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With Ichiro's agent in town last night, the Mariners could reach a contract settlement for the outfielder in the next day or two.
As discussions continued on two possible trades and a decision loomed on pitcher
Freddy Garcia, a breakthrough on Ichiro appeared to be closer.
While neither Tony Attanasio, Ichiro's agent, nor Mariners officials would comment on the ongoing discussions, the talks are believed to be moving along and centered on a multiyear agreement for their All-Star outfielder. That deal — perhaps three years, with a remote possibility of it extending to five years — may be back-loaded.
For instance, Ichiro might get a lower salary for next season, say $6 million
to $8 million, which would allow the Mariners to fit within their $93 million
player-salary budget.
In subsequent years, the Seattle club will be out from under the final contract
years of reliever Kazu Sasaki and first baseman John Olerud, due a combined
$15.7 million for 2004. That could allow room for Ichiro's annual salary to
jump considerably.
Meanwhile, club officials were also busy with trade discussions on two fronts
and considering whether to offer Freddy Garcia a contract by the deadline Saturday.
The Mariners are reportedly closing in on a deal that would send third baseman
Jeff Cirillo to the Mets for outfielder Roger Cedeno, whom the Mets wish to
get rid of as badly as Seattle wants to move Cirillo.
Reports out of New York suggested the deal hinged on Seattle agreeing to include
as much as $5 million in the deal, most of the difference between the $15 million
due Cirillo and the $10 million due Cedeno over the next two years.
Seattle sources indicated the deal would involve some financial considerations
going to New York, but not necessarily as much as $5 million.
In their other trade talks, the Mariners again may be trying to acquire a shortstop.
Having said so long to Miguel Tejada and Omar Vizquel for reasons ranging from
finances to fitness, the Mariners have been talking to the White Sox about Jose
Valentin.
Multiple sources said the talks have become a bit more serious the past two
days. Previously, the White Sox backed off interest in Garcia, who may be involved
in the most recent trade talks.
However, any deal for Valentin would hinge on the prior movement of two other
shortstops, Alex Rodriguez from Texas to Boston for outfielder Manny Ramirez,
and then Nomar Garciaparra from Boston to Chicago for outfielder Magglio Ordonez.
A baseball source said last night the possibility of a Rodriguez-Ramirez deal,
so likely in recent days, had turned shaky.
This, in turn, would leave the White Sox needing Valentin as their shortstop,
unless Carlos Guillen would go to Chicago in the deal.
Commissioner Bud Selig set a 3 p.m. deadline today to make the trade.
Yesterday, during a conference call for new third baseman Scott Spiezio, Mariners
officials worded talk of their shortstop situation carefully. While not naming
anyone, they did not state emphatically the job would belong to Guillen, who
had been headed for Cleveland if Vizquel had come from the Indians.
"Carlos Guillen right now is our shortstop," said Lee Pelekoudas,
the Mariners' assistant general manager. "We'd be happy to open the season
with him. At the same time, if we can improve that position or any other position,
that's something we're always looking to do."
Manager Bob Melvin called trades, even failed ones, "part of the game.
Guys realize that. Sometimes they get their feelings hurt a bit, but everyone
knows in baseball you're always trying to improve.
"I don't personally think it will affect Carlos that much. Right now, he's
looking like the shortstop of the Mariners. It's something he's done before.
I know he likes Seattle and our group of guys.
"If Carlos is our shortstop, I don't think he'll have a problem with that."
It is uncertain who or what the White Sox might want for Valentin, 34, who is
regarded more for his offense than defense. In four years in Chicago, he hit
106 home runs and had 299 runs batted in to go with 97 errors.
Seattle scouts are said to like Valentin, who is known as a gamer and team leader.
One source said Garcia could be the one traded, since the club currently is
trying to decide whether it will offer him a contract by the deadline Saturday.
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, like Garcia a native of Venezuela, is a good
friend of the pitcher and is said to want him, thus the talk about Garcia going
to Chicago for some time.
Pelekoudas said the decision on whether to tender a contract to Garcia is "definitely
up in the air. We're still considering a lot of options there. We don't have
to make that decision until Saturday at 9 o'clock our time."