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Sources in the Mariners organization say the club would like to add one more veteran pitcher, and that free agent lefty Jarrod Washburn, for 3 1/2 seasons a Mariner before a July trade to the Tigers, is high on Seattle's list.The Mariners' feelings are reciprocated.
"Coming back (to Seattle) is definitely something I'd be interested in doing,'' Washburn said from his spread in upper Wisconsin Monday. "I loved my time there last year and I've talked quite a bit to Wak (manager Don Wakamatsu) and [pitching coach] Rick [Adair] this offseason.''
Since both sides are amenable, you might think it would be easy to get Washburn's name on a Seattle contract for 2010. You'd be wrong.
The Mariners shed about $50 million in salary obligations from the start of the 2009 season until this point. But the club has shelled out $36 million over four years for third baseman Chone Figgins, picked up a substantial contract in trading for lefty Cliff Lee and sent $9 million along with pitcher Carlos Silva to the Cubs in trading for outfielder Milton Bradley.
Seattle simply may not be able to afford Washburn, even though he is thought to be asking for about $2-3 million less than the $9.85 million he made last season. The club probably would need Washburn and his agent, Scott Boras, to scale back further -- much further -- on their salary demands to close a deal.
Because the Mariners still need to add a first baseman and maybe another hitter to the offensive mix, they probably only have $3 million or so to devote to adding a veteran pitcher. And as much as Washburn liked it in Seattle, it's not at all clear that he'd drop his asking price that much.
"The Mariners have had an active offseason,'' Washburn said. "I don't know about how much money they're going to have left after they've made all these moves. I've voiced my opinion with those guys. They know that I want to be ... or would enjoy coming back. I loved my time there.''
Washburn was 8-6 with a 2.64 ERA that ranked among the best in the league when the Mariners traded him after 20 starts in starts. He struggled with the Tigers because of injury problems (1-3, 7.33 ERA), and the Tigers don't seem all that interested in his return. Seattle does.
"With the changes the Mariners have made, they've done some great things and really improved the ballclub,'' he said. "They are chasing the Angels and the Angels have lost a few key guys, so it seems the Mariners are making real progress in the division.
"Let's just hope they want an old left-hander."
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