Mariners Considering Kei Igawa, Al Reyes, Jason Jennings?

Apparently the Mariners have some interest in twice-demoted Yankees starter Kei Igawa, according to an uncited TV report.  The report pleased Ichiro Suzuki and Kenji Johjima.

Igawa is locked up through 2011, which may or may not be a positive.  He earns another $1.5MM this year plus $4MM annually through the end of the contract.  The posting fee situation ensures that Igawa's salary is  really cheap, the price a team might pay for a semi-utility guy like Mark DeRosa.  If Igawa can be league average in the comfy confines of Safeco, he's a bargain.  More likely he'd have value to an NL team. 

The Mariners were in on Igawa this offseason, along with the Padres, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Braves, Mets, Cubs, Tigers, and Indians.  Igawa was said to prefer playing on the West Coast.  The 28 year-old had a decent strikeout rate but has otherwise been rocked in 62 innings as a Yankee.

Meanwhile Dan Graziano says the Mariners are entertaining practically every available starter.  He says they're "hot on the trail" of Jason Jennings.  I still think Jennings stays put.

Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has a few new names for us: the Mariners have "serious interest" in reliever Al Reyes and may go for Edwin Jackson as well.

Comments

[Guitar Hero]

THis is a great rumour. He's only on contract for 20 million over 5 years or so, and since he'd be more comfortable on the West Coast, and he's in a big park and an easier division, I can see him getting his homers down and having Josh Towers like numbers.

[bravesbeast]

I really would like to see what jackson could do in a pitcher's park, because he definitely has some talent. He seems to be your classic young thrower who needs to actually learn how to pitch, and I would not mind at all if the braves would go after him and do some refining in the minors. Heck, if not as a starter, I bet he could turn into a valuable reliever some where.

[JD]

Dumping Igawa will make more sense in the offseason, when they are not in danger of losing starters and will have time to replace them either internally or externally.

[pedroia2007]

If the Yankees were able to unload Igawa onto the Mariners, I could see them getting a George Sherrill or Sean Green

[bravesbeast]

Highly unlikey they get Sherill or any other part of the mariners bullpen. The strength of the mariners staff is their underrated pen, so there is very little chance they would trade away a valuable piece of that to get another struggling pitcher. That will not happen at all.

[SierraM]

If I were the Yankees I'd just give him away. Igawa is garbage. If he gets any significant time with the Mariners, he will almost single handedly take them out of playoff contention.