Posted By Larry Larue on November 21, 2009 at 8:53 am Share this

If you're looking for the worst-case scenario for a team and its young ace - think Felix Hernandez - look no further than the Florida Marlins and Josh Johnson.

Johnson is 25, has a 34-16 record as a Marlin and, since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2007, has a record of 22-6 with an ERA of 3.34.

He's also got two years of arbitration eligibility before free agency. Sound familiar?

The Marlins and Johnson's agent, Matt Sosnick, were seeking a four-year contract and told Florida it was 'now or never.'

The Marlins offered three years - the first multi-year offer they'd ever made to a pitcher. Sosnick said they were done talking. As usual, the player involved was left a little stunned.

"I don't know if things are totally done, hopefully not. But it is one of those business things in baseball that you kinda don't want to have to go through," Johnson said.

Obviously, contract talks could re-start, though the Marlins and team president Larry Beinfest - a former Marners exec - rarely bow to pressure from agents.

It's a scenario that could play out on the sportspages and blogs here, too. For a more thorough telling of this tale, check out Clark Spencer's story.

- Stephen Strasburg, the No. 1 draft pick in the country and a $15.1 million bonus baby, won't need surgery after dislocating his left knee cap during an Arizona Fall League workout.

What he will need is weeks of rest and physical therapy. The Washington Nationals front office? They'll just need therapy.

- National treasure Joe Posnanski hands out his Least Valuable Player awards, and while he doesn't win, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt gets his due.

- One of the second-tier free agents sabermatricians have always loved, first baseman Nick Johnson, is on the radar of the San Francisco Giants.

Small wonder. His on base percentage was .426 in 2009.

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Posted By Larry Larue on November 20, 2009 at 5:06 pm Share this

The Seattle Mariners are working up an 'intriguing experiment' this winter - letting top draft pick Dustin Ackley work out as a second baseman.

A shortstop in high school, an outfielder/first baseman in college, Ackley has been taking ground balls at second base the past month in the Arizona Fall League.

"Our philosophy is to let players play multiple positions in the minor leagues," general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "It just gives you options, and gives you more information to make a quality decision.

"The idea came from his college coach."

Ackley hasn't played second in a game, and won't as the AFL season ends Saturday. Zduriencik said Ackley will return to Arizona in January - a month before spring training - to get more work at the position.

"We don't know where this will take us, but it is philosophical," the GM said. "You don't want to ask a player to play a position for the first time in the major leagues. The minors is where you take a look."

In early workouts, Mariners coaches in Arizona say Ackley has taken naturally to a position currently held by Jose Lopez.

The move isn't a final decision on Ackley's future, but it's clear the team believes his path to the majors will be hastened the more positions he is able to play.

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Posted By Larry Larue on November 20, 2009 at 4:53 pm Share this

In a flurry of moves to firm up their 40-man roster, the Seattle Mariners added six players, reinstated two from the disabled list, outrighted one man and lost two others to waiver claims.

By the end of the day, general manager Jack Zduriencik and his staff and put 37 names on that 40-man roster.

The Mariners added outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, right-handed pitchers Danny Cortes, RHP Ricky Orta, J.C. Ramirez and Anthony Varvaro and left-hander Edward Paredes.

Left-hander Ryan Feierabend and right-hander Sean White were taken off the 60-day disabled list, and infielder Josh Wilson was outrighted to Tacoma.

Chris Jakubauskas (Pirates) and Robert Manuel (Red Sox) were claimed off waivers.

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Posted By Larry Larue on November 20, 2009 at 3:05 pm Share this

The Seattle Mariners lost right-handers Chris Jakubauskas and Robert Manuel to waiver claims today after taking both off their 40-man roster.

One of the feel-good stories of the '09 season, rookie Jakubauskas, 30, made the club out of spring training, then made 35 appearances, including eight starts. Overall, he went 6-7 with a 5.32 ERA.

Left unprotected, Jakubauskas was claimed by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"I was surprised when the Mariners called to tell me, but I understood," Jakubauskas said. "Seattle took a chance on me and I'll always be grateful. It looks like I'll get a chance to start in Pittsburgh, and the rest is up to me."

Tacoma right-hander Manuel, obtained last season when the Mariners traded outfielder Wladimir Balentien to Cincinnati, was claimed by the Red Sox. In 15 appearances with the Rainiers, he posted a 3.32 ERA and four saves.

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Posted By Larry Larue on November 20, 2009 at 11:19 am Share this

Three former Seattle Mariners - pitchers John Halama and Jorge Campillo and infielder Omar Vizquel - are close to signing deals with big-league teams.

The Little O wanted to return to Seattle last year, wasn't asked and signed with the Texas Rangers instead, and batted .266 in 177 at-bats. He'd hoped to get a call from the Mariners this fall, didn't, and now is close to a one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox at age 42.

Right-hander Campillo was 8-7 with Atlanta with a 3.19 ERA in 2008, spent most of 2009 on the disabled list and signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals.

Then there's lefty Halama, who hasn't thrown a pitch in the majors since 2006. Now 37, he's been pitching in the Dominican Republic, where a half dozen teams scouted him. One, the Milwaukee Brewers, is talking to him about a minor league deal and spring training invite.

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Posted By Larry Larue on November 20, 2009 at 8:07 am Share this

Since the free agent market today becomes a free-for-all, with all teams eligible to sign anyone available, it's a good time to bid adieu to a few Seattle Mariners.

The team has six free agents still out there - a seventh, Jack Wilson, signed with the Mariners last week. Those free agents include Adrian Beltre, Russell Branyan, Erik Bedard, Endy Chavez, Mike Sweeney and Miguel Batista.

Only one, Branyan, has been offered a deal to this point. It was for one year, and the first baseman wants two. Given the fact that his numbers after the All-Star break could have belonged to Richie Sexson a year earlier - .193, nine home runs, 27 RBI - Branyan is unlikely to find a two-year offer anywhere.

More than likely, he'll be back. The others? Not as likely.

Batista, 38, still has an arm as good as when he joined Seattle in 2007 and went 16-11. After seeing him fail to challenge hitters on the mound or be part of the team off of it, the Mariners have seen enough.

Beltre, 30, won a pair of Gold Gloves as a Mariner, but as his defense was recognized, his offense never approached his 2004 season with the Dodgers. Although he often hit in the heart of he order for Seattle, he never should have. After five seasons, his American League average was .266. Expect Beltre to head back to the National League.

Sweeney, 36, was the Mariners right-handed hitting specialist last year and batted .250 before the All-Star break - and .311 after. A little tinkering by hitting coach Alan Cockrell finally took, and Sweeney's average after Aug. 20 (.381) was the second highest in baseball. He'd love to return, but his role with the team likely isn't worth what he hopes to get on the market.

Chavez, 31, was doing everything Seattle hoped he would until a collision with then-shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt ended his season on June 19 and threatened his career. A serious knee injury puts Chavez's future as a fourth outfielder in doubt.

Bedard, 30, is a left-handed ace when healthy, and a major disappointment when he's not. In two seasons in Seattle, he's started just 30 times. He's gone 11-7 with a 3.24 earned run average, and missed half a season or more in both years. Coming off shoulder surgery, Bedard won't pitch again until May, but his upside means he'll have other suitors - including Baltimore. The Mariners are not opposed to bringing him back, but the contract would have to reflect the risk.

Now, your morning links:

- Most GMs won't say much about who they're after, but owners? Angels owner Arte Moreno opened up to the Los Angeles Times and laid out a road map of where his team is headed.

He wants to cut payroll to $113 million in 2010, and it already stands at $101 million. He wants to pursue free agent Jason Bay, probably in lieu of re-signing Vladimir Guerrero, and doesn't think he can bring back both John Lackey and Chone Figgins.

- Jose Lopez, first baseman? Foxsports.com thinks it's a possibility, and while the Mariners talked about it near the end of last season, I'm not sure it's in the works.

Yes, the Mariners want to upgrade at second base, but they are as likely to do so by trading Lopez as trying to get him to play first base fulltime.

- Teams love to send their prize prospects to the Arizona Fall League, but here's why they do so while holding their breath.

Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg twisted his knee shagging in the outfield and is flying today to visit Dr. Lew Yocumb in Los Angeles. Yikes!

- Roy Halladay remains the best pitcher available this off-season, and the Blue Jays are talking trade with the Yankees and Red Sox., according to Jon Heyman.

Makes you wonder, though, how Toronto ever hopes to contend in the American League East by moving Halladay to a division rival.

- The day after Tim Lincecum won his second consecutive National League Cy Young Award, the Giants are asking just what you give the pitcher that can do anything?

As in, 'Good Lord, what might this do to our arbitration case?'

- Here's news the Mariners must love reading. When Everett's Kirby Arnold called Branyan, the first baseman with the troublesome back was busy at home - hauling concrete blocks.

Yikes, again.

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Posted By Larry Larue on November 19, 2009 at 5:02 pm Share this

For a man who spent the first six years of his big-league career with one team, 31-year-old Aaron Heilman has become a journeyman in the span of a year.

Heilman, remember, was the right-handed pitcher included in Jack Zduriencik's massive J.J. Putz trade last winter, a deal that brought Heilman to the Seattle Mariners from the Mets in December.

One month later, Heilman was traded again, from the Mariners to the Cubs in exchange for shortstop Ronny Cedeno and lefty Garrett Olson.

And now, the Cubs have traded Heilman to Arizona for a pair of minor league players.

That's four teams in 11 months - one of which never actually got him in uniform.

Good luck, Aaron. Keep a suitcase packed.

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Posted By Larry Larue on November 19, 2009 at 9:37 am Share this

Live in the colder states and head to spring training and you're dubbed a snow bird. Here in the Northwest, we're more like water fowl.

Still, you can dream of Arizona and sunshine and baseball, and if you're considering a spring training visit with the Seattle Mariners, their spring schedule has been released.

Want to know when the games are played - and which ones will be at home in Peoria Stadium - and here's an MLB.com list of Mariners games.

And if you can't wait for March and those games, the team will begin working out on Feb. 18 in Peoria, with pitchers and catchers first, then position players coming in four or five days later.

Those 10 days of work give fans a chance to watch up close and personal, get a few autographs and - with luck - see the sun.

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Posted By Larry Larue on November 19, 2009 at 8:30 am Share this

It's a quiet morning on the baseball front, a day before free agency blooms because teams can begin talking cash with anyone on the market.

Ex-Mariners like Mike Cameron and Randy Johnson are in that market, and down in Atlanta, there are rumors that Derek Lowe - another former Mariner - and his $15 million salary are on the trading block.

Here's a few links to tide you over this morning:

- If you're looking for a little fun this morning and feel like spending the Seattle Mariners money - or that of any other team - here's a link for you.

SI.com's Ben Reiter has put together his list of the top 50 free agents. Go ahead, find the best fit for Seattle, then see who winds up where as the winter moves along.

- Seattle prospect Joe Dunigan, a first baseman/outfielder hitting .292 in the Arizona Fall League, gets a little ink in hometown Chicago today.

Here's the story on a young player the Cubs and White Sox never paid much attention to, but will likely open the season for Seattle in Class AA.

- Pat Gillick, who never seems able to walk away from baseball, might fit in as a special consultant in Toronto - a team he once led to a pair of World Series titles.

It's speculative at the moment, but the Blue Jays and the game could certainly use Mr. Gillick. Here's a story.

- The Texas Rangers are in the midst of being sold, which almost certainly will limit their off-season. Apparently, they'll be saddled again with a $68 million budget.

Here's a story on the Mariners division rival, and what they may do this winter.

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Posted By Larry Larue on November 18, 2009 at 11:27 am Share this

Free agent Jarrod Washburn feels the lure of playing close to his Wisconsin home and has drawn interest from Milwaukee and Minnesota, but admits the Seattle Mariners are on his short list of teams.

In an e-mail to Foxsports.com, Washburn talks of the Mariners almost wistfully:

"Not saying it will happen, but I know I enjoyed my time there, my wife and kids loved it there, and I think they have some interest," Washburn said. "So, I see that as a possibility."

"The Twins and Brewers are both on the radar for me. The thought of playing close to home has always appealed to me, and I think both of those teams would be good fits for me."

The veteran lefty, 35, has a 107-109 career record and spent nearly four years with Seattle before being traded last summer to Detroit.

Here's the Foxsports.com story in its entirety.

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