The Seattle Mariners sent pitchers Erik Bedard and Josh Fields to the Boston Red Sox today in a three-team deal that brought them two young outfield bats – Boston’s AA prospect Chich-Hsien Chiang and Dodgers AAA prospect Trayvon Robinson.

Chiang, 23, is batting .338 with 18 home runs and 76 RBI in 87 games with AA Portland in the Eastern League.  Robinson, 23, is a switch-hitter with speed batting .293 with 26 home runs and 71 RBI in 100 games with AAA Albuquerque.

Both players will report to the Mariners minor league affiliates, Tacoma for Robinson, Jackson for Chiang.

“I …

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Odd scene at Safeco Field this morning, where a half dozen of us media types sit staring at computer screens, searcing this site or that one, awaiting callbacks on cell phones, monitoring the will-he-or-won’t-he-be-traded status of lefty Erik Bedard.

Bedard would love this – no one quite sure what’s going to happen. Might get a smile and a laugh from him.

Apparently talks continue with St. Louis, Boston and the New York Yankees, in part because the Yankees are linked to every deal as the trading deadline nears.

Meanwhile, the Mariners lineup today will, as expected, feature its newest left …

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The six-player trade the Seattle Mariners completed with the Detroit Tigers today is probably best explained as – f rom Seattle’s point of view – grabbing prospects for down the line.

The Tigers took right-hander Doug Fister and Doug Pauley, two men who were a big part of the strength of this team. In return, they got a middle-reliever/starting pitcher in left-hander Charlie Furbush and Detroit’s fourth outfielder, right-handed hitter Casper Wells, who will join the Mariners tomorrow.

The key to the deal for Seattle? Third baseman Franicsco Martinez, a 20-year-old in Class AA, and a minor league player to …

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ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick first reported news of a possible trade involving Doug Fister going to the Tigers. Then Danny Knobler of CBS Sports followed up, reporting that the Mariners will trade Doug Fister and David Pauley to the Detroit Tigers for outfielder Casper Wells, pitcher Charlie Furbush and third base prospect Francisco Martinez and possibly a player to be named later.

It’s now official as Pauley and Fister are saying their goodbyes at Safeco.

From the press release:

Furbush and Wells will join the Mariners 25-man roster and will be active for Sunday’s series finale against the

…

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The Mariners will make a roster move today, when they call up reliever Dan Cortes from Tacoma. To make room they will send Aaron Laffey, who’s struggled in his last few outings to Triple A Tacoma.

Last night after the game, there was an extended delay before reporters were let into the clubhouse. Usually when that happens a roster move was being made, but there wasn’t announcement.

However, a source said that Cortes will be called up today, while John Hickey of SportsPress NW reported that Laffey will be sent down.

, a good man having a terrible season, was designated for assignment today by the Seattle Mariners.

Cust, 32, was an off-season $2.5 million investment by GM Jack Zduriencik, who’d hoped the left-handed hitter could add punch to a lineup that lacked any true production. It didn’t work, and one of those men is now out of a job.

Cust played in 67 games, batting .213 with three home runs and 23 RBI. One of the most popular and pleasent men in the cluhouse – for teammates and media -  he remained a professional throughout his struggles …

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The Mariners have made their first trade over what is expected to be a mildly busy few days for them, sending Rainiers outfielder Ryan Langerhans to the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash considerations.

Langerhans, 31, was batting .313 (67×214) with 10 doubles, 16 home runs and 37 RBI in 57 games with the Rainiers. He appeared in 117 games for the Mariners over the last three seasons (2009-2011). He hit .173 (9×52) with 3 home runs in 19 games with the Mariners this season.

The transaction clears a roster spot for newly acquired outfielder Wily Mo Pena to join the Tacoma …

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With the major league baseball non-waiver trade deadline looming on Sunday at 1 p.m.  local time, Erik Bedard’s start tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays looms large.

Why?

Because he’s one of the few trade chips the Mariners have to offer teams looking to make a run for a postseason berth.

Bedard will make his return from the disabled list tonight at Safeco Field in front of a large group of interested scouts. Representatives from several teams including the Red Sox, Yankees and Tigers will be on hand to see if the talented but not-so-durable lefthander looks healthy after spending …

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