Are the Mariners on the outside looking in for the services of Bobby Abreu? Well, as it stands it would appear to be true. First of all, Seattle has yet to put together a trade of Jarrod Washburn or Miguel Batista (Carlos Silva is untradeable) to free up some money to sign Abreu to a one-year deal.

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick mentioned in a story on Monday that the Mariners and Braves were maintaining contact with Abreu's representatives to see what happens.

UPDATE: Crasnick is now saying the talks are serious and something could be done in the next 24 hours.

But on Tuesday, Crasnick added a new team to the Abreu mix - The Los Angeles Angels.

And from there SI's Jon Heyman came out with a list of five teams of considering Abreu: the Angels, Braves, Mets, Reds and Pirates. The Mariners weren't on that list, but we know they have some interest.

But Fox sports Ken Rosenthal, mentions that interest might be waning. He lists the Angels as the favorite, while saying the Mariners are more focused on signing Ken Griffey Jr. or Garret Anderson.

So let's get this straight, the Angels dump Anderson and instead pick-up Abreu, while the Mariners, who also wanted Abreu, but didn't have the money, could then instead have to settle for Anderson?

It makes you warm and fuzzy thinking about the Chuck Armstrong-vetoed trade of Jarrod Washburn last season.

Let's get to some more links ...

Baseball prospectus came out with some season projections and has the Mariners finishing with a 70-92 record and finishing last in the AL West. The projections have the A's winning the league with an 82-80 record. You need a subscription to access more details on each teams depth chart.

I wrote about Ichiro possibly pitching in relief in the WBC. Here's some more video of a very young Ichiro pitching. He's got a nice little breaking ball in this video.

Here's a story out of Cincy about Junior waiting around to sign with a team. His agent believes something will happen in the next 10 days.

One time Mariner Ben Broussard, who blew a starting shot last year with the Texas Rangers, signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.

When I think of Broussard was his insistence that he could hit left-handed pitching if only given a chance, and that Raul Ibanez liked listened to his music. Broussard is a very accomplished singer and songwriter.

You may remember that Broussard was acquired from the Indians for outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, who will probably start for this year for the Indians after hitting .343 with 11 HR and 48 RBI after the All-Star break last season.

The Mariners did get infielder Tug Hulett in a trade when they sent Broussard to the Rangers. But having Choo competing for a left field spot instead might be more favorable.

Here's an interesting link that I got from my hourly perusal of www.mlbtraderumors.com (a must read for baseball fans). Anyway, D'Backs ace pitcher Brandon Webb refused to talk about his contract re-negotiations knowing what the economic climate is out there. Check out this quote:

"People are really hurting, really struggling. The last thing they want to hear about is someone's contract situation. I have never complained about what I make to play baseball and the reason we didn't come to an agreement last year had nothing to do with money. It's as simple as that."

And from that fresh comment, we now go back to the slog of performance enhancing drug stuff.

Shortstop Miguel Tejada has been charged with lying to congressional investigators.

Of course the A-Rod stuff is still raging strong.

Here's some local audio from KJR. Elise Woodward had former M's manager John McLaren, who was bench coach during A-Rod's days here in Seattle, on her show to talk about A-Rod. Earlier on Monday, Dave Mahler talked with Jeff Nelson about A-Rod.

Marinersfan51 commented about the level of questioning from ESPN's Peter Gammons during the A-Rod interview.

So too did Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News, who called Gammons a baseball apologist.

Former ESPN columnist and current SI writer Jeff Pearlman was also critical of Gammons, particularly for not pressing A-Rod after he called writer Selena Roberts a stalker during a mini-rant and ask follow up questions. Pearlman likened Gammons to Larry King.

Deadspin.com posted Pearlman's blog post and contacted Gammons for a response. Gammons did reply and was apologetic and regretful for not doing so.

Selena Roberts went on the Dan Patrick radio show to talk about A-Rod's comments.

A story about Alex Rodriguez.

One day in the visiting clubhouse in Cleveland, Alex called me over to his locker. His grandmother had died a day earlier, and he wanted to tell me how hard losing her had been. He had been close to her, he said, and was devastated by her loss.

Alex told me all this without showing emotion. I thought he might be trying not to, so I nodded and listened.

“The funeral is Sunday,” he said.

“Are you going?” I asked.

Alex looked genuinely surprised.

“No,” he said. After a pause, he told me he’d had a long talk with Lou Piniella, who’d asked him to play through the pain.

It occurred to me that day that Rodriguez might not be feeling anguish so much as wanting me to know he was – and to write about it. I didn’t, in part because I thought it sent too mixed a message and I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I still do, but it has gotten harder.

Alex Rodriguez never said a spontaneous thing to the media. Ever. On one level, that could be seen as caution. But over the years around Alex, it became apparent he was that way with teammates, coaches, everyone.

Ask him a question he wasn’t prepared to answer, he’d first stall – ‘Why would you ask me that?’ he’d respond – and then produce an answer that seemed canned. Good question, he might say, he’d never thought of that.

I don’t know anyone who believes they’ve seen an honest emotion from Alex. When I watched his confessional interview with Peter Gammons and thought we might finally hear him level with the world.

Until he said he wasn’t sure what he’d taken, only that it was banned.

Alex took something for three years without knowing exactly what it was? Impossible. Alex didn’t get dressed without thinking of the impact he wanted to make with his attire. He never spoke to the press without knowing precisely what message he wanted to deliver.

And the steroid cocktail he is alleged to have consumed is not something he could have purchased over the counter at GNC – part of it can’t even legally be sold in this country.

What Alex did Monday was confess to as little as possible. He never said the word ‘illegal.’. Only ‘banned.’ He never said he’d injected anything, or been on a program.

Alex Rodriguez taking iinjections without knowing what was in the syringe or how would impact his body?

Alex took the time to explain it was the culture of the game in 2001, that the reporter who broke the story had tried to break into the home where his two daughters slept. That’s taking full responsibility, Rodriguez-style.

When you think you’re just a bit smarter than anyone who interviews you, things get said that are too easily checked. Alex’s grandmother story, for instance. I talked to then-manager Piniella a bit later in the evening, and asked if he’d counseled his young shortstop about the death in the family.

“I didn’t know about it,” he said. “Alex hasn’t told me.”

Now, Alex wants the world to know he’s sorry. That whatever it was he took in Texas because of the pressure he felt after signing that contract, he stopped taking when he went to New York – where apparently, there was no pressure.

At least this time, he left Piniella out of it.