Mariners Rumors

Multiple Teams Eyeing Kelvim Escobar

By Tim Dierkes | December 8, 2009 at 2:50pm CDT

TUESDAY, 2:49pm: ESPN's Jerry Crasnick tweets that Escobar received a positive medical report today, and could either pitch winter league ball or just audition for suitors. Crasnick names the Rays, Mariners, Brewers, and Orioles as potential suitors, in addition to the New York teams.

MONDAY, 4:29pm: The Yankees and Mets checked in on free agent pitcher Kelvim Escobar, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman says Escobar might pitch in the Venezuelan winter league to prove his health. Escobar had labrum surgery in August of 2008. Yanks GM Brian Cashman told reporters his priorities are "pitching, pitching, pitching, and then left field."

Earlier today, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald tweeted that the Red Sox met with Escobar's agent Peter Greenberg, who also represents Rafael Soriano.

Pirates, Blue Jays Discussing Ryan Doumit

By Tim Dierkes | December 8, 2009 at 2:37pm CDT

The Pirates and Blue Jays are discussing a trade for catcher Ryan Doumit, reports Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. One Kovacevic source wonders if Jays reliever Jeremy Accardo could be involved. Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports first reported mild interest from Toronto in Doumit on Wednesday. The backstop is owed $9.15MM over the next two seasons and was sidelined by wrist surgery this year.

Kovacevic says the Mariners and Giants might also be in the mix, but not the Mets, Rangers, or Marlins.

Pirates Have Discussed Capps, Doumit

By Steve Adams | December 8, 2009 at 1:45am CDT

Dejan Kovacevic reports that the Pirates have been discussing closer Matt Capps and catcher Ryan Doumit with other teams. He also adds that they've listened on Zach Duke and Paul Maholm, but it's likely been only listening thus far. Kovacevic quotes GM Neal Huntington as saying "it's safe to assume interest" in Duke and Maholm, as many teams in baseball would like to add a durable lefty to their rotation.

Kovacevic suggests that it would be unlike Huntington to move Capps and Doumit with their values both deflated following disappointing 2009 seasons. However, Capps earned $2.425MM this season en route to a 5.80 ERA over 57 appearances, and is arbitration eligible. Both the Rangers and Rays have said to be interested in the right-hander.

Doumit fractured his wrist and missed significant time, which likely played a large part in his offensive woes in 2009. After putting up a 2008 line of .318/.357/.501, he slipped to just .250/.299/414 in 2009. The Mariners and Rangers have both inquired on the switch-hitting catcher who is owed $3.55MM in 2010 and $5.1MM in 2011 before two club options kick in.

When asked about the possibility of non-tendering Capps, Huntington eventually was quoted as saying, "Barring any unforeseen circumstance, we intend to tender our arbitration-eligible players."

Odds & Ends: Colletti, Chapman, Duchscherer

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 7, 2009 at 11:56pm CDT

Adrian Beltre Turns Down Arbitration

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 7, 2009 at 11:05pm CDT

Adrian Beltre turned down the Mariners' offer of arbitration, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown. Beltre is a Type B free agent, so it won't cost a draft pick to sign him, but the Mariners will obtain a supplementary pick if the third baseman signs elsewhere.

Edwin Jackson Rumors: Monday

By Tim Dierkes | December 7, 2009 at 9:43pm CDT

9:43pm: D'Backs GM Josh Byrnes told Piecoro that team execs are heavily involved in trade talks and currently "talking about a lot of guys." He didn't mention Jackson specifically, but you have to think Byrnes would have squashed this rumor if the D'Backs and Tigers weren't talking about a possible Jackson deal.

8:27pm: Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic thinks the D'Backs are making a push for Jackson, but doubts they'd include Max Scherzer in a deal. As Piecoro points out, Scherzer's under team control for three more years than Jackson, who can become a free agent after 2011. Those three extra years add lots of value.

8:03pm: MLB.com's Steve Gilbert wonders whether the Tigers and D'Backs could complete a deal without a third team. Do you see a potential fit?

6:26pm: The Tigers approached the Rockies about Jackson, but Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the asking price was too high for Colorado.

3:58pm: Rosenthal and Morosi say talks for Jackson have been more serious with the D'Backs than the Mariners, and the Angels are in on both Jackson and Granderson. The Red Sox are not in on Jackson, tweets Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says the D'Backs are not close to getting Jackson.

3:27pm: Price is back with something a little more concrete: he says the Tigers are sorting through offers from 12 teams for Jackson.

2:26pm: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports agree with Nightengale – the Tigers are close to trading Jackson. They say the Brewers, Mets, and Dodgers "are not on Jackson."

2:09pm: Ken Davidoff of Newsday tweets that a Mets official denied a Jackson trade.

1:54pm: Cryptic tweet from Ed Price of AOL FanHouse: "Rumor that Mets acquire Edwin Jackson." Price then updated that the rumor was "heard in the lobby" but not confirmed.

12:57pm: USA Today's Bob Nightengale tweets that the Tigers are close to trading Jackson, "perhaps as early as today." No word on the potential destination, but we'll keep you apprised in this post. What's more, Nightengale says the Tigers hope to trade Curtis Granderson this week.

The Tigers acquired Jackson from the Rays during the Winter Meetings last year, on December 10th.

Mariners Interested In Darren Oliver

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 7, 2009 at 9:15pm CDT

The Mariners are doing their best to make the Angels feel uneasy. They're interested in free agent lefty Darren Oliver, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The M's are expected to finalize a deal with longtime Angel Chone Figgins soon and they're in the mix for John Lackey. The Angels didn't offer Oliver arbitration, so, unlike Figgins and Lackey, he won't cost a draft pick.

In the words of one unnamed FOX source, "there's some gamesmanship going on."

Mariners Discussing Extension For Felix

By Steve Adams | December 7, 2009 at 5:20pm CDT

5:20pm: Nero told Larry Stone of the Times that he's been "philosophically dancing" with Zduriencik so far regarding a long-term deal for Hernandez. Nero hopes fans and media will just chill out, because Felix is happy and the relationship remains strong.

MONDAY, 11:39am: Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times says Zdruriencik had an informal chat with Hernandez's agent Alan Nero today, and they'll hold more serious talks later this week. SI's Jon Heyman tweets that Felix "will likely seek" about $100MM over six years.

SUNDAY, 4:24pm: Ken Rosenthal reports that the Mariners have begun discussing a long-term deal with Cy Young runner-up Felix Hernandez. Both sides are still far apart, according to one of Rosenthal's sources.

Hernandez, still just 23, is under team control for another two seasons, and could be in line for an epic contract through free agency if he remains healthy and is not extended. Rosenthal states that the Mariners have offered somewhere in the range of a four-year, $45MM deal to their ace.

After earning $3.8MM in 2009, Rosenthal speculates that King Felix could earn $7MM or more in 2010, and over $10MM in 2011. Using C.C. Sabathia's $23MM annual salary as an estimate point for Hernandez's free agent salary, Rosenthal theorizes that Felix could earn near $60MM over those four years going year-to-year.

Hernandez could fetch a deal worth more than $100MM over six years if he reaches free agency, but as Rosenthal says, he enjoys pitching in Seattle and you have to imagine the Mariners want to make every last effort to keep him.

Players face this dilemma all the time; is it wiser to hold out and go year-to-year for more money, when one injury could cost you everything, or do you take an extension that may net you less money than the alternative if you stay healthy?

The very fact that the two sides are talking is good news for Mariners fans. After reaching an agreement with Chone Figgins just a few days ago, the possibility of a long-term deal for their ace gives more reason to be happy if you're a Seattle fan. If you were Jack Zduriencik, how many years and how many dollars would you offer to keep one of the best young arms in the game with your club?

Adrian Beltre To Decline Arbitration?

By Mike Axisa | December 7, 2009 at 1:26pm CDT

MONDAY, 1:26pm: SI's Jon Heyman agrees; he says Beltre plans to decline the arbitration offer today.

SUNDAY, 11:03pm: Word in the Winter Meetings' lobby is that there's "no way" Scott Boras will allow Adrian Beltre to accept the Mariners' offer of arbitration, says Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times. Tomorrow is the deadline for the 20 or so free agents that were offered arbitration to either decline or accept.

There was some thought on Friday that the Mariners couldn't finalize their deal with Chone Figgins until Monday because the team first had to make sure Beltre would decline arbitration. The 31-year-old former NL MVP runner-up is said to be looking for at least $10MM per year, and has drawn interest from the Giants.

Heyman On Mariners, Valverde, Damon

By Tim Dierkes | December 7, 2009 at 12:08pm CDT

A look at the latest column from SI's Jon Heyman…

Aside from Jason Bay and John Lackey, Heyman names Marlon Byrd, Rich Harden, Randy Wolf, and Joel Pineiro as Mariners targets. That's the first I've heard of Byrd, Wolf, or a Pineiro reunion. Heyman names the Cubs and Braves as other Byrd suitors.
Heyman says "execs expect" Jose Valverde to remain in Houston, whether through accepting arbitration today or just re-signing later.
Heyman expects the Yankees to offer about two years and $20MM to Johnny Damon, and otherwise move on to Mike Cameron, Jermaine Dye, Curtis Granderson, or possibly Byrd.

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