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.
