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AL West Notes: Iannetta, Kawasaki, Chavez, Rangers

Here's the latest from the AL West...

• The Angels are considering a contract extension for the newly-acquired Chris Iannetta, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link).  Iannetta is signed through 2012 and the Halos have a $5MM club option for 2013 that Iannetta can now void due to being traded before the start of the 2013 season.
• Also from Renck, the Rockies tried to acquire Angels right-hander John Hellweg in the Iannetta trade.  Hellweg, 23, has a 3.83 ERA, an 11.4 K/9 rate and 7.6 BB/9 in four minor league seasons.  He spent last season pitching for the Halos' Class A+ affiliate.
• Japanese shortstop Munenori Kawasaki wants to play in the Major Leagues, but only for the Mariners, reports MLB.com's Matt Weber.  Kawasaki, 30, is a free agent so he can sign without a posting fee and he said he's willing to sign a minor league deal and play a different position if necessary.
• MLB.com's Greg Johns has more details on Kawasaki, who has a career .294 average but just hit .267/.310/.327 last season with Fukuoka.  Johns says the Mariners have scouted Kawasaki in Japan so he is "at least on the Mariners' radar."
• The Athletics aren't one of the teams interested in Eric Chavez, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link).  "He wouldn't be a fit for them and vice versa," Slusser writes.
• In a mailbag piece, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan looks at the obstacles preventing the Rangers from making a move for Prince Fielder and Matt Garza.  Sullivan also notes that it's only a matter of time before Ron Washington gets another contract extension from the club.
• The Mariners' deep minor league system seems to give them an advantage under the new collective bargaining agreement, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.

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