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.

Could he trade virtually anyone else? Yes.

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.