Horacio Ramirez had a bad season, lost his job and got a raise when the Seattle Mariners agreed to pay him $2.75 million and avoid salary arbitration.

Times may be hard, but not in baseball.

After starting just 20 games – because of injuries and ineffectiveness – Ramirez finished the season 8-7 with a 7.16 earned run average in 2007. He averaged just under five innings per start.

The team hopes new pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre can salvage the leftie’s career, and that’s no small chore.

Like many finesse

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By simply going about their off-season business, the Seattle Mariners seem to to feeding the Erik Bedard rumors on a daily basis.

This time, the team signed left-handed reliever George Sherrill to avoid arbitration with him – and immediately, the perception was that Sherrill had been signed soley to improve the chances of including him in a trade to Baltimore.

They invite lefty Arthur Rhodes to camp, even though elbow reconstruction probably won’t allow him to pitch until May, and analysts wonder if Seattle is hoping he can replace Sherrill, who

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Rich Gossage finally made the Hall of Fame, ending years of head-shaking by those who watched him pitch and knew he belonged.

Those who disagreed were married to the numbers.

Gossage never saved more than 33 games in a season, had as many as 30 only twice in a 22-year career. That says as much about the era he worked in, however, as about the Goose.

After winning nine games and saving 26 – with a 1.84 earned run average – for the Chicago White Sox in 1975, the team

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Something to ponder as we will ourselves through another dark, damp week in the Northwest – spring training is on the horizon.

Seattle Mariners pitchers and catchers report for physicals on Feb. 13 in Peoria, Ariz.

One day later, they will be on the field for the first time.

There will be more than a few introductions – coaches Mel Stottlemyre, Norm Charlton, Jim Riggleman, Sam Perlozzo and Eddie Rodriguez are new, along with returning hitting coach Jeff Pentland.

As it stands now, the depth chart for would-be starters is deep.

You have to pencil

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The one thing Shane Monahan could always do was talk.

In parts of two seasons with the Seattle Mariners – in 1998 and 1999 – his mouth was a problem for him. After his first week in the majors, veteran players wouldn’t speak to him.

"He knows everything already," Jay Buhner said.

Monahan’s attitude and his mouth cost him. He’d tell anyone who’d listen how good he was. Mention a player starting ahead of him – Glenallen Hill or John Mabry, for instance – and Monahan would talk about how

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The Mariners hopes of landing a top-of-the-rotation pitcher may have to wait until the 2008 season has begun – the Baltimore Orioles say they’re likely to open the year with Erik Bedard as their ace.

From Baltimore’s point of view, it’s a low-risk move: Bedard cannot be a free agent until after the 2009 season.

Yes, he could be injured and ruin any potential trade this year, but that risk runs both ways.

Teams interested in Bedard now – and there are a handful of them – could also have staff injuries that drive their needs higher.

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Welcome to the New Year and the question de jour – are the Seattle Mariners contenders yet?

Start with the obvious: This team finished six games behind the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2007. The Angels have added pitching in Jon Garland, offense and defense in center fielder Torri Hunder and lost shortstop Orlando Cabrera, a leader on and off the field.

Are they better? Yes, but not hugely so.

The Mariners added pitching with Carlos Silva and R.A. Dickey, lost 99 RBI with the departure of free agent Jose Guillen, who will replaced in right

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