” Zduriencik said. “I can’t control people calling me and I can’t control people making inquiries about you. There’s nothing I can control about that. That being the case, J.J., you’re a desirable player for a lot of clubs including our own and again as a general manager I have to listen. But I’m not saying anything is going to happen.’”

* Zduriencik has not had any formal talks about a team trying to acquire third baseman Adrian Beltre.

“No one has really talked to me about our third baseman,” Zduriencik said. “People have asked questions about him in passing, but I’ve had no one come to me, and say, ‘I want and sit down and talk to you about acquiring your third baseman.’”

* The same for left-handed starter Jarrod Washburn, Zduriencik said no team has asked about him at this point.

“As far as Jarrod Washburn, I have had no discussions or active trade talks to move him at this period of time,” Zduriencik said.

* With catching always being needed and the Mariners having a surplus, guys like Adam Moore, Rob Johnson and Jeff Clement have some value, but Zduriencik said he's not looking to trade any of his catching, especially younger catching, right now.

“There have been some people who have inquired about our catching,” he said. “As you well know, it’s a very difficult position to fill and we currently have three at the bigt-league and we have some desirable guys at the minor league level. But I am not inclined to move any of our young catching.”

Obviously, the inquiries don’t include Kenji Johjima, who the Mariners would gladly trade if there were takers, but Zduriencik seems firm on keeping Jeff Clement, Rob Johnson and Adam Moore.

“You never know what will happen, or what someone will present to you, but at this moment of time, I am not actively shopping nor do I have a desire to move any of our young catchers,” he said.

* Zduriencik said that Brandon Morrow's conversion to a starter will continue, but admitted that it could change if personnel moves were made. He said that's the case with any player. But as of now, they are looking at Morrow as a starter. If they trade Putz, maybe that changes.

“I haven’t talked to him about it yet," Zduriencik said of Morrow staying a starter. "I think it’s something he wants to do. Myself, Don and the staff will get together and have this debate for quite a period of time, but as of right now, my understanding is that he has been told that he would be given a chance to be in rotation. We haven’t change dour mind on that and don’t know what we will.”

"I do think that any type of player moves, whether it be signing someone, or trading someone, or bringing someone in, whatever you do to improve your ball club, has a domino effect, no question about it,'' Zduriencik said. "I think when the day is said and done, our job is to put the best talented players on the field in the position where they can have the most success. How we determine that is an ongoing process that will remain unanswered until we roll into spring training and realize exactly what this ball club is going to look like.''

* Don Wakamatsu and Erik Bedard hung out last night in Vegas and Zduriencik met with Bedard as well. They are all ecstatic about his progress and believe he should be ready for spring training.

"Don spent some time with him last night and they had a great time," Zduriencik said. "He is every excited. As I said before, and Don echoed it, he met with the trainers (and doctor) and is excited about it. He said, ‘hey, I was not 100 percent last year’ and that affects a lot of things, your approach, your psyche, your confidence and your ability to perform.

“Every indication points that way. But as you go forward with this, sometimes there are things that happen that cause a little setback, but in terms of the steps to be ready, he is in good shape right now.”

* Zduriencik has had further talks with Ken Griffey Jr.'s agent.
"There have been discussions. They’ve been soft, mild, they haven’t been anything concrete. I’ve talked to Brian a couple different times about a different thoughts and ideas, and again why wouldn’t I listen to what he had to say, I’m not closing the door to anything. There’s no dialogue going on that would lead to something, all it is cordial conversations."

* Zduriencik talked briefly about Willie Bloomquist, and said they don't have anybody on the roster like him in terms of versatility, but said little about re-signing him.

"I would say based on what Willie did, that we probably don’t have anybody on our 25-man roster to do what he did. We probably don’t have anyone on our 40 man roster. So I think multi-purpose, mulit-positional player is a desirable player. As we move forward, we’ll see how the other pieces fit together to see how if he fits in, if at all. Or does someone else fit in that role. I don’t’ have that answer yet."

Alright, we just got back from a 30-minute media session with new GM Jack Zduriencik.

I'm going to post a few quick bullet points and then come back with some added detail.

* J.J. Putz has drawn the most interest from teams so far. Zduriencik said "several" teams have contacted him about Putz and his availability. So far he's heard the Mets, Tigers, Cardinals and Indians, but I assume at least three or four others have also asked.

* Zduriencik has not had any formal talks about a team trying to acquire third baseman Adrian Beltre.

* The same for left-handed starter Jarrod Washburn, Zduriencik said no team has asked about him at this point.

* With catching always being needed and the Mariners having a surplus, guys like Adam Moore, Rob Johnson and Jeff Clement have some value, but Zduriencik said he's not looking to trade any of his catching, especially younger catching, right now.

* Zduriencik said that Brandon Morrow's conversion to a starter will continue, but admitted that it could change if personnel moves were made. He said that's the case with any player. But as of now, they are looking at Morrow as a starter. If they trade Putz, maybe that changes.

* Don Wakamatsu and Erik Bedard hung out last night in Vegas and Zduriencik met with Bedard as well. They are all ecstatic about his progress.

* Zduriencik talked briefly about Willie Bloomquist, and said they don't have anybody on the roster like him in terms of versatility, but said little about re-signing him.

Just walking through the casino after lunch with John Hickey, we came upon a gaggle of former Mariners with Lou Piniella, Bob Melvin and Bryan Price all having some conversations. Didn't have my camera for a picture.

Of course, we butted our way in. Pretty cordial stuff really. Lou did say that he loves Raul Ibanez, pronouncing it EYE-Bahnes as only he can, and what a great "kid" he is. But the first thing he asked us, "Can he play right field?"

Um, well, um, well, he can play it. Can he play it well? Well that's a whole other issue. And that may be the determining factor in offering him a contract. The Cubs already have Alfonso Soriano in left field, and he isn't winning a gold glove any time soon. Lou said that they are planning to move Kosuke Fukudome to center field, leaving an opening in right.

That being the case, it seems logical that Bobby Abreu is a better fit for the Cubs.

Also, J.J. Putz's name was brought up by Price, and Lou said, "What's he making?" When told it was 5.5 million this season and 9 next, Lou raised eyebrows in interest and smiled - enough said. Now, let's not add the Cubs to the J.J. rumor mill, even if they didn't try to re-sign last year's closer, Kerry Wood, and seventh-inning set-up guy Bobby Howry to free agency. They still have Carlos Marmol, and that's enough.

But really, Lou's reaction to J.J.'s salary and his possible availability is just a reminder of some of his value.

The D-Backs need bullpen help of a different nature - specifically a left-handed set-up man. They currently are looking at Arthur Lee Rhodes, and Price said he'd be a good fit, particularly because Arthur is older and is comfortable being a leader and making the younger guys accountable. The D-Backs lost that presence when reliever Brandon Lyon opted for free agency.

Price said, "Lyon would be good for (Seattle)." Sorry BP, the Mariners need hitters.

We will be meeting with GM Jack Zduriencik in about an hour.

Erik Bedard was leaving Las Vegas Monday, just about the time most of Major League Baseball was getting down to work at the winter meetings.

If anyone was more surprised than the Seattle Mariners media contingent – which saw Bedard walking through the hotel – it was Bedard, who couldn’t quite figure out what the ruckus was.

Was he there huddling with GM Jack Zduriencik about a contract extension? Had the left-hander been traded?

“I flew in Saturday to see my doctor,” Bedard said by telephone from the Las Vegas airport. “It was scheduled that way, so I flew in and spent a few nights here and I’m flying home.

“I honestly thought the winter meetings started tomorrow. I got off the elevator and there was a lot of media there. It was weird.”

As it turns out, the news Bedard got in Vegas was good – the surgeon who worked on his left shoulder last September looked him over and OKed him to begin throwing again.

“I haven’t thrown a ball since September, and it’ll be good just to start with four minutes on Wednesday,” Bedard said. “My brother, Mike, is my catcher. I remember when I was coming back from ‘Tommy John’ surgery, how strange it was to try to throw again.

“You wonder if your arm is going to hurt, if it’s going to blow up. You’re kind of like ‘Oh my God, will it hold up?’ I got through that, I’ll get through this. I’ll build up my strength and endurance and be ready for spring training.”

If he’s ready when camp opens in February, the Mariners will be delighted – Bedard figures to be the club’s No. 2 starter behind Felix Hernandez. That would give the Mariners a marvelous 1-2 combination of righty and lefty power to set up the end of rheir rotation: Brandon Morrow, lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith and Carlos Silva.

For now, he’s got the media in Vegas chasing possibilities.

“I don’t know why my being here is a story,” Bedard said. “But I’m doing great, since you asked.”

As I wandered through the Bellagio casino trying to find Erik Bedard to no avail (apparently he's already at the airport headed home after having Dr. Lewis Yocumb do a check up on his shoulder), I did run into Tacoma Rainiers president Aaron Artman, who had just finished a workout.

Of course, I had to ask about the proposed ownership rights swap between the city of Tacoma and Pierce County for Cheney Stadium. Here's the Dave Wickert-Jason Hagey story from it a week ago.

Artman was just coming off vacation so he didn't know all that the process entailed, but viewed it as a positive.

"It just makes sense to have one owner," he said. "There could be some cost-saving aspects that way."

Artman also thought that the change could expedite the renovation process in the future.

But Cheney will undergo some big renovations before next season. Artman said there will about $2.5 million in renovations to the 48-year-old stadium, with a new LED video board being installed along with a new scoreboard, plus the necessary technology to operate them.

OK, right now Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland are up on the main podium discussing their trade for Rangers catcher Gerald Laird for two minor league pitching prospects. The news broke last night and former P-I writer Jon Paul Morosi had this story.

"He fills one of our biggest needs as we move forward," Dombrowski said.

Why is this important, well, the Tigers were able to address a major need without giving up too much in the way of players.

"It doesn’t hurt that we didn’t have to be in apposition to give up a couple guys that were in the upper level of the organization," Dombrowski said.

And now that next major need for Detroit? A closer.

"We're looking to improve our closer," Dombrowski said. "We’re looking at people that are on the free agent market and in some trades.

Don't expect Detroit to get in a bidding war for free agent Francisco Rodriguez (the Mets appear to be bidding against themselves). But Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman are also available in trades, but Dombrowski will certainly check in with the Mariners on the availability of one Mr. Joseph Jason "J.J." Putz.

Putz is a Michican native, born in Trenton, Mich., and pitched collegiately for the University of Michigan. Now this isn't like Jarrod Washburn, who would love to move back up north. Putz now resides in Arizona and really wants to stay with the M's. But Putz still loves the Wings, the Lions (sorry) and his alma mater, so being up there wouldn't be horrible for him.

With that being said, there should be some trepidation for the Mariners trading Putz right now. He is coming off of such an injury-plagued year that what Seattle could get for him right now in a trade is significantly less. His reputation is still good enough to command something good in return, but if he were to come back strong early this season and regain his 2007 form, his value around the trade deadline could be significantly higher. But he could also struggle again and have no value.

What would you do?

A few links ...

A few other notes, UW alum and Chicago Sun Times Cubs' writer Gordon Wittenmeyer mentions that in the Cubs' search for a right fielder includes Bobby Abreu and Raul Ibanez with Ibanez being manager Lou Piniella's preference.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo has an interesting column on Alex Rodriguez's decision to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

Talk about a guy that's searching for a personal identity.

Jamie Moyer is haggling with the Phillies over money.

Good morning. We're coming to you live from the ballroom of the Bellagio Resort & Hotel (above). Most of the writers are starting to file in, some pretty bleary-eyed. Last night was pretty mellow in terms of any hi-jinks, but for die-hard baseball fans, it's kind of cool. One minute I was standing near Rays manager Joe Maddon, and the next I looked over and Cubs GM Jim Hendry is standing around having conversations.

Anyway, I'll try and keep you updated throughout the day with whatever news breaks, and any rumors that might be floating around.

A few quick things ...

The Mariners had three minor league signings this week, left-handed pitcher Chris Seddon, catcher Luis Oliveros and first baseman Chris Shelton.

Seddon spent all of last season in the Marlins system playing at Triple A Albuquerque. He posted a 10-9 record in 27 starts with a 5.09 ERA and 1.57 WHIP.

Shelton, you may remember, is a guy who hit 10 homers in the month of April for the Detroit Tigers back in 2006. He never could keep up that torrid pace. He spent part of last season with the Rangers.

Does this mean he fits into the Mariners major league plans? Probably not completely. But he's a cheap pickup who provides some depth.

Now to the links ...
Here's my winter meetings preview from today's paper.

The Mets met with Francisco Rodriguez last night and will supposedly meet with Trevor Hoffman and Brian Fuentes, according to David Lennon of Newsday. Right now, the trickle-down effect from what happens with those guys could affect the value of J.J. Putz to other teams.

The Boston Globe's Tony Massarotti mentions that the Red Sox are looking at possibly trying to sign Willie Bloomquist as a bench player. Apparently Willie is a favorite of manager Terry Francona. It will be surprising if that happens, because Bloomquist seemed set on signing with a National League team in order to play more.

That's all for now.

Ok, we just got out of a brief meeting Jack Zduriencik's sweet suite here at the Bellagio. (Needless to say, his room has a much better view than mine.

The headline pretty much says it all. Zduriencik didn't rule out making a pitch to resign Raul, but at this point, I don't see it happening. He's 36. Yes, his production was good and I think he could replicate it this season, but he wants more than one season. Will he get it from a team, oh yes, he'll get a three-year deal easily. Teams like him and for good reason. He works his ass off in the offseason, during spring training and during the season. He knows he doesn't have as much talent as other players so he tries to outwork them. He's turned himself into a productive player.

Here's my story for the paper...

LAS VEGAS - As expected Raul Ibanez declined the Mariners offer for salary arbitration. Ibanez’s agents notified Major League Baseball after Sunday’s 9 p.m. deadline that he will apply for free agency. MLB officials then notified the Mariners.
It wasn’t much of a surprise to those familiar with the situation, including Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik.

“I’m not surprised that he turned it down,” Zduriencik said after hearing the news. “It’s his right to do it as a player. Had he said yes to arbitration, we would’ve been happy to have him back.”

Ibanez was probably the Mariners most consistent offensive producer last season, hitting .293 with 23 home runs 110 RBI.

At the end of last season, Ibanez was amenable to resigning with the Mariners, but was looking for a multi-year deal to provide some security. Zduriencik didn’t rule out the possibility of the Mariners coming back at Ibanez with another contract offer.

“It’s possible,” he said. “I think we can talk. It certainly leaves the door open.”
However, Zduriencik is walking a fine line of offering a multi-year deal to a player that will turn 37 in June with a team that will largely be in rebuilding mode.
Ibanez also hinted toward a desire to play for a playoff contending team. The Mariners aren’t necessarily in that category.

Teams like the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and New York Yankees have all shown some interest in Ibanez and could give him the multi-year commitment and possibility of winning that he craves.

Under MLB rules, if Ibanez were to sign with another team, the Mariners would be awarded two compensatory draft picks because Ibanez was classified as a Type A free agent.

Greetings from the city of sin, it's your favorite sinner. Anyways, I will be down here covering the winter meetings this week. Me, Vegas? No problem. I am putting together a bigger preview post after finish up my stuff for tomorrow's paper.

But I wanted to get his out to you quickly ... We just got word that Alan Cockrell, who was rumored to be named the Mariners new hitting coach, will indeed take that position.

The Mariners just sent out the release ...

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik and Field Manager Don Wakamatsu announced today at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings that the club has named Alan Cockrell as hitting coach.

"We are very pleased with the group of Major League coaches that Don and our baseball operations staff have put together," Zduriencik said. "Alan shares the key strengths of the other coaches in this group: Great energy, an ability to teach and a passion to help players perform to the best of their abilities."

Today's addition completes the Mariners 2009 coaching staff. In addition to Cockrell, Ty Van Burkleo will be bench coach, Lee Tinsley will be the first base coach, Bruce Hines will be the third base coach, Rick Adair will serve as pitching coach and John Wetteland has been named bullpen coach.

Cockrell, who turned 46 Dec. 5, joins the Mariners after serving the last two seasons as the hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies. He also served as the Rockies hitting coach for the last five months of the 2002 season after Clint Hurdle was promoted to manager on April 29 of that year. Under Cockrell's guidance in 2007, the Rockies finished first in the National League with a .280 team batting average, while the club also led the league in hits and on-base percentage. Prior to becoming the hitting coach in Colorado, he was the hitting coach at Triple-A Colorado Springs for four years from 2003-06, was the Rockies' roving hitting coordinator (2001-02), a minor league manager (1999-2000), and a professional scout (1998).

Cockrell was the ninth overall pick by the San Francisco Giants in the 1984 June draft out of the University of Tennessee. He was a minor league outfielder for 13 seasons, with his only major league action being 9 games for the Rockies in 1996. He spent time in the farm systems of San Francisco, Minnesota, Cleveland and Colorado, and played the 1991 season at Triple-A Calgary in the Mariners Minor League system. An All-American at Tennessee, Cockrell was also the Volunteers' starting quarterback in 1982-83.

Raul Ibanez will decline binding salary arbitration today and, for the second time in his career, leave the Seattle Mariners.

The first time was even less appetizing – the Mariners simply let Ibanez go after the 2000 season, and Kansas City signed him as a free agent. As a Royal, Ibanez got the chance to play regularly, and he blossomed.

Lou Piniella, who saw the drive but never the payoff in Seattle, was in favor of letting Ibanez go in 2000. When he watched Ibanez play for the Royals, he told Mariners scouts he wanted that left-handed bat back.

Ibanez was never the best outfielder, the fastest runner, and his natural abilities wouldn’t have gotten him far in the major leagues.

What made Ibanez the player that contending teams – including the World Series champion Phillies – covet was his work ethic. Last year, on a team that lost 101 games, Ibanez played all 162 games.

On a great team, he’d probably be a No. 5 or No. 6 hitter. He didn’t have the luxury in Seattle, especially after returning to the team following the ’03 season. Instead, Ibanez played left field and batted third some days, fourth in others.

He batted .293 with 23 home runs and 110 RBI last season at age 36. Over 986 career games as a Mariner, Ibanez hit .284.

This time, the Mariners will get a pair of draft picks in return, and hope that he signs with a National League team. One of the reasons the Mariners brought Ibanez back was the damage he did against them in two seasons in Kansas City.

The Mariners will miss more than Ibanez’s bat. In a clubhouse where few veterans talked, he was accountable – after good games and bad. He took younger players aside and talked baseball with them. He’d challenge veterans.

And after every game, he hit the weight room to work out.

The Phillies, Cubs, Mets, Rays, Yankees and a half-dozen other teams are pursuing Ibanez, who last year made $5.5 million. He wants a multi-year contract, and the Mariners weren’t in position to offer him one.

Someone will, and Ibanez will leave Seattle for a second time. He will be missed

In the 45 days since his hiring, general manager Jack Zduriencik has retooled the Seattle Mariners front office, hired a manager and most of a coaching staff, opened space on his major league roster and signed a left-handed hitter with power.

Not a bad run before the baseball winter meetings.

Still, fans of the team worry that Russell Branyon is not the answer, that Zduriencik hasn’t yet improved the team that had American League’s worst record despite a $117 million payroll.

The operative word here is ‘patience.’

Zduriencik hasn’t had two months on the job, but in that time he’s established a new scouting staff, and brought in new faces to run the minor league and player development departments.

In Don Wakamatsu, Zduriencik hired a young first-time manager who produced at least a ripple of excitement in the Northwest.

And in Branyan, he identified a relatively low-risk free agent as a piece of the puzzle, not as an answer. Then he quietly, quickly signed him.

All of that had to be done – and was – before the Mariners could begin the more obvious effort of rebuilding the team that will open the 2009 season.

Today, Zduriencik and his staff fly into Las Vegas for baseball’s winter meetings, and they go in knowing what the Mariners have and what they lack. More important, they know what and who they want.

Forty-five days into his administration, Zduriencik’s Mariners have a starting rotation to build around, with clear needs in the outfield, first base and DH.

Branyan can platoon in all three spots if necessary, but Zduriencik has targeted players – from free agents to big-leaguers on other teams to the prospects in other systems – that he wants.

No GM in his situation gets everything he wants, either at these meetings or in an off-season.

In less than seven weeks, Zduriencik has done the preliminary work and still rated the benefit of the doubt.

Asked to fix a team in disrepair for years, he’s probably got the right to ask for, say, two months in which to do it.

The Mariners cleared two spots on their 40-man roster by out-righting pitchers R.A. Dickey and Sean White to the minor leagues – although Dickey has a week to accept the demotion or decline it and become a free agent.

Dickey, a 34-year-old knuckle ball specialist, started and relieved in Seattle last season, appearing in 32 games, going 5-8 with a 5.21 earned run average.

White, 26, is a former Rule V draft pick for the Mariners, and spent the 2008 season in Tacoma, where he made 22 starts and finished 6-11 with a 5.47 ERA.

The moves clear room on the roster for players the team may add next week during the winter meetings.

That roster now stands at 36.

Among the worst thing sportswriters do is project and predict - areas in which we're no more gifted or lucky than anyone else.

Most of the civilized world, for instance, believed the 2008 Seattle Mariners would contend in the American League West.

Just ask the media.

Well, over at SI.com, Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus has been doing a series - GM For A Day - and evaluating teams, including the Mariners.

In a division in 'transition,' he writes, the Mariners might just surprise everyone and contend.

Why? Among other things, he says the Seattle rotation is among the top five in the league.

It's an intriguing take, heavy with sabermetric analysis, and worth exactly what you'll pay for it by clicking here.

If you're a Mariners fan expecting the worst, it just might cheer you up.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Anaheim in Seattle, and it’s no coincidence.

The Mariners have served notice – they want what the Angels have, and they’re not beyond mirroring a team in order to beat it.

With the hiring of third base/infield coach Bruce Hiines, who coached the outfield, base-running and bunting in the Angels minor league system the past three years, manager Don Wakamatsu’s first staff is almost complete.

Wakamatsu and three of his coaches – Hines, Lee Tinsley and Ty Van Burkleo – have all worked in the Angels farm system.

“There are some traits that have made them the strongest team in the division. Their aggressive style of play, their base-running, their development,” Wakamatsu said of the Angels. “We want to be known for all those things. We’re bringing people in who can tighten things up, help us play fundamental baseball. These guys can teach it, they’ve done it before.”

And then there was only one vacancy.

Bruce Hines, a 52-year-old veteran coach, has been hired as the Seattle Mariners third base coach – the fifth member of manager Don Wakamatsu’s first big-league staff.

For the past three years, Hines had been the minor league field coordinator for the Angels, in charge of outfield, base-running and bunting instruction.

A long-time minor league manager and coach, Hines all but completes the Mainers new staff. The only job left: batting coach.

The winter meetings are days away, and the rumors are beginning to churn, so the always reliable tabloid New York Post is reporting that it’s “learned’ closer J.J. Putz is available.

Well, duh.

For two months now, that’s been fairly well-known in Seattle, if only because – after the Seattle Mariners lost 101 games last season – nearly everyone on the team is available.

“We’ve got a couple of keepers, but I’m not going go name them,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “I’m not anxious to move any of our players, but if a team calls with a proposal, I’ll listen.”

The Post anxiously insisted the Mariners and Mets will talk during the winter meetings in Las Vegas.

Well, duh.

Zduriencik will probably talk with, oh, 25 teams or so. Some he’ll contact, some will contact him. The Mariners aren’t without talent, and teams will ask about Ichiro Suzuki and Ryan Rowland-Smith, Adrian Beltre and Brandon Morrow, Yuniesky Betancourt and Felix Hernandez.

And yes, J.J. Putz.

On the free agent market there are closers looking for huge multi-year deals, specialists like Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes, Kerry Wood and Eddie Guardado. Putz, in contrast, will make $5 million next season, then has an $8.6 million club option in 2010 – with a $1 million buyout.

Zduriencik is prepared to be tested in Las Vegas next week by GMs hoping to get a steal for prospects, but they’re likely in for a surprise.

For one thing, Zduriencik and his new front office team know the minor league systems as well as anyone in the game – and they’ve targeted the young players they have interest in.

As shown with the Russell Branyan signing, the Mariners these days know what they want and will make a fair-markert offer to get it.

There’s no clearance sticker on anyone in the organization.

Putz is available, not because the Mariners want to move him but because they’ll listen to offers for him and every other player on the team.

Can Zduriencik trade Ichiro? No.

Could he trade virtually anyone else? Yes.

Putz is available in part because players Seattle would love to move – Carlos Silva, Kenji Johiima, anyone? – are impossible to trade

So the Mariners will go to Las Vegas, meet with a few agents, talk .to every club they can and try to continue the remodeling of a franchise.

Well, duh.

The Mariners have announced two new hires in pitching coach Rick Adair and bullpen coach John Wetteland, as manager Don Wakamatsu continues to pull together a staff.

Adair, 50, had been the pitching coordinator in the Texas Rangers farm system.

Wetteland, a 42-year-old former closer, had served as the bullpen coach for the Washington Nationals.

The announcement came a few hours after GM Jack Zduriencik announced the signing of his first free agent, journeyman slugger Russell Branyan.

Adair was a 1979 Mariners draft pick and pitched in the Seattle system until arm injuries ended his career in 1985.

He has been a big-league pitching coach in Cleveland and Detroit.

Adair and Wetteland join bench coach Ty Van Berkleo and first-base coach Lee Tinsley, hired earlier this week.

For more on the new coaches, read our story here.

The Mariners first free agent signing is third baseman/hitter Russell Branyan.

UPDATE (2:10 p.m.) -- according to the AP, it's a one-year contract for $1.4 million. There is also $500,000 in performance based bonuses, including a $250,000 bonus for more than 200 plate appearances.

“Russell gives us a veteran left-handed bat with power and can be used as a first baseman, third baseman or designated hitter,” said Zduriencik. “One of our off-season goals is to add some left-handed power to our club. The addition of Russell accomplished some of that.”

It's far from signing Manny Ramirez in terms of making a big splash. Branyan was once considered a hot prospect in the Indians organization, only there was one small problem, he had a tendency to swing and miss - a lot.

He has 797 strikeouts in 2000 career major league at bats, meaning he strikes at least once in every three at-bats. He also has 133 home runs. He has a career OPS of .813.

Zduriencik knows Branyan pretty well since Branyan spent last season in the Brewers organization, starting off in the minor leagues and then joining the big club in the second half of last season.

Branyan can hit a fastball. I watched him hit a 96-mile per hour fastball from Phillippe Aumont about 450 feet during a minor league spring training game. But it's the pitches that break a little bit that seem to give him some trouble.

He can hit with power, mammoth power, but I don't know if he's an every day player. He's never proven to be one so far in his career.

But he's a low risk investment, the Sporting News' Ryan Fagan summed it up nicely in calling Branyan "a bargain" when breaking down the free agent third baseman out there.

Russell Branyan. The key with Branyan is not to expect extended runs of production. When he's hot, he can carry a team with exceptional displays of power. Then in the inevitable downturn, he'll look absolutely lost at the plate. He had a 17-game stretch for the Brewers early this year in which he hit .314 with 10 homers and 17 RBIs; in the next 17 games, he hit .170 with 1 homer and 2 RBIs. At 33, he is what he is. If he's cheap, he's worth a shot.

If you look lower in his story, Fagan also deemed Willie Bloomquist as a "potential bust." Take that at what you will.

Here's the release from the Mariners.

MARINERS SIGN FREE AGENT RUSSELL BRANYAN TO CONTRACT

Veteran left-handed power hitter has hit 133 career Major League home runs.

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today that the club has signed free agent infielder Russell Branyan to a one-year contract. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"Russell gives us a veteran left-handed bat with power and can be used as a first baseman, third baseman or designated hitter," said Zduriencik. "One of our off-season goals is to add some left-handed power to our club. The addition of Russell accomplished some of that."

Branyan, 32 (turns 33 Dec. 19), is a veteran of 11 Major League seasons, last playing with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008. In 50 games with the Brewers last season, Branyan batted .250 (33x132) with 8 doubles, 12 home runs and 20 RBI. In his first month with the Brewers (May-June), Branyan combined to bat .276 (24x87) with 15 runs scored, 5 doubles, 11 home runs and 18 RBI in 29 games. He started the season with Nashville (AAA), batting .359 (55x153) with 12 homers and 36 RBI in 45 games with the Sounds prior to being called up on May 25.

In 50 games, Branyan made 35 starts (3B - 33, 1B - 2) and hit .455 (5x11) with 2 home runs as a pinch-hitter. Among National League players with at least 10 plate appearances as a pinch-hitter, Branyan ranked fourth in batting average and tied for second in home runs. He missed over a month of the season with a right oblique strain (Aug. 13-Sept. 23) and did not make the Brewers post-season roster.

In 11 seasons in the Majors, Branyan has a career batting average of .230 with 133 home runs and 320 RBI in 766 games. He has played for the Cleveland Indians (1998-2002), Cincinnati Reds (2002-03), Milwaukee Brewers (2004-05, 2008), Tampa Bay Rays (2006), San Diego Padres (2006-07), Philadelphia Phillies (2007) and St. Louis Cardinals (2007). Over the last three seasons, Branyan has suited up in five different Major League uniforms.

The Hall of Fame ballot isn't the kind of thing you glance at and fill out in an hour.

It deserves serious attention and thought, and it's not too early to start the process - the ballot must be mailed by Dec. 31.

You can vote for as many as 10 candidates, and the criteria includes integrity.

Want to kick it around, voice an opinion? Can't promise it will change my vote, but you now have my attention.

Here are the candidates this year:

Harold Baines, Jay Bell, Bert Blyleven, David Cone, Andre Dawson, Ron Gant, Mark Grace, Rickey Henderson, Tommy John, Don Mattingly, Mark McGwire, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Jesse Orosco, Dave Parker, Dan Plesac, Tim Raines, Jim Rice, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell, Greg Vaughn, Mo Vaughn, Matt Williams.

Now, if you want to read columnist John McGrath's votes - and a marvelous column on Rickey Henderson - just click here. Great read.

Yes, the Seattle Mariners have had a chat with Brian Goldberg, the agent for Ken Grifffey Jr., and talked about 2009.

And shortly thereafter, Kirby Arnold of the Everett Herald talked to Goldberg about all things Griffey.

According to the agent, Junior is down 10-12 pounds since knee surgery last month, wants to play the field but is willing to DH and isn't looking for a fat, long-term deal.

There's more, of course, and you can read what Goldberg had to say on Arnold's blog.

It's the holiday season, and boy, have we got a gift idea for you.

There's a company in Michigan that produces coffins and urns. That may not sound like Christmas to you, but wait.

These particular caskets and urns have within them logos - everything from the American Kennel Club to the Seattle Mariners.

Granted, the Yankees and Red Sox have been selling at a much faster clip.

But you can almost certainly be the first on your block to own a Mariners casket, complete with silky logo. Or an urn, if you're budget-minded.

If you can't stand the suspense any longer, here's a link to an article that even includes a video demonstration.

Live long and prosper - there's even a Star Trek coffin available when you go.

Don Wakamatsu got more than two coaches Monday, he brought two good friends aboard the Seattle Mariners 2009 staff.

Both bench coach Ty Van Berkleo and first base coach Lee Tinsley are long-time friends and colleagues, on and off the field, and Wakamatsu said that was a factor.

"They're good friends, but as coaches they're as good as there is out there," he said. "Both these guys are instructors, they communicate well with players. They're going to help change the baseball culture on this team."

As the coaches were being introduced, GM Jack Zduriencik said he had one contract offer on the table to an unnamed free agent, had offered binding salary arbitration to Raul Ibanez - and had talked last week to the agent of Ken Griffey Jr.

“I’ve had discussions with Junior’s agent, yes. We talked about him next year,” Zduriencik said. “Is there anything concrete? No. It’s more an inquiry than anything else. It was a very cordial conversation. How would he fit with the club? I’m not sure.”

The team plans to announce other new coaches as they are hired, probably within the week.

Read our story here.

The Seattle Mariners have hired Ty Van Burkleo as bench coach, Lee Tinsley has first base coach and offered outfielder Raul Ibanez arbitration.

Van Burkleo worked as Oakland's hitting coach last year on a coaching staff that included new Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu.

Tinsley, a one-time Mariner, coached in the Arizona system.

And Ibanez now has a week to accept or decline the offer of binding salary arbitration.

More details after a 1 p.m. conference call.

Welcome to December, a month when the Seattle Mariners figure to begin adjusting their roster.

New coaches could be announced as early as today, and there's one other piece of business on the table - Raul Ibanez.

Today is the last day teams can offer salary arbitration to their own free agents, and the Mariners almost certainly will offer it to Ibanez.

Once that's done, Raul will have one week to accept or decline, and if he declines and signs elsewhere, the team would get compensation through the draft.

And a week from today, the baseball winter meetings begin in Las Vegas, and the Mariners will be in pursuit of trades and, perhaps, a free agent or two.

So bid adieu to November. We're one month closer to spring training - and the off-season is about to heat up.