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Mariners Showed Interest In Fukudome?

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According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune:

A major-league source said teams approached the Cubs about trading for Kosuke Fukudome, although only in trades where GM Jim Hendry would have had to take back bad contracts. The Mariners, shopping pitchers Jarrod Washburn and Erik Bedard and catcher Kenji Johjima, are believed to have been among them.

It seems that these conversations were in the offseason and are not active.  Fukudome has $38MM coming for 2009-11.  Johjima will receive $24MM over the same time period, while the pitchers are signed only for ’09.

Griffey Chooses Mariners Over Braves

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9:36pm: C. Trent Rosecrans of 1530 Homer talked to Griffey’s agent Brian Goldberg, who confirmed the deal.  It was a difficult decision for Griffey, who spoke to Willie Mays and Hank Aaron before deciding.  MLB.com’s Jim Street has more on the Mays conversation.

8:55pm: Jerry Crasnick has a clarification on the financial details.  Street’s numbers were just a bit off.  Griffey can only earn $2.5MM in incentives — up to $4.5MM altogether.

8:14pm: Interesting tidbit from Mark Bowman:

Sources have indicated that Griffey’s tide turned shortly after he became upset with the fact that The Atlanta-Journal Constitution was reporting that he’d already decided to play for the Braves.

8:05pm: MLB.com’s Jim Street has some more information on the contract.  It "includes a $2 million base salary and up to $4 million in incentives based on at-bats and attendance."  The M’s are hoping he’ll draw an additional 200,000 fans to Safeco Field this season.

7:51pm: Geoff Baker has some of the financial details:

Ken Griffey Jr. is heading back to the Mariners on a one-year contract, reportedly for a base salary of roughly $2 million and incentive bonuses as well.

7:33pm: ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick has informed MLBTR that Griffey told the Braves of his decision less than an hour ago.  He is indeed going to be a Mariner next season.

7:23pm: John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intellignecer has now confirmed it.  Junior is headed back to Seattle.

7:19pm: WSB, an Atlanta-based television station, is reporting that the Ken Griffey Jr. has chosen the Mariners over the Braves.

3:10pm: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman has a bit of info, suggesting Griffey is sensitive about offending the Mariners and their fans.

1:17pm: Larry Stone of the Seattle Times says Braves GM Frank Wren expects Griffey’s decision "pretty shortly."  Bobby Cox said it could be today or tomorrow.  Griffey’s apparently already passed a physical for both the Braves and Mariners.

1:01pm: The Braves hope for an update from Griffey later today, says Bowman.

11:19am: A WSB-TV (Atlanta) report indicates that Braves officials believe Griffey is leaning toward the Mariners.

9:58am: David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has an update.  He believes Griffey has decided to sign with the Braves, and explains Chipper Jones’ involvement in the process.

9:06am: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman does not believe Griffey has told the Braves his decision yet.  It’s about time we wrap this thing up, in my opinion.

7:54am: Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times says Ken Griffey Jr. was to meet in the evening with the Braves and was expected to sign off on a deal.  An announcement is expected today.  Many reporters received similar indications yesterday, even with Griffey and his agent insisting nothing was decided.

Mariners Sign First-Round Pick

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According to MLB.com’s Jim Street, the Mariners have finally inked right-handed reliever Josh Fields.  He was the team’s first-round pick in the 2008 first year player draft.

Jim Callis of Baseball America dug up the numbers over the weekend: 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. 

The 23-year-old passed a physical Saturday and the deal became official with his signature this afternoon.  Fields will now join the Mariners’ camp as a non-roster invitee.

Ken Griffey Jr. Rumors: Monday

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5:01pm: According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, Griffey met with Braves GM Frank Wren earlier today.  It sounds like Junior will be making his decision on Tuesday.

Wren is scheduled to meet with Griffey’s agent, Brian Goldberg, on Tuesday and in the hours that follow, the veteran outfielder will likely announce whether he’ll be playing for the Braves or Mariners this year, writes Bowman.

1:10pm: Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times has more on the topic.  He’s learned that Griffey will decide today or early tomorrow at the latest. 

10:00am: Over the weekend we learned that Ken Griffey Jr. is campaigning to play for the Braves, and they may be willing to offer him $1.5MM.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says Griffey may decide today.  One of Rosenthal’s sources still believes it could go either way (Braves or Mariners).  Both teams are considering Griffey and Garret Anderson.

Odds and Ends: Maddux, Beltre, Cordero

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Links for Monday…

Ken Griffey Jr. Rumors: Sunday

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9:03pm: Another interesting item from Bowman:

About a week ago, [Nick] Swisher seemed to be at the top of the wish list. But that was before Griffey called the Braves and campaigned for the opportunity to play for Atlanta. 

As more and more information pours out, it really sounds like Junior wants to, and is going to, end up with the Braves.

5:38pm: According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, "It’s believed the Braves are willing to offer Griffey a one-year deal worth up to $1.5 million." 

The Mariners can probably afford to make a counter offer that beats that number but, as was reported yesterday, M’s CEO Howard Lincoln is less than enthused about the idea of getting into a bidding war with the Braves.

3:12pm: Jayson Stark’s latest article discusses Griffey and Atlanta. Has he wanted to play there for years? The answer to that question is yes, according to Chipper Jones. And Chipper would love to have Griffey in Atlanta as well:

"He’s a guy who can still hit," said Chipper Jones, who would figure to find Griffey keeping him company in the middle of the lineup. "I played with him a few years ago in the [World Baseball] Classic, and he was our best hitter. He’s got a knack for being able to turn it up and prove people wrong."

Stark writes that Griffey has moved ahead of both Garret Anderson and Nick Swisher on the Braves’ list, and points out that Junior can still hit righties very well, making him an ideal platoon candidate with Matt Diaz.

11:04am: There were lots of rumors surrounding Ken Griffey, Jr. and the Braves yesterday. Jon Heyman puts it simply: 

"It appears likely that Griffey and [Garret] Anderson will wind up in Atlanta and Seattle. The big question at this point is which player will end up with which team."

While Griffey lives in Orlando and has a daughter playing AAU basketball in Georgia, Anderson is a resident of Southern California with more recent success in the AL West. Still, Heyman notes Griffey is the prize here because of the draw he brings to the stadium, a draw that would even allow the M’s to stretch their budget for the added revenue Griffey brings in.

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."

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