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Mariners Claim Luis Pena, DFA Tug Hulett

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5:14pm: John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that the Mariners have designated infielder Tug Hulett for assignment to make room for Pena on the 40-man roster.

2:15pm: Tom Haudricourt writes that the Mariners have claimed reliever Luis Pena off waivers.

Pena, 26, was designated for assignment when the Brewers claimed Nick Green from the Angels. Brewers general manager Doug Melvin explains:

"It’s like trading Pena for Green," said general manager Doug Melvin. "We needed starters. You hate to give up on a good arm but that was our need."

Fields, Mariners Agree To Deal

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SUNDAY, 9:34am: Jim Callis of Baseball America has the numbers: "A baseball source said Fields will receive $1.75 million, splitting the difference between MLB’s $1.5 million recommendation for his draft slot and the $2 million he was seeking, pending the results of a physical he took on Saturday."

Callis notes while the deadline to sign draft picks was August 15, Fields and Seattle were allowed to continue negotiations due to Fields having exhausted his college eligibility.

FRIDAY, 7:07pm: The Seattle Mariners have reached an agreement with Josh Fields, their first-round selection in the 2008 draft, MLB.com’s Jim Street reports.

Street writes that the deal was delayed by a $500,000 gap between the $2MM deal he wanted and the $1.5MM the Mariners were offering.

Fields, 23, was the closer for Georgia in 2008. He also was the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year last season while helping the Bulldogs reach the finals of the NCAA College World Series.

The Mariners selected him as the 20th overall selection.

Odds And Ends: Griffey, Varitek, Giants

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A few links for Saturday morning…

Ken Griffey Jr. Rumors: Friday

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6:15pm: New Seattle Mariners first baseman Russell Branyan thinks Griffey wants to return to his first organization. Branyan said he visited with Griffey in January at his home in Orlando, Fla.

“He told me he’d love to come back here. … I asked him if we were going to be teammates again. He seemed very open to it,” Branyan said.

4:52pm: MLB.com’s Jim Street says dialogue continued today, but there’s no agreement yet.  Griffey’s agent Brian Goldberg said he’s "keeping the information to a minimum with Junior while he’s playing in the Pro-Am tournament."

9:32am: According to Larry Stone of the Seattle Times, the Mariners and Ken Griffey Jr. "are moving toward finalization of a one-year, incentive-laden contract."  At a golf tournament yesterday, Griffey did not seem to have much knowledge of the talks.

Geoff Baker offers thoughts on the expected Griffey signing over at his blog.  Keith Law on ESPN Radio recently offered this thought: "This isn’t a baseball move, this is a marketing move."

Mariners Make Progress In Griffey Talks?

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9:03pm: As reported by The Sporting News, Junior is playing down talk of him heading to the Mariners:

"We don’t know what we’re doing next year with respect to Seattle. It’s all rumors," Griffey said Thursday after finishing a round at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California.

5:25pm: Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times believes the Mariners will sign Griffey early next week:

My guess is, he shows up here on Monday, passes his physical, then hits the field on Tuesday. But he is coming. Make no mistake about that.

3:10pm: From SI.com’s Jon Heyman:

Griffey’s agent, Brian Goldberg, agreed that discussions were becoming "more specific” in recent days but suggested nothing’s close to being set yet.

1:27pm: Larry Stone of the Seattle Times weighs in:

The return of Griffey appears to be imminent.  Baseball sources confirmed that talks between the club and Griffey have heated up in recent days. The parties appear to be on course for a one-year contract that could be announced next week, provided Griffey passes a physical examination.

10:05am: MLB.com’s Jim Street says the Mariners and Griffey are "nearing agreement on a one-year contract."

9:08am: According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, the Mariners have "stepped up the pace in negotiations" for Ken Griffey Jr.  Crasnick says it’s unclear whether the progress led to a formal offer.

Bobby Abreu received a base salary in the $5MM range yesterday; what would be appropriate for Junior?

Mariners Likely To Add An OF Soon?

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John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer suggests the Mariners could soon sign Ken Griffey Jr. or Garret Anderson.

"It’s a good bet that a deal for one or the other will come down in the next few days."

Hickey writes that both would like to play in Seattle, so it’s up to the front office to make a decision. Since the Mariners don’t have a lot of financial flexibility, they’d have to do some "creative accounting" and likely defer money.

M’s To Set Sights On Anderson, Griffey?

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John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer expects that the Mariners will soon turn their focus toward signing either Garret Anderson or Ken Griffey Jr.

Even if Seattle enters the race for Bobby Abreu, they’re likely to be outbid by the Angels.  The M’s simply don’t have enough room in the budget, unless they’re somehow able to move Jarrod Washburn or Miguel Batista.  Hickey suggests that the Mariners might chase Adam Dunn, but notes that he’s "less than enthusiastic about playing in the Northwest."

Latest On Bobby Abreu

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4:54pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman lists five teams considering Abreu: the Angels, Braves, Pirates, Reds, and Mets.  The Pirates are a new one.

3:58pm: A source told Crasnick that the Angels have "strong interest" in Abreu.  The Braves remain in the mix.

10:33am: Here’s what ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick had to say regarding the market for Bobby Abreu yesterday:

While Seattle and Atlanta are monitoring Abreu’s status and staying in contact with his representatives, the Mets continue to maintain they’re not in the mix.

Meanwhile Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News wrote this morning:

A Mets official did not rule out signing free-agent outfielder Abreu, but indicated that any contract likely would have to be for one year at less than $4MM.

Other teams loosely linked to Abreu in recent days: the White Sox, Angels, and Dodgers.  Abreu is in line for a huge pay cut from last year’s $16MM.  The remarkably quiet market for Abreu and other corner outfielders this offseason is tied strongly to defense.  ESPN’s Peter Gammons talked to a GM who said a few days ago:

I still believe that one of the factors that has hurt some of the good offensive free agents this winter, like Manny Ramirez, Abreu and Adam Dunn, is the concern about how many runs they give back defensively. There is a great deal more appreciation for defense than there was a decade ago.

Perrotto’s Latest: Angels, Mets, Mariners

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John Perrotto’s Sunday column is up, now called On The Beat (like his Wednesday articles) instead of Every Given Sunday.

According to the article, the Angels plan to use Kendry Morales at first base, and a combination of Juan Rivera, Gary Matthews, Jr., and Reggie Willits in left field and designated hitter. Perrotto quotes GM Tony Reagins: "In our situation, you get to the point where you have young players with talent who have been given some chances at the major league level, but have not had the opportunity to play every day. We feel it’s time to allow those players that opportunity."

Perrotto reports the Angels had a fixed dollar figure that included the money they did not wind up spending on Mark Teixeira; however, not signing Teixeira does not mean they feel the need to spend the money without improving the ballclub. They still appear to be a team in the prime position to sign Adam Dunn, Manny Ramirez, or Bobby Abreu.

And a couple notes from around the Majors:

  • The Mariners have "mild" interest in Garrett Anderson to play left-field.
  • The Mets are trying to trade catcher Ramon Castro. They would rather spend less to have Robinson Cancel as Brian Schneider’s backup.

Cafardo’s Latest: Manny, Sheets, Glavine

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The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo shares some notes on Manny Ramirez and around the league. Let’s have a look, bullet-point style:

  • He cites an AL Exec who says, "I’ll be honest, I never thought Ramirez would walk away from… one year, $25 million. That’s better than the $20 million option he had torn up… If he has another great year, he gets another $25 million for one year? Or maybe a team then decides, ’OK, this guy has behaved himself for a while, continues to produce at a high level now, let’s commit for another two years to him.’ Unless a team like the Yankees comes in at the last minute and gets it done, I just don’t see where he’s going to make more than $25 million." Cafardo adds that "Brian Cashman insists it won’t happen."
  • A quote from Rich Hill on his being traded to the Orioles: "[Cubs general manager] Jim Hendry really took care of me. He wanted to create an opportunity for me that he told me probably didn’t exist in Chicago, so I’m grateful. I know Baltimore tried to deal for me last year and it didn’t work out, but this time they made it work." Hill also adds that he’s over his back injury and will rediscover his control.
  • Ben Sheets not signing anywhere until June hurts the Brewers two-fold: they may have to foot the bill for the surgery and won’t receive a first round draft pick for losing a Type-A free agent. Sheets has a torn flexor tendon, as revealed by an exam with the Texas Rangers. On the other hand, MLBTR has noted that in June, after his surgery, he won’t cost a draft pick to sign.
  • Andruw Jones on playing in Boston: "It’s too cold there. There’s too much stuff going on."
  • Bobby Abreu may have to settle for a one or two year deal at $3MM. Cafardo lists the Angels, Mets, Braves, Dodgers, and Mariners.
  • Expect an incentive-laden deal for one year between Tom Glavine and the Braves. As MLBTR has noted, their latest offer was between $1-2MM with no incentives.
  • Mark Mulder could be a useful back end starter and he’s almost ready to put himself on display to teams.
  • Shea Hillenbrand is 32 and receiving no interest. Cafardo wonders if he’s "being punished for past transgressions?"
  • Cubs, White Sox, and Dodgers are lined up for Orlando Hudson; however, the transfer of ownership may have temporarily tied the hands of Jim Hendry to do anything until Tom Ricketts takes over.
  • The A’s are continuously interested in Orlando Cabrera, Adam Dunn, and Abreu.
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